Birth of a Queen by Jessica Wayne

Author:Jessica Wayne [Wayne, Jessica]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: B.A.D. Publishing, LLC
Published: 2024-02-26T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Fort

“We’re going to stop here for the night,” Carleah says as she drops her pack below a tree. We’re nearly to Soreno, just on the other side of the border between it and the base of Dead Man’s Land. “Savvee needs to rest.”

MacKenna sets Savvee down gently then drops beside her. The two of them don’t seem to be on any better terms than Carleah and me, though he has carried her every second of the past week we’ve been traveling since their rescue. Even though she seems to heal faster than a normal human, her body still aches from what was done to her in that pit.

She can put weight on her once-broken ankles, but not for long.

There have been no Tenebris or giant sightings, and the quiet has given me even more pause than it would have if every step of our way were plagued by enemies. At least, then I’d have something to fight.

“I’ll grab firewood.” Carleah slips into the trees.

She’s said less than ten words to me since that night at the river, and things don’t seem to be changing anytime soon. Anger sneaks up on me, coming out of nowhere. How can she still be mad at me?

Why is she so set on punishing me?

Without a word to MacKenna or Savvee, I march into the trees after her.

It takes me less than a minute to find her, though she’s traveled a decent distance past the tree line.

“Are you going to torture me like this forever?”

She turns toward me. “Excuse me?”

“No more,” I say, stalking closer. She crosses her arms, the stubborn set of her jaw something I’ve grown used to over the years. “We can’t go on like this. There’s no telling how much time we have left, and you’re acting like I am the one to blame for all your misery. No, I didn’t tell you that your death would solve the giant problem—it’s not even a permanent solution, so it seems ridiculous you’re this angry anyway. And I’m done apologizing for keeping it from you.” I reach forward and cup her cheek. She doesn’t pull away, though her expression turns molten.

“Just because I don’t come running to you to fix me doesn’t mean I’m still blaming you for lying. Am I pissed you kept that from me? Absolutely. But believe it or not, Fort, I have more important things on my mind right now.”

“Like what?”

“It’s none of your concern.”

“None of my concern.” I pull away from her, turning my back for just a moment so I can get my bearings. Then, I face her again. “Even if I wasn’t in love with you, I am still fighting at your side. We are allies in this.”

“A team.” She scoffs.

“Yes.” I growl and cross toward her.

“Fine. Then, as your ally, you should know I intend to kill the giants. If there comes a point when I don’t feel like I can, I am going to take myself out of the equation, leveling the field so the Blade can choose another champion far more capable than I am.

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