Free Warrior Prince by Emma Raveling

late.

FIFTEEN

    She led the way, back slightly bent, arm loosely gripping her blade. Ian and Aubrey followed her into the trees along the western border.
    The thick night and restless wind swallowed them.
    I called Garreth. "They're in."
    There was nothing left to do but wait.
    "You know you have no right."
    "Never said I did," I said calmly. "Didn't you want to say anything before she went in?"
    Air shifted, carrying the scent I first caught when I stepped out of the car.
    The First Lieutenant came forward to stand beside me. "I'm sure you said everything she needed to hear."
    He made it sound as if I were the most boring person in the world.
    "Better than saying nothing while she's in trouble."
    "You don't know her," he countered.
    "And you do?"
    Most men ran at the tone I used. But Julian crossed his arms and gave me a challenging look.
    "You left for six months, Your Highness."
    "Yes." He had no understanding of what I did. "There were issues that needed —"
    "I'm sure. But don't expect everything to be the same as it was when you left. She doesn't trust you any more."
    I ignored the doubt those words ignited. "The sondaleur and I work together. We couldn't do that if there was no trust."
    He laughed. "You're such a hypocrite."
    I concentrated on keeping my hands by my side. My nerves were already on edge and this asshole was pushing every button.
    "What do you mean?"
    Don't test me.
    "The Warrior Prince always talking about duty and responsibility." He stepped closer. "And yet you're risking the future of the one person who can end this war."
    "There are different kinds of dangers, Lieutenant. You only see one kind and in doing so, you risked her well-being."
    "I was the one who was here for her."
    "Were you?" I made sure he saw the accusation in my eyes. "Did you really help her? Because all I see is a selfish ass who used her."
    "What did you just say to—"
    "Admit it. You need her, Julian." Anger uncoiled fast, writhing like a snake in my gut. "The sondaleur and the demillir with a Virtue. All those distractions, adrenaline rushes, risk-taking never quite takes it away. But she eases it, doesn't she?"
    For one moment, I thought he'd hit me.
    But then he reverted to his usual cool mask. "Nothing wrong with need, Your Highness."
    I struggled to resist knocking that smirk right off his face.
    "As long as it's balanced." Crossing my arms kept them in check. "You need her. But you don't know what she needs. You can't give to her the way she can to you."
    I knew Julian cared about her and I wasn't so much of a bastard that I couldn't appreciate that. But he placed Kendra at risk and that was something I couldn't accept.
    "I might not live up to your standards, Your Highness. But at least I can give her a life. A future. You can't even give her something as basic as that."
    "That's true," I murmured. "But there is one thing I can give."
    I remembered how she shone in that San Aurelio club. Every part of her bursting with vibrance, straining for freedom and independence in a limited world.
    "I'm willing to let her go so she can find what she needs for her life. I want her to choose for herself." I turned away from him. "Have you ever given her a choice? Or have you always demanded what you need from her?"
    I didn't have to see his face to know the answer. I'd seen it at Cafe Riviere a few weeks ago.
    SUVs pulled up behind my car. Gardinels and chevaliers poured out, taking up their assigned positions.
    Julian lowered his voice, but not its intensity. "You're going to lose her."
    "I never had her to begin with." I stepped away. "None of us own her, Julian. Not me, not you. Not a prophecy, elementals, or this war. She belongs to herself."
    I joined my men, focusing on the logistics of what lay ahead.
    A ring of selkies and demillirs circled the area, all connected and unified in purpose.
    For Gabe and Marcella. For Lyle, Drogo, Romilly, and Bran.
    For Haverleau's children and the ondine brave enough to walk in first.
    But