Page 56 of Veinblood
For the first time, choosing duty over personal need is a challenge, and I have to force myself to remain steadfast in my decision to go to Whiterock, while every instinct demands I race northwest.
Knowing she’s alive both comforts and torments me. Especially with the way her emotions flow through the connection we share. First, unrelenting terror, but over time that eased, becoming determination that has grown stronger witheach passing hour. I’m confident she’s found safety, but not knowing more than that is eroding my control.
“My Lord.” Nyassa’s voice cuts through my thoughts. “You’ve been pushing hard since dawn. Perhaps we should?—”
“We can’t afford to be caught in the open if any patrols come through.” I watch as Mira crouches beside a small rain pool.
“You seem distracted.”
The understatement would be laughable … if I had any capacity for humor right now.Distracted. As if the woman I love isn’t beside me, safe and protected.
“The sooner we reach Whiterock, the sooner we know if Varam got everyone out safely.”
“And the sooner you can decide what to do next.” The way she says it suggests she’s aware of the internal war raging beneath my composed exterior. The way duty chafes against my need to find Ellie.
For my entire life, doing my duty has been simple. Now, choosing responsibility over personal need feels like I’m tearing myself in half. I’ve never had something,someone, I wanted more than I wanted to fulfill my obligations to others.
“There is always another decision to make.”
“True. But not all decisions weigh on you the way this one does.”
Before I can respond, Mira lifts her head. “Another patrol passed through here. No more than a day ago.”
I kneel beside her, grateful for the interruption. The familiarroutine of assessing threats helps center my scattered thoughts. “How many?”
“No more than eight, heading northwest toward Ashenvale. That’s the fifth patrol we’ve come across. They’re searching for something.”
If Varam managed to get everyone out of Stonehaven, the Authority would have found it empty. They’ll be hunting for the survivors now, following whatever tracks they can find.
“We need to pick up our pace,” I say.
When we resume our walk, Nyassa falls into step beside me.
“It’s Elowen. She’s the reason you keep looking in that direction when you think no one is watching. The reason you’re driving yourself harder than necessary.”
I stop walking. The entire group halts, sensing the sudden tension.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I may not have been in Meridian for a long time, but I know people. And I understand you better than you might think. The way you hold yourself when her name is mentioned. The way you keep looking northwest. The way?—”
“Nyassa.” Mira’s voice carries a warning.
“It’s all right,” she says without looking away from me. “I’m not trying to pry into any secrets.”
“There are no secrets, Tidevein.” My voice comes out cool, controlled. “My duty is to get everyone to Whiterock. Everything else is secondary.”
Nyassa’s expression suggests she doesn’t believe me, butwhatever else she might want to say is cut short when the raven sends urgent warning through our connection. I hold up a hand, and everyone freezes.
“There’s an Authority patrol coming our way.”
“Can we go around?” Mira asks.
I shake my head. Through the bird’s eyes, I can see the path ahead. “No, this is the only safe passage forward. Stay here.”
Nyassa steps forward. “My Lord?—”
“No. You’re not ready for this kind of fight.”
