her beloved’s reign. It was on this campaign that she earned the nickname “the General,” and it wasn’t long until she returned home triumphant.
In a bold romantic gesture, she presented the severed head of the gang leader to her husband as a belated wedding gift, and he promptly fainted into his barley soup.
—A popular cookhouse tale
We were Shadow Twins, half sisters, but we couldn’t have been more different.
- CHAPTER 24 -
VERONYKA
VERONYKA DIDN’T KNOW WHAT to do with herself that night. She was dying to know what—if anything—had happened with Tristan and the commander, but she hadn’t seen either of them since the obstacle course.
She still couldn’t believe how well everything had played out—the planned and unplanned parts, like the accidental release of the hounds. She’d been so focused on the horses, ensuring only a handful escaped, that she’d completely forgotten about the dogs. One moment they were on the far side of the paddock, quite absorbed in chasing and snapping at one another, and the next they were barreling through the gate along with the horses and causing an additional distraction Veronyka wasn’t sure Tristan would be able to handle.
But he had. He’d taken it all in stride, pushing outward with his magic while trusting the animals he already had under his power. Even in the face of Rex’s crackling flames, Tristan had been the picture of confidence and control.
He’d been magnificent.
Veronyka kept thinking about the way he’d hugged her afterward, the gleam of triumph—and something else she couldn’t quite place—sparkling in his eye. Her heart had stopped at first, the thought of her bound breasts pressing against him making her dizzy. But he didn’t seem to notice, and then before she knew it, they were apart again. The other apprentices had pushed in, and Veronyka had stepped aside to attend to her duties.
Now she awaited the commander’s verdict. Whether he decided Tristan was ready to lead a patrol or not, Veronyka was quite certain he would deem their extra lessons no longer necessary.
The thought caused an unexpected pang of sadness. Their nightly time together had transformed from something to dread into something she spent her entire day looking forward to. From their first meeting, Tristan’s success and progress had been tangled up in her own, and though they had embraced their fate and willingly helped each other, they would no longer be required to train together. If he became a patrol leader, his daily schedule would change, and he probably wouldn’t have time to practice with her at all.
Needing some fresh air after the dinner that Tristan and the commander did not attend, Veronyka decided to take Wind for a walk out to the obstacle course. It was the one place Tristan might go looking for her, and besides, Wind had grown accustomed to the nighttime exercise and had been emanating impatient thoughts from the stables all evening. Veronyka reasoned that even if Tristan never turned up, she could try riding Wind on her own.
The horse snorted in irritation as Veronyka tried to mount up. She’d been watching closely as the other apprentices rode their horses and thought she could mimic the basics. However, after three attempts she dragged one of the crates over from the nearest obstacle and used it to climb into the saddle.
She tried to steer Wind to the right, but pulled too hard on the reins, causing the horse to toss his head. Veronyka loosened her grip, focusing on her right leg instead. It worked, but when she looked up, it was to see that he’d turned them around in a complete circle. Using her animal magic, she told him to stop, then remembered she wasn’t supposed to do that and told him to ignore her. And so he kept turning to the right, taking them around for a second loop.
“Are you lost?” said a voice from nearby, and Veronyka stiffened. Wind stopped his movement as Tristan appeared, putting a gentle hand on the horse’s head. He smirked up at her. “The course is over there.”
“Tell the horse that,” Veronyka muttered, face hot with embarrassment.
“Wind.” Tristan’s smile widened. “His name is Wind.”
Veronyka scowled, remembering when she’d told him off for the same thing.
Bite him, Veronyka thought to Wind, who angled his head, sizing up Tristan’s bare forearm. She hastily called him off and dismounted. Luckily, she didn’t fall.
“So, where have you been all night?” she asked. “I didn’t see you at the dining hall.”
“Eating with the commander,” he said, petting Wind absently.