Page 49 of Love of the Bladed Dove
They moved in tight formation up the stairwell. Every step, every breath, every turn was calculated. When they passed the blood smear from earlier—still undisturbed—Theron knew no one had found it. No alarm. No reinforcements waiting to swarm and shatter their stealth. Good. They pressed on, pausing only when necessary. Near the ballroom entrance, Theron spotted a large, dust-covered storage room—unused and cloaked in shadow. Perfect.
“In here,” he whispered, opening the door and scanning the hall behind them. “Stay until I return with Layla.”
Aerilynn still hadn’t let go of Sparrow’s hand, clinging to it like a lifeline. Theron lingered only a second, making sure the door sealed tight behind them, leaving the two warriors and Aerilynn cloaked in dimness. Then he turned toward the ballroom, straightened his ridiculous tailcoat, and slipped back into the crowd unnoticed.
He needed to find Layla—not just to show her that Aerilynn was safe, but because the plan had to shift. Ciana was still missing, and they were running out of time.
He spotted her instantly as he slid discreetly back into the ballroom. Her golden gown shimmered under the chandeliers as she danced with Kain. As if he could feel Theron’s presence from across the vast room, Kain’s gaze lifted and zeroed in on Theron instantly. A single tilt of his head was all that was needed and Theron watched as Kainleaned down and whispered something to Layla a moment later. Her head whipped around, scanning the crowd before spotting Theron. Her eyes widened in what he could only interpret as a flicker of both fear and hope before she gripped Kain’s arm, the two of them weaving through the crowd. Theron also noticed Sir Edwin began closing in from the flank—likely sensing a shift in the plan or reading the unspoken signal. No words. Just motion.
“This way,” Theron muttered when they all reached him, guiding them swiftly out and into the hallway. His eyes swept behind them for watchers before he shut the ballroom door and strode to a stop before the storage room. He silently opened it, peaking in before allowing Layla to step through. She froze only for an instant.
“Aerilynn.” The name fell from Layla’s lips like a prayer as he watched her take in the sight of her sister, alive and safe, though barely. In the next second, Layla was running. She collapsed into her sister’s arms and broke. The room filled with only the sound of tears and sob-choked gasps. The kind of sound born from days of torment, fear, and endless not-knowing. Theron stood still, letting the moment wash over him—until a slight movement pulled his attention. Sir Edwin had caught sight of Aerilynn, recognition flickering in his eyes. One princess safe. He gave a brief nod, but the grim line of his mouth spoke volumes. More remained to be done. Without a word, he turned and slipped back through the door to resume his post outside, guarding the path for what came next.
Layla clutched Aerilynn like she’d never let go again. “Thank you,” she whispered to Sparrow and Xaden, tears still falling, her sister still wrapped in her arms. “Thank you both.”
When she finally pulled back, she turned to Kain and hugged him hard. “Thank you.” He looked surprised but held her gently. Then she turned to Theron. Her eyes shimmered. Her chest rose and fell with shaky breath as she stepped forward. Time stilled as he held his breath looking down at her. And then she hugged him. Hard. And Theron’s heart stuttered. His arms went around her instinctively, holding her to him like she was the only real thing in the world. She smelled like lavender and candle smoke and something whollyhers.
“Thank you, Theron,” she whispered. He closed his eyes. When she finally stepped away, smiling through the tears, she turned back to Aerilynn. But her brow creased with confusion.
“Wait... Where’s Ciana?” The room went still. Layla’s gaze flicked from Xaden to Sparrow to Theron. Then finally, to Aerilynn—whose face crumpled as fresh tears fell. And that’s when Layla knew. Her body tensed. One sister was safe. But one... One was still gone.
Layla.
Layla stared at her sister, her voice tense with urgency. “Aerilynn… where is Ciana?” Aerilynn's gaze dropped to the floor, clearly avoiding Layla’s gaze now. Layla stepped closer. “Aerilynn!” she hissed, her tone sharpening. “Tell me now—where is she?”
