Page 63 of A Crown of Tears and Treason
If whoever had ordered the attack on me thought they’d turn me into a frightened shut-in, they were sorely mistaken.
It only made me want to go out and explore even more.
I knew how hiding in fear ended.
A dozen guards stood outside the gate, perfectly still. Underneath the new moon, we had the cover of darkness on our side. Leading the way, I turned the corner between the house and the fence. I slunk between the thorny bushes with ease, eyeing the tall tree at the edge of the property, flush with slender leaves and fleshy red flowers. Adara had a harder time navigating the shrubs. By the time she stopped at my side, her face was pinched with annoyance.
“We shouldn’t be doing this,” she said.
“I told you, I can go out exploring on my own.”
“Which is why I am here.”
Adara had only begrudgingly agreed to accompany me when she realized I really would slip out on my own.
“The sooner we get out, the sooner we can come back.” I pressed my left foot against the bark and propelled myself upwards with practiced ease, grabbing the lowest branch.
After that, everything came easy. My feet, even swaddled in shoes two-sizes-too-big, found the anchor points quickly. My hands went to the crevices as if I’d climbed this tree a thousand times before. The lack of light didn’t bother me–my eyes had been trained in the darkness of the mountains. Only this time, I wasn’t out gathering wood as a punishment, my heart the size of a pea. I was exploring to my heart’s content.
I looked over the fence in time to see Goose, shaking from head to toe, as he opened the gate and asked the guards if they wanted some cookies he’d baked in the morning. The sweet smell enticed the guards and wafted all the way to me, carried by the soft night breeze.
With the distraction in place, I flung myself over the fence, crouching behind the statues. My wound protested, the itchy scab pulling at my gauze.
Excitement drummed through me.
Adara dropped down a second later.
Without exchanging a word, we hurried down the path, the goddess statues covering us like partners in crime.
As the path ended and the wild bushes flanked us on both sides, I swerved to the right, giddy and curious what the night would bring.
Mayhem, that’s what.
I collided against a strong, leather-clad chest with hard, sinewy muscles.
I looked up at the very last face I wanted to see right now, no matter how objectively gorgeous.
“What are you doing here?” I whisper-hissed.
“I couldn’t pass up a chance for a midnight stroll, could I?” Zandyr’s gravel voice pulsed from his chest straight into mine. It sounded even deeper in the darkness, like he’d been made from the shadows around us and they welcomed the return of their prince.
“You were supposed to be gone,” I grumbled. To hunt down the people responsible for hurting me, my mind whispered. I ignored that small voice and turned to Adara, narrowed eyes accusing. “You told him. You literally told on me.”
She shrugged, not the least bit bothered. “My job is to keep you safe. You’re safest with The Dragon.”
Highly debatable.
“What was the point of letting me sneak out in the first place?” Goose had spent so much time baking those cookies and I’d gotten my hopes up way too high.
“To see how well you move. And you do. We start training in three days,” Adara said.
The pang of pride dampened my annoyance.
“You managed to evade the guards all by yourself,” Zandyr said. “Impatience must be a Vegheara trait.”
I rolled my eyes and turned to him. “I’m guessing now you’ll accompany me?”
He inclined his head with a smirk. “I will.”
