CHAPTER 29
A Perilous Alliance
“You sure about this?”
Flora shot Adrian a glare. “It’s a little late to be asking that, don’t you think?”
He exhaled sharply, his fingers tightening around the hilt of his knife. “Doesn’t mean I can’t still question the wisdom of walking straight into an ambush.”
Besides them, their so–called allies were already moving ahead, figures draped in dark cloaks, slipping through the underbrush like ghosts. Flora didn’t trust them. Not even a little. But right now, it was not an option. They needed this alliance no matter how uneasy it made her.
Adrian must have sensed her tension because he leaned in enough that his voice reached her ear. “If
“If things go sideways-
“I know,” she cut in,
“Stay close. Watch my back.”
A beat of silence. Then, softly, “Always.”
She wouldn’t let that word settle.
Instead, she fixed her attention on the task before them, her grip sure on the hilt of her dagger as they moved forward toward the enemy encampment.
The camp sprawled out below them, a cluster of flickering torches casting eerie shadows against the tents. Guards patrolled in pairs; their Armor dull in the low light. It wasn’t an impenetrable fortress, but it was guarded well enough to make this mission a nightmare if things didn’t go exactly as planned.
“Two on the left,” Adrian murmured, barely audible.
Flora’s eyes flicked to where he gestured. The guards weren’t paying much attention, but that wouldn’t last. She turned to one of their supposed allies, a man who called himself Lorne
“You’re sure the target is in the main tent?” she whispered.
Lorne smirked. “I’m sure of a lot of things, darling That included.”
Flora resisted the urge to stab him then and there. Adrian must’ve noticed because his hand brushed her wrist, a silent reminder to stay focused.
“You get us inside,” Adrian said, voice low and even, “or this whole deal is off.”
Lorne’s smirk widened. “Relax, soldier boy. We’re all on the same side.”
Flora doubted that.
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Still, they moved.
They slipped past the first patrol easily enough, sticking to the shadows, careful not to disturb the loose gravel beneath their boots. Flora’s pulse pounded as they crept closer to the main tent.
Adrian’s hand hovered near the small of her back–not touching, but close enough that she could feel his presence, steady and unshakeable.
Then-
A flicker of movement.
Flora froze. Adrian did too.
One of the guards had turned unexpectedly, his gaze sweeping dangerously close to where they hid. Lorne didn’t hesitate. He moved so fast it was almost inhuman–a quick blur of motion before the guard’s body slumped to the ground, a dagger lodged in his throat.
Flora clenched her jaw. “Subtle.”
Lorne winked. “You’re welcome.”
Adrian looked like he was resisting the urge to throttle him. But there was no time. They pressed on.
The entrance to the main tent loomed ahead, the fabric rippling slightly in the breeze.
Flora glanced at Adrian. “You ready?”
He didn’t answer with words–just a single nod, his expression unreadable.
She pulled her dagger free. Then, with one last breath, she slipped inside.
The tent was larger than she had anticipated, lined with wooden crates and weapon racks. But her eyes locked onto one thing–the figure standing at the centre, waiting.
“Well,” the man drawled, “took you long enough.”
Flora’s stomach dropped.
Adrian stiffened beside her.
The man stepped forward, torchlight illuminating his face.
And just like that, Flora understood why Adrian had been so on edge.
Because this wasn’t just some nameless enemy commander.
This was someone from Adrian’s past
Someone he had never mentioned.
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CHAPTER 20
The air became thick with tension.
Adrian’s fingers jerked at his blade.
The man smiled. “Didn’t think we’d see each other again, did you?”
Flora’s heart was racing. She had seen Adrian face down enemies before–calm, calculating. But this? This was different.
on it.”
Adrian’s voice was flat. “Didn’t plan on
The man chuckled. “And yet, here we are.”
Lorne leaned against a crate, clearly enjoying the show. “Oh, this just got interesting.”
Flora ignored him. She focused on Adrian instead, watching the way his shoulders had gone rigid, the way his breathing had shifted.
Who was this man?
And why did it feel like Adrian was moments away from killing him?
She took a slow step forward. “Adrian-
He didn’t look at her. His eyes remained nailed to the man before them.
“Tell me,” Adrian said, tone deceptively low, “why I should not put a knife in your throat right now.”
Flora’s stomach twisted into knots.
The man did not quite lose his smirk. “Because, little brother, you need me.”
The words sliced like a fractured blade through the interior of the tent.
Flora’s breath caught.
Brother?
Adrian didn’t bat an eyelash. He stared, expression hidden behind the mask.
The man–his brother–tilted his head.
“still
not much of a talker, huh?”
Adrian’s grip tightened on his knife. “You’re supposed to be dead.”
His brother shrugged. “Surprise.”
Silence stretched. Heavy. Unrelenting
Flora glanced between them, piecing things together at a dizzying speed.
Lorne let out a low whistle. “Didn’t see that coming.”
Adrian ignored him.
His eyes never left his brother.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Adrian exhaled. “Talk.”
His brother’s smirk fell away. “You sure you want to hear it?”
Adrian’s voice was glaciers. “Say it before I change my mind.”
His brother studied him, then nodded. “Fine. But you’re not gonna like it.”
Flora swallowed hard.
Something told her none of them were.
