Page 72 of Warrior Princess
Ronan cupped my face and gently caressed my cheeks with his thumbs. “I know it's hard. But you're the bravest person I know. And no matter what happens, I'm with you. You're not facing this alone.” His gaze held mine, deep and unwavering.
The tension in my body eased under his touch, and I leaned into the curve of his embrace. “Thank you, Ronan. For being here, for everything.” My words were a whisper against his lips.
He smiled, a soft, affectionate curve that lit up his eyes. “I'd go to the ends of Asteria for you, Leila. Remember that.” And with those words, he leaned down and kissed me—a kiss that spoke of promises, support, and shared burdens.
After we finally broke apart, the urgency of our situation lingered, but so did the strength of our bond. “Let's wait for the scout's news.” My voice was steadier now. “And then we'll decide our next move. Together.”
Ronan nodded. His arm remained around my waist, grounding and protective. “Together,” he echoed.
In that word lay a world of shared futures and united fronts.
29
As the day wore on, anticipation grew within the camp. Finally, a cloud of dust on the horizon signaled the arrival of the Crimson Clan. My heart lifted as the figures became clearer and pounding hooves grew louder with each passing moment.
At the forefront of the procession rode Chief Aryan, his imposing figure a testament to his unwavering leadership. A carriage trundled along beside him, which made me frown. Everyone in the Crimson Clan rode on horseback. Who could possibly be in the carriage?
“Ronan?” I tugged at his hand to draw his attention to the approaching group.
As they came to a halt, Chief Aryan swung down from his horse with the ease of a much younger man. He opened the carriage door and carefully lifted Henry down, giving the boy a playful ruffle of his hair that made Henry beam with joy. Selene dismounted gracefully, her eyes scanning the camp until they found mine, lighting up with relief.
My eyes widened in panic. “What are they doing here?”
“Seems I couldn’t keep them away,” Chief Aryan said with a mock grumble.
Henry ran over to me and tightly hugged my mid-section. “I missed you, Miss Leila!” he chirped, looking up at me with wide, expectant eyes.
I lifted him into my arms. “And I missed you too, my brave little man.” His laughter was a welcome sound amidst the tension of our battle preparations. Although I didn’t want him here amidst danger, I also didn’t want him to think I was disappointed to see him.
Selene stepped forward, her gaze warm and understanding. “It’s been far too quiet without you two.” I felt the weight of her words, knowing she’d felt the strain of our separation.
Chief Aryan cleared his throat, drawing our attention back to the matter at hand. “We’ve brought supplies and reinforcements,” he announced. “The Crimson Clan is ready to stand with you. Not just out of duty, but because it’s the right thing to do.”
Ronan wrapped an arm around me, his presence a comforting shield. “Thank you, Father,” he said, gratitude resonating in his voice.
With the clan’s reinforcements, our camp was invigorated by new energy and resources. Plans were swiftly laid out, strategies discussed. The presence of family, both chosen and blood, fortified our resolve. United by common cause and strengthened by the bonds of affection, we were ready to face the challenges that awaited us, whatever they might be.
I grasped Selene's arm and guided her to a quieter corner of the encampment. Once assured of our privacy, I confronted her. “Why did you come here? It's far too dangerous!”
Selene unflinchingly met my gaze. “Chief Aryan briefed us about what happened in Eldwain. After hearing what Caelan did... how could I possibly stay behind?”
Frustration welled up inside me. “That's exactly why you should have stayed away!” I hissed, then glanced around nervously to ensure our conversation remained private. “You should think about going back, Selene. Please.”
She shook her head stubbornly. “I will not. You could use my help. I’m not as strong as you, but my siren’s voice is fairly powerful.”
I clenched my jaw, feeling a pang of guilt for what I was about to say. “You alone won’t make a difference, Selene,” I said bluntly. “Take Henry and go.”
Her cheeks reddened with indignant hurt. “I may not be a powerful blood mage, Leila, but I'm not useless,” she retorted softly. “Please…”
I wanted to strangle Chief Aryan for bringing them here. For even telling them the situation. This was no place for them to be. Caelan could easily use them against us… againstme. He already had my father; I couldn’t afford to lose anyone else.
“Just… stay out of the way.” I pushed past her and stomped away before I said something I would truly regret. Leaving her behind, I went to find Ronan and saw him standing in the center of the encampment with Henry, Chief Aryan, Shiro, and Avery. They were in the middle of a heated conversation when I arrived. Henry held onto Ronan tightly.
“We need to make a move…now,” Chief Aryan demanded. “If we wait much longer, it’ll give Caelan an opportunity to grow his forces.”
“I still haven’t heard back from my brother,” I said nervously. “I need more—”
“Then we go without Valoria,” Shiro interrupted, his bristly fox tail swishing behind him. “Aryan is right. We can’t afford to wait much longer.”
