Page 48 of To Save a Kingdom

Zadé pressed her lips together but didn’t respond.

Elessan reached down and squeezed Zadé’s upper arm. “To a great man, gone too quickly.”

Zadé nodded, squeezing her eyes closed as she dropped her head.

Aliya blinked past her burning eyes to focus on the man’s face. “Ready?” she asked, grabbing a few of the remaining tendrils to her power.

“Do it,” Zadé rasped.

White and blue flames flew from Aliya’s palm, enveloping Dalyor’s body with a burst of heat that crackled throughout the courtyard. A heartbeat later, all that remained were bits of ash blowing away on the wind.

Aliya locked her knees as they threatened to buckle. She poured extra magic into the final surge in the hopes of burning his bones, too. The last thing Zadé needed to worry about was burying his remains or watching as she or Elessan smashed them into powder.

Elessan met her gaze, almost as if he knew what she’d done. He nodded, a faint curl to one side of his lips matching a glimmer of something that may have been pride sparkling in his eyes.

Zadé knelt, unmoving with tears streaking her cheeks, until the wind blew the remnants of the ashes away.

Chapter 19

Elessan

Elessan shifted in the saddle as he pulled Aliya onto the horse in front of him. When he’d snuck out of the castle, he’d lamented not taking his own mount, even though the animal would be more noticeable than walking. Had he known it would result in him and Aliya sharing hers for the return trip… Well, he wouldn’t have been so concerned.

As she settled, her perfect backside pressed tight against his inner thighs, he adjusted his weight. Before he let himself get distracted by the beautiful woman in his arms, they were long overdue for a talk.

For once, Zadé didn’t argue or give him any flack when he caught her eye and nodded for her to ride ahead. Likely the general wanted some time to herself to mourn. It was just as well. He didn’t need extra ears overhearing what he had to say to Aliya.

As Zadé gradually pulled away and out of earshot, Elessan tightened the arm he had wrapped around Aliya’s waist, pulling her from her rigid posture until she leaned against his chest.

“So,” he rumbled, his lips near her ear.

She shuddered, her breath hitching.

His cock pulsed. Clenching his jaw, he forced his attention back to the topic at hand. “You left the castle, without adequate protection. Without me. Do you have any idea how terrified I was when I realized you were gone?”

She wiggled, trying to pull away from him.

He held her close. “Don’t do that, My Queen, or this conversation will take a turn neither one of us will be able to do anything about for the next few days.” Unless they wanted Zadé teasing them, or worse, interrupting.

She froze, seeming to realize what he was referring to. There was no way she’d missed the bulge between his legs. “I’m not a child,” she said. “I’m the ruler. I don’t need to ask your permission to leave the castle or attend to the needs of my kingdom.”

“No,” he growled. “But as the monarch, you owe your realm your safety, and the only way to accomplish that is to take me or a contingent of guards with you when you decide to take a field trip. Preferably both, until such time as we can apprehend and deal with Brooks.” He pulled her against him, groaning into her ear. “By Abaddon, Aliya. He used a Whisperer in Brisimin. Do you have any idea how close I came to losing you? If you’d been there a day earlier, you could well have died!” His life would be nothing without her. And her realm… The spoiled human aristocrats didn’t know it, but Aliya was the only person holding back the dwarves and the elves from taking their revenge on her people. And she had no blasted clue.

She swallowed hard enough for him to feel the vibration through her chest. “I’m sorry, El. I had no way of knowing Brooks was going to be there.”

He took a deep breath, savoring her scent, and the tickle of her golden hair against his face. “That’s just it. Until we figure out his end game, we have no idea where he’ll be, or what he’s going to do and with whom. Please, if you need to leave the castle grounds again, at least take me with you.”

She nodded.

“And,” he said, unwilling to let it go, as he brushed his hand up her leg, stopping when it came to rest over the dagger he’d given her. “I’m going to teach you how to properly use that blade of yours.” He squeezed her thigh.

She arched her back, groaning deep in her throat.

He glanced up the road. Zadé was several minutes ahead, but all she had to do was glance back and she’d likely be able to make out the adorable flush covering Aliya’s cheeks.

Dancing his fingers up to her waist and below her tunic until he felt the warm skin of her stomach, he dragged them upward to brush the soft undersides of her breasts.

Aliya moaned again.