Page 23 (1/2)

My turn on watch arrived in what felt like aunder the blanket, but otherwise nothing until Janco poked me on the shoulder Movement jolted me wide-awake as Valek brandished a knife

"It’sback

"Sorry," Valekthe blanket with him The knife remained in his hand

The cold air rushed in and I furay cloak we’d purchased at a Sitian ?"

"Nope It’s been quiet"

I peered into the darkness that wasn’t as black as it should be Predawn light seeped in through the edges of the world "You didn’t wake ht, I lost track of ti to take a watch shift, ht sleeper who has fast reflexes and is well arht I am Now, if you don’t mind, I need my beauty sleep" Janco slipped back inside

I checked on the horses They slept in their stalls unperturbed--a good sign Looping around the buildings, I ensured no one lurked nearby or had set up an as on dead leaves would have alerted anyone within aon watch had been s withabout it; I would just need to learn how toaway the wildlife And instead of doing sweeps, I found a perfect spot to watch for movement and to listen for sounds

Dawn arrived I fed the horses and inspected theed on my braid I didn’t need our mental link to knohat she desired

"I only have a few left, and you’ll have to share theed s and removed the sack of milk oats "You’re spoiled"

Kiki sucked hers down in one bite The others crunched on theirs Good thing the Keep’s Stable Master had given me the recipe for Kiki’s favorite treat I didn’t kno long I’d be in Ixia Could be seasons Had Irys sentwith Valek to Ixia would have reached her last week Did she think I stayed with him because I was terrified or because I didn’t trust her to keep ree to stay with Valek when Sitia neededover the news that the Commander had Curare No Not probably Definitely

So asn’t I rushing to the Citadel to do my job and smooth relations between the two countries? And then there en What could I do to stop hiht about it I’d been in plenty of dangerous situations without Valek But this time This time I was vulnerable The most vulnerable I’d been since I’d been a lab rat for Reyad

And every time I’d been in mortal peril, Valek had saved ave th to stop Owen When I’d been trapped in the fire world, the thought of never seeing hiainwith being selfish? Soet for assassins I could just be with Valek

Except Yeah, that was the kicker Except, I couldn’t Even without my powers, I re I wanted ar between Ixia and Sitia Not when I ht have a child A country at as no place to raise a child Eventually, I’d need to return to Sitia