Aerilynn let out a shaky breath, still looking at the ground between them. “A few days ago, the Bartorian guards brought us here. We overheard them joking about how the King planned to sell us off to the highest bidder. They said marrying us would give their heirs claim to Graystonia, claim to Serelai’s blessings… and that we’d fetch a fortune...” Layla felt bile rise in her throat. “But once we arrived,” Aerilynn continued, voice cracking, “everything changed. The King saw Ciana and… decided he wouldn’t sell her at all. He wanted her for himself.” Layla’s stomach twisted.
“Aerilynn,” she said, already bracing herself, “what are you saying?”
“This ball…” Aerilynn whispered. “It’sherwedding feast. The King is marryingher.Tomorrow.” The words hit Layla like a mortar shell—silent at first, then detonating through her chest with brutal force. Her breath caught as she turned to Theron, whose jaw had gone rigid, eyes burning with the same fury she felt erupting inside her.
“We have to find her. Now.” Layla’s voice was raw, trembling with urgency. “We cannot let that wedding happen… Once they realize Aerilynn is missing, they’ll lock down the castle—Ciana will vanish behind walls we won’t be able to reach. We have to move. Now.”
“We’ll get her,” Theron said, his voice low and resolute, lethal calm coiled beneath each word. Layla heard him—she did—but the panic was still clawing its way up her throat, tightening its grip. But before it could fully take hold, Sparrow stepped forward, cutting clean through her spiraling thoughts and anchoring her back to the present.
“Let me get Aerilynn out now before the alarm is raised,” he offered quietly, already understanding what was unspoken. Just in case… they couldn’t risk losing both sisters.
Layla turned to him, eyes burning. “You make sure she gets out,” she said, voice cracking with ferocity. “Even if the rest of us fall, you get her home.”
“I swore I’d protect you. I swear the same to her.” Layla knew he would. He hadn’t left her side even after it was no longer his duty. She knew that she could trust him to do the same for Aerilynn.
Xaden stepped up beside him. “I’ll go too. If things go sideways, I’ll make the noise.”
Layla frantically nodded, grateful for these warriors before she turned to Aerilynn and gripped her shoulders. “You can trust them. I’ll come for you after we get Ciana. I promise.”
“No! Layla, please don’t leave me again!” Aerilynn sobbed, latching onto her. Layla held her tightly, swallowing the lump in her throat.
“I came for you, didn’t I?” Layla said firmly. “Now trust these men. They’ll get you out safely before anyone realizes you’re gone. But you have to go. Now. Please.” Her voice was low, urgent—unyielding.
Aerilynn didn’t answer right away, and Layla felt her own breath hitch. But then—finally—her sister gave a small, reluctant nod. Hesitant, but it was enough. Layla saw the shift in her eyes: the quiet surrender, the unspoken trust. Aerilynn didn’t want to leave, not without her. But she understood. She trusted Layla to make the impossible call, to carry the weight and see it through. And gods, that trust burned like a brand in her chest.
Aerilynn wrapped her arms around her once more, holding tight before stepping back with red-rimmed eyes. “I love you,” she said, barely above a whisper, as Sparrow took her hand and guided her away. Xaden moved behind them, silent as a promise not yet spoken.
Sir Edwin slipped into the room, and they quickly brought him up to speed on the news about Ciana. His jaw tightened, but he didn’t waste time on shock or outrage—only strategy.
“If she’s truly the bride,” he said after a beat, “she’ll have to make an appearance. When she does, we track her—just like the others did with Aerilynn.”
Layla nodded, barely breathing. It wasn’t much, but it was something.It had worked before—why not again?What Sir Edwin said made sense. They couldn’t keep waiting in this room; the longer they stayed, the greater the chance someone would find them all huddled where they clearly didn’t belong. At least out there, they had a plan. A chance.
