Page 111 of The War of Wings
“It worked,” she breathed. “Yes?”
Ludovicus took a step back, carefully adjusting the blade in his hand. It sailed through the air, fire igniting across its surface as it plunged into the dummy’s chest.
What the hell was going on?
Petra’s small smile grew into a full-on grin, tears gathering in her eyes as her lids fluttered closed.
Ludovicus’ smile matched hers as he stepped back from the blade, bits of flaming straw falling to the dirt. “It worked.”
Chapter 43
Petra
“I was trying to imbue the blade with my power, and it worked.”
“It almost killed you, Petra!” Cal roared, his face creased with fury.
“No it didn’t, Cal. I’m not stupid!”
“What do you call burning yourself out with no one around but fucking Ludovicus?” A finger pointed straight where Ludovicus was standing just feet away. Cal’s eyes heated with pure rage, the sapphire turbulent and the emerald roiling. “For the love of the Saints, Petra, he tried to kill you just weeks ago!”
“Excuse me,” I said with a humorless laugh, slowly pushing to my feet and ignoring Cal’s outstretched hand. “Are you calling me foolish?”
“Of course I’m not,” he snapped. “But that was a foolish thing to do, Petra!”
Ludovicus shifted, answering before I could. “I would never–”
“I don’t want to hear one fucking word from you,” Cal cut in, that finger jabbing into Ludovicus’ chest.
“Look at me, Cal. Do you think my judgement is so poor I’d put myself in a position where I could be hurt?” I asked, my brows raised.Maybe I’d put myself in a position to be killed, but that was a thought I kept to myself.
“Your judgement isn’t poor, Petra. That’s not what I’m saying. I–” Calloused hands tore through his hair before his eyes bored into mine again. “Why the hell is he here in Araqina, Petra? Why else would he follow you here unless to hurt you?”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about Cal,” I snarled, anger flaring in my chest alongside a sudden need to defend Ludovicus.
“How do you know he’s not working for Malosym, huh?” The rage radiating from Cal was so great, I felt like I could reach out and run my finger along its razor-sharp edges, like one wrong move and it would slice my skin open. But I saw the source of that rage in those molten gemstone eyes — fear. He was afraid. Of course he was afraid.
I looked to Ludovicus, surveying the tilt of his brows and the lines that bracketed his mouth. He was tall, but his spirit was withered and beaten. He looked so earnest, so unlike the monster I’d known him to be in Eserene. His eyes closed for a moment, a deep breath leaving his nose before he gave me one single nod.
“Are you sure?” I asked Ludovicus.
“Yes.” He was giving me permission to tell his secret. I just hoped he’d still keep mine.
“Ludovicus didn’t follow me here to Araqina to hurt me, Cal,” I said, quieting my tone as if I were trying to calm a wild animal. “He followed me here to help me. Technically, I followed him.”
Cal paused for a split second, his features creasing with confusion. “What?”
My eyes found Ludovicus again, and he took a cautious step forward. “Since I’m familiar with the royal library, I thought I may be able to uncover something that would be of use. I left Eserene well before you did. I didn’t know you’d be coming here to Araqina at the time.”
Cal’s dark brows furrowed over his eyes, his corded arms crossing over his broad chest. “How the hell would that help Petra in the slightest?”
“It’s so extensive, and there are books there I couldn’t find anywhere else, and–”
“You’re not asking the right question, Cal,” I said gently before Ludovicus could steer Cal away from the point. “The royal library.”
Cal’s eyes narrowed on Ludovicus before they shot wide. “The portraits,” he breathed. “You’re the missing face. You’re the…”
“The Lost Heir,” I murmured.
