Page 128 of The Study of Poisons
Valek stared as comprehension dawned. There would be no “however.” The Commander wanted Valek tokillYelena. His stomach felt like he’d just swallowed a mouthful of glass shards and they were ripping him up from the inside out.
“Sir, I’ve always believed that having a magician work for us would be beneficial and could have prevented this particular situation,” Valek said through clenched teeth. “We can trust her.”And I love her.
“A valid point.” The Commander drew back his arm and Valek almost fainted.
“Even though we trust her, even though she saved my life, I must follow the Code of Behavior,” the Commander said. “To do otherwise would be a sign of weakness, something I can’t afford right now, especially after this business with Mogkan. Plus, the generals and my advisers will not trust her.” The Commander extended the execution order to Valek again.
No fucking way.“I won’t take it,” Valek said, keeping his emotions in check.
“You would disobey a direct order?” the Commander asked.
Yes!“No. If I don’t take the order, then I won’t have to disobey it.”
“And if I make it a verbal order?”
The question tore his heart apart. The C-shaped scar on his chest burned with pain as if the Commander had just carved it anew. Valek had sworn his loyalty to the Commander. “I will obey. But it will be my very last task for you.” Valek pulled his knife. If he was forced by his own word to kill his love, then he would do it quick and painless. And then he’d turn the knife on himself.
Ari drew his sword and stepped in front of Yelena. “You’ll have to get through me first.”
“No, Ari,” Yelena said, pushing his weapon down.
She moved closer to Valek. Understanding and love blazed in her gaze. The sudden desire to grab her hand and run away before the Commander could issue his terrible order pulsed in his chest.
The Commander stared at them for three lifetimes. “I’ve signed the order, per the Code,” he finally said. “I will assign someone else to carry it out. It may take a few days for me to find a suitable person.” He glanced at Yelena and Irys. “This order is valid in Ixia only. You’re all dismissed.”
They all bolted from the office before the Commander could change his mind. Valek couldn’t quite believe it. He’d gotten his “however,” but the Commander had made him suffer for it. Was it a test of Valek’s loyalty?
Once they were well away, Ari grabbed Yelena in a hug and whooped with joy. She grinned, but then sobered. Ari set her down and then consulted with Irys on the best way to “escape” to Sitia. There was a lot to do, and they hurried off to start the preparations, leaving Yelena and Valek alone.
He pulled her into his arms, and they kissed passionately. Now that their time together was limited, he wondered why he hadn’t kissed her every day. Every hour. Every minute.
They drew apart to catch their breaths.
“Come with me.” Yelena invited.
Pain sliced through him. He closed his eyes. “I can’t.”
Hurt, she turned away.
He pulled her back and met her gaze. “Yelena, you need to learn, you need to find your family, you need to spread your wings and see how far you can fly. You don’t need me right now, but the Commander needs me.”
Understanding, she hugged him tight. And he savored the touch and committed it to memory.
* * *
Yelena,Irys, and the children planned to leave that night. As they’d prepared to go, Valek visited the six soldiers who occasionally performed special operations for the Commander. Valek ordered them all back to the castle on a mission to ensure the castle was safe for the Commander’s return. He might have implied that Brazell had sent a force there to prepare for his arrival.
A deep sense of satisfaction settled in his chest as he watched them gather their gear and head west. Any of those six would have taken the Commander’s execution order. The rest of the company wasn’t qualified.
Good luck in finding an assassin, Ambrose.And by the time he did, Yelena would be safely in Sitia.
If he hurried, he might be able to catch Yelena before she left. As he rushed through the hallways, pounding footsteps sounded behind him. He spun, grabbing the hilt of his dagger.
Dema ran up to him. “I’ve been looking…all over for you.” She puffed.
“What’s wrong?”
“The Commander wants to talk with you.”
