Page 147 of A Warrior's Fate

Isla’s mouth was still tingling from his, as she grabbed his forearms. “Why should I believe you?”

“Because I love you,” Kai told her, running his thumb over her cheek. “And I know I’ll lose you forever if I don’t.”

As if she hadn’t already felt raw and exposed, Isla also had to weather the dirty looks of the guard members, typically shot at all the warriors, reserved today specifically for her and Callan. But now she had food, so maybe she could bear it.

Isla watched from her spot at one of the tables in the furthest corner of the room as Kai meandered through the mess hall, catching up with old friends from his days serving with the guard and making new ones of the recent recruits. All part of his plan to stall their departure so she had a chance to eat.

Because I love you.

The words bore heavier on Isla’s heart than the pack on her shoulders as they began their trek through the mountains. Though not as heavy as all the talk of the challenge and rogues. It seemed to be the only topic anyone wanted to discuss on the stretch of the mountain. As if Isla didn’t already have enough on her mind.

Ten miles up and ten miles down.

They went up sporadically in units, rather than all as one large battalion. And although she may have rathered hike alone, now without being forced to take any extra weight, she was grateful that the unit she was ordered to join was 37B. For Rhydian. Maybe Thyra. Belle was okay. But the double-edged sword lay with Magnus.

Of course, he was the most vocal about what was happening, and Isla, who’d already been struggling to keep her composure, found herself on the receiving end of one too many of his indirect snide remarks. By mile six of being forced to endure his shitty attitude, she was ready to tear his face off.

And by mile seven, when he commented that she had no right to look as upset as she appeared because everything happening in Deimos had “nothing to do with her”, she almost did.

She felt the ripping at her knuckles where her claws would emerge as she stared at the back of Magnus’s head when a hand came down on her shoulder. She turned, scowl still painted on, to Rhydian. The unofficial leader of their squadron.

“Take a walk,” he told her, wiping some sweat off his dirt-covered brow and nodding towards a path off the trail between a few boulders.

Isla bit down on her tongue until the metallic tang of blood filled her mouth, the dark protrusions still threatening to appear.

“We’re all on edge,” he said a bit quieter, and from the bite in his voice, she realized all the challenge talk had bothered him as much as her. “Go cool down.”

Isla huffed through her nose.

On edge was an understatement, but despite how she truly felt—back to angry, helpless, and useless in protecting her mate—she gradually relaxed her arm. And then she hoisted the weight of her pack up her shoulders and stalked off.

She was pacing in agitated circles around a flattened clearing when Rhydian appeared from around a bend several minutes later. “I said a walk, not a second hike.”

His joke fell flat. Felt empty. Even he knew it, barely able to force his mouth into a decent smile.

Isla pointed to the space beyond him, growling, “I’m going to punch him in the throat.”

“He deserves it. I wouldn’t have stopped you if I hadn’t thought fighting Magnus was beneath you. And if it didn’t mean we’d have to carry his ass the rest of the way through the mountain.”

Isla ceased her pacing, needing to stabilize against a tree after so much rapid movement. She wedged her hands into her hair, something that Magnus had said was eating away at her. “Can I ask you something?”

“That’s a dangerous question,” Rhydian said.

Isla took that as a “yes”. “What did you think when Kai told you that I was of Io? Assuming that he did after you all figured out he’d met me.”

Rhydian raised his brows. “When we found out you were of Io, or when we learned you were the Imperial Beta’s daughter?” At Isla’s frown, he elaborated. “We weren’t mad if that’s what you’re wondering.”

Isla ran her tongue over her teeth.

Rhydian may not have been up for a confessional—and he may not have been her first choice to vent to—but they were going to be out here for several more hours. He was the only option she had. Davina had been a great listener; maybe it was something the mated pair shared.

“Kai told me he loves me,” Isla blurted out causing Rhydian’s brows to shoot upwards again. “And if I don’t talk to someone about it, I’m going to lose my mind, and I can’t guarantee Magnus makes it off this peak alive.”

Rhydian snickered. “About time he admitted it.”

Isla blinked at him. “You knew?”

“I’m not Jonah, but I’m also not blind.” Rhydian laughed. “Kai spent twenty minutes talking to Dane in the mess hall just now while you scoffed down food. He hates Dane. If it wasn’t because he loves you, I’d be afraid he’d lost his mind.”

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