Chapter 2 : Nobody touches him

I closed my eyes.

I know that sounds weak. But when ten swords turn toward your face, your body does not ask for your opinion. I just waited for the pain.

It did not come.

"Stop."

The word was low and rough, and it came from the man on his knees. I opened one eye. King Kael was pushing himself up from the ground. His hands shook. Blood dripped from his chin onto his black cloak.

"I said stop." This time he roared it. The soldiers jumped like he had slapped them.

The gray man did not move. "Your Majesty, you are hurt. You are not thinking clearly. This human insulted you in front of your whole army. By law, his life belongs to you, and the army needs to see you take it."

"By law," I said weakly from the dirt, "I would like everyone to put the swords down. Please. Thank you."

Nobody laughed. Okay. Tough crowd.

Kael looked at me. His eyes were gold, and they were wild. He breathed like he had just run a hundred miles.

"Do you feel that?" he asked quietly. "Your heart. It hurts, right?"

I wanted to lie. My chest was on fire, and each breath felt like swallowing glass. I nodded.

"The bond did not break when you rejected me," he said. "It cracked. It is still alive, and it is hurt, and every time you fight it, the pain gets worse for both of us." He looked at his soldiers. "If one of you kills him, I die on the spot. And I promise you, I will take a few of you with me."

The square was silent for a long time. Then one young soldier slowly lowered his sword. Then another. Then all of them.

The gray man smiled a thin smile. "Forgive me, Your Majesty. I only wanted to protect you. I am Vance, your advisor. I have served you for twenty years."

I looked at him. Everybody in that square was covered in ash and dirt. The soldiers, the villagers, even the king. This man's gray robe was clean. There was not one speck on it.

I did not know what that meant. But I did not forget it.

"Bring him to my chariot," Kael said. "Gently. If he gets one more scratch, whoever did it will answer to me."

Two soldiers came to me. They looked more afraid of me than I was of them. One of them helped me up by the elbow, very carefully, like I was a glass bowl.

"I am not going anywhere without my parents," I said.

Kael frowned. "Your parents?"

I pointed. My mom and dad were still kneeling, and the swords had finally moved away from their necks. My mom was clutching the little silver necklace at her throat, staring at me with huge, wet eyes.

"They are coming with me," I said. "Or I sit down right here, and you can carry me. I am very heavy when I want to be."

For a second, the corner of Kael's mouth moved. Almost a smile. Then it was gone.

"Let them stand," he said. "Give them a coat. Do not hurt them."

A soldier threw a coat around my mother. She held it tight and whispered, "Thank you," and my eyes began to burn, because she said thank you to the people who had burned our home. That is the kind of person she is. That is why I love her so much.

They put us in the back of the chariot. My parents sat on one side, and I sat on the other. Kael climbed in last and sat across from me. The door shut. Outside, soldiers were shouting orders, and the fire was still cracking in the distance.

Inside, it was dark and quiet. And very small.

I stared at the floor. Kael stared at me. The bond hummed between us like a wire pulled tight.

"Quit looking at me," I muttered.

"No."

"It is creepy."

"You are my mate."

"I rejected you. In public. With blood."

"I remember." He wiped his chin with his sleeve. "It was very impressive."

"Your eyes are gold."

"My wolf is awake. When he takes control, they turn gold. When I am in control, they are silver."

"Which one am I talking to right now?"

"Both," Kael said. "And neither of us is happy."

I almost laughed. Then I remembered the square, and my anger came back.

Kael leaned forward and lowered his voice so my parents could not hear him over the wheels. "Rian. I did not order this attack."

I stared at him.

"Your soldiers burned my village."

"I know."

"They had torches. They shouted about a silver mark. If you only came to look around, why did you bring an army? Why did they start before you got there?"

His hand gripped his knee. "I was told Ashford was hiding rebels. The report came through my council, through many hands. I brought the army because I was told the rebels would be armed. I never gave the order to burn anything."

"Great," I said. "So who did?"

"I do not know yet."

"That is not good enough."

"No," he said. "It is not."

I waited for him to argue. He did not.

"They carried my banner," Kael said quietly. "It does not matter who gave the order. They are my soldiers, and your home is gone. That is my fault, and I will answer for it. But I think someone wanted me to arrive in time to see it."

I did not know what to say. I had expected an excuse. I had not expected him to take the blame.

"Sorry will not bring back my bakery," I said, and my voice came out smaller than I wanted.

"I know."

Then his eyes drifted past my shoulder to the small window in the chariot door. I turned my head.

Through the glass, I could see the square. Soldiers stood in rows. In the middle of them stood the gray man. He was not watching the king. He was not watching me.

He was watching my mother.

His smile was gone. His eyes were cold and sharp, and they were fixed on the small silver necklace around her neck. The one she never took off. The one I had always believed my father gave her on their wedding day.

Vance slowly raised his hand.

He made a small signal.

The chariot jerked to a stop.

My mother screamed.