Page 33 of The Last Guardian

As in, the war machine of the Southern Legion, Commander Kaenington? The famous man who had destroyed entire cities? Leaving only ash and blood behind his steps? The man who had never set foot on Lorath to kneel before my father?

Could this woman be the commander?

It wasn’t possible, given her youth; she was probably around the same age as me, if not a little older. The commander was about my father’s age. The man had fought alongside my uncle, who was a few years older than my father.

And she introduced herself not as commander… but as captain. Maybe the daughter of the commander? Oh, Seven Hells… Was he on the ship too?

Nefeli left after her introduction, as if she hadn’t even realized what she’d told me. How shocking it was to learn her name…

While I bathed and dressed, my thoughts wandered to my family…

Three days.

I’d been gone for three days. What had happened since my escape? Had Aurora’s wedding taken place? How had they reacted to my disappearance? Had Haedeon told my father everything? About the mark?

What if he’d attacked my siblings, too? No.

I had to warn them, to help them leave Lorath, too. Was it possible? If I could, they could follow, right? And Lyra… I had left her alone there.

Did Nevan go to see her? Oh, no… What if he had tried to touch her, too? No, Nevan had never been interested in Lyra.

A grumbling noise thundered in my stomach.

Food. Yes, I needed food right now.

Second floor, Nefeli had said.

But as soon as I left the room, I was facing not only the vastness of the sea but also the ship’s impressive height, like a floating fortress. It had multiple levels and passageways leading to each deck, with five different floors.

I went down, watching the crew members secure the rigging and clean the deck, observing the various cabins and the large spaces for playing or reading. Some were even practicing swordsmanship.

I wasn’t an expert on ships; I’d only ever seen them from afar when Dorian and I visited the riverport of Lorath. If Dorian were there, he’d spend the whole day with the crew, or perhaps he’d follow the captain everywhere. That wouldn’t surprise me.

The sails were adorned with a roaring black wolf, like the one on Nefeli’s leather. I had barely set foot on the wooden planks when the smell of salt and sun-dried tar enveloped me. A few sailors chuckled and drank some dark liquid from a bottle around a small table.

Hoping I’d find someone to point me in the right direction, I stepped up near them when a voice startled me.

“Are you lost, Princess?” Zaidkiel’s smooth voice asked.

His intense green eyes locked onto mine, the same usual smirk playing on his lips. Since waking up, I had only wanted to find him and ask all my questions. But right now, the words had vanished from my mind.

I wasn’t sure why—perhaps because I didn’t understand why this man, a stranger no less, would have gone to the trouble of helping me. Not only to heal me but also to help me escape.

“Lost your tongue at last?” Zaidkiel arched a brow, his hand behind his back.

Oh, the words came back in full force.

“Why are you such an ass?” I yelled at him, and some crew members turned around, shocked by my harsh tone.

Zaidkiel looked around, amazement glinting in his eyes. “You’re welcome for saving your life.”

I scoffed. Maybe I was ungrateful, but he was an insufferable prick.

Who the fuck does he think he is, acting like that?

I shot a glare at him.

“Cranky.” He winked, leaning slightly forward, then strode away, passing me.