Page 64 of Oath of War
‘See, that’s how beasts lure pretty maidens into their lairs. You should take notes, Ari. You’re fae, after all—poetry should come naturally to you,’ Ormond teased, but his tense posture contradicted the cheerful words.
Alaric arched a brow, his smile sharpening into something impish. ‘I’mdarkfae. Our “poetry” is the screams of the victims we torture to fulfil our perverse needs, or so I’m told. But if it’llplease you, I’m willing to serenade Annika with sweet words of love, provided you learn to purr half as well as Vahin.’
Only then did I notice the clothes draped over Alaric’s arm and the boots Orm carried.
‘I really don’t know why you two think you can do better than a dragon,’ I huffed with an exaggerated eye roll. Leaning on Vahin, I gestured to the clothes. ‘Are we going somewhere?’
‘Reynard has called a war council at noon,’ Orm said, his voice turning serious. ‘I need to check on the garrison first, but ... we need to talk.’
The teasing melted away and I realised I was speaking to the commander of the dragon riders—and he was as tense as if he was about to walk into battle.
‘Ani ... Domina, you won’t like what I need to do,’ Alaric said, coming closer and reaching for me with a remorseful expression, ‘but I hope you will hear me out.’
‘Hold on, what do you need to do? What’s going on? Are we under attack?’ My gaze darted to Orm. ‘Is that why you’re going to the garrison?’
Snatching the clothes draped over Alaric’s arm, I started dressing in haste, using Vahin’s forearm to steady myself. ‘Did you interrogate Ihrain?’
‘Yes, he did,’ Orm answered. ‘And no, Rey sent a letter summoning me to the garrison to show me something. Calm down, love. We’re not under attack, but Ihrain’s corpse gave us the names of those allied with the Lich King. I want them rounded up and put under lock and key before the war council meeting begins. The last thing Reynard needs is a rebellion in the capital while we march towards the border.’
‘That’s good news ...’ I said, ‘so why are you frowning? Did he give the location of the portals? I can help destroy them—’
Dropping my nightdress without a second thought, I was interrupted by twin gasps. I glanced up to see both men staringat me, wide-eyed. ‘What?’ I demanded. ‘It’s not like you’ve never seen me naked.’
‘Oh, we know,’ Orm said, a rare grin lifting his lips, ‘but have mercy on your poor men. We can’t go out in public sporting raging hard-ons.’
‘Stop looking at my tits, and it won’t be a problem,’ I retorted, smirking as Alaric moved to help button my bodice.
‘It’s my fault, Domina.’ He sighed, tenderly kissing my neck. ‘I’m trying to delay telling you, knowing we’re about to argue.’
A prickle of fear slid down my spine. I stilled, stepping away slowly, my eyes narrowing as I studied my men.
Orm’s face had shifted to the blank mask he wore whenever darker emotions threatened to break free, while Ari’s expression was one of icy determination. I inhaled slowly, arching a brow and letting the silence hang in the air.
‘Alaric is going to Katrass to save his sister.’ Orm’s words hit me square in the chest. Whatever else he said was drowned out by the blood roaring in my ears. I barely heard his explanation of Cahyon’s planned invasion and Rowena’s ability to free him from the magic keeping him in Katrass.
‘Domina ... Ani, I have to do this,’ Alaric said, his voice snapping me out of my stupor. ‘I promised my sister I would come for her. If the Lich King is allowed to possess my father’s body, nothing will stop him.’ He took my hand, squeezing it tight. ‘I know how dangerous it is ... but I don’t have a choice. Rowena is breaking under his relentless assault. She lets him hold her, and she believes the only way to free me is to fulfil his wishes.’ He held me even as I tried to pull away. ‘It is not a whim or a reckless decision, sweetheart. I need to do this. For her. For Dagome. For you.’
I stood there, stunned, silent as they spoke. It had taken less than a day for my happiness to crumble like a house of cards.It’s not real. It can’t be real. He can’t go.
‘No,’ I snapped, my voice rising as anger exploded out of me. ‘Over my dead body!’ I shouted, pulling away and stumbling back towards Vahin. ‘You are not leaving. You’re going to get yourself killed! We will rescue your sister, but it isn’t as simple as walking into Katrass.’ I was panting as the aether curled around me, rising in turbulent waves.
Alaric followed me, his tone resolute. ‘Domina. I’m not asking for permission, but I am hoping for your understanding. Orm and I have discussed it. I’m going to use the portal before you destroy it. Once I have secured my sister, I’ll wait for you at Varta Fortress. It may take some time, but Iwillcome back to you. I won’t fail you.’
I whirled on Orm, realising that he’d known about this idiocy, hence his tense posture. ‘And you agreed to this?’
‘It’s not my decision to make, my love. Alaric is his own man. If I can’t stop him, then I want to support him in whichever way I can.’
I shook my head in disbelief at his indifference. ‘Support him? This is madness!’
Orm’s voice was calm, the commander bleeding through. ‘Ani, if we set emotions aside, this planhasmerit. I would prefer someone else execute it, but what happened in Roan Fortress must never happen again. If Alaric can steal Rowena away, Cahyon would still be trapped in Katrass. We could fight in the Barren Lands instead of having to defend our towns and villages. Strategically, it’s the best move.’
‘Strategically?’ I spat. ‘This isn’t a battle plan—it’s Ari! And you’re ready tosacrificehim for a fucking war? What is wrong with you?’
I shouldn’t have shouted, but I was seeing red. I’d barely gotten them back, and now Alaric was planning a suicide mission while Ormond had regressed to being the stone-cold commander who thought of us as weapons of war.
‘It’s my decision, Ani,’ Alaric tried again, reaching for me. ‘Iwillreturn to you. I was a spy and an assassin before I became your “Ari,” remember? If not for the curse and the Barrier, I would’ve taken my sister back years ago.’
I shook my head, trying to hold back angry tears.
