before she was taken to Iron Gate.”
“When? How?”
“He told Adrix he wanted to say goodbye to Ellis. When Teo arranged to have her taken to Iron Gate a few hours later, she was healed. Sigan is denying it, of course.” Krey laughed. “Ellis told Teo she had always been a quick healer and then refused to say anything else.”
Some of the worry in my chest eased. Of course, it was immediately filled with an ache for my sadora that nothing could or would ever ease.
“The Cillades contacted Quill. They said they attacked us because they believed we were going to attack them. That they believed the Emirans had asked for our assistance in the war again.”
“Tell me Quill did not believe them.”
“Of course not. But us being out there has not improved relations between us and the Cillades. The other three provinces have already messaged Quill about it. Eastolf, in particular, was livid and acted like Quill had started a war with the Cillades.”
“Krono,” I said. “What a mess.”
“It is. The good news is – the Cillades and Emirans peace treaty is over and they’re back to war.”
“How is that good news?” I said.
“For your female,” Krey said. “Not that Iron Gate is great for her, but it is better than the Earth prison. The longer the war lasts, the longer she will live.”
“Yes,” I said. My face darkened and I prayed to Krono I could keep the guilt from showing on my face. Ellis dying was the least of my concerns. Because I had no intention of letting her be returned to Earth.
I turned away and took my time putting the sparring sword back with the other ones. I had reacted badly to Ellis trying to escape. It was because of fear for her safety but it was no excuse for how I had spoken to her. I’d realized within hours of her being taken to Iron Gate that living without her was not an option.
I should never have been angry with her about trying to escape without talking to me. I’d never given her any indication that I loved her and, in fact, had told her that this was nothing more than sex between us. Why would she have confided in me or asked me to help her? I’d been a damn froden, but Krono help me, I would make it up to her. I loved her and needed her and no one, not the humans, not even my king, would keep me from her.
I had already begun to make discreet inquiries about land for sale. Once I had something suitable for us, I would use my position as head of the King’s Guard to take Ellis from Iron Gate and escape with her. No one would question me at Iron Gate about why I was taking Ellis, especially if I said our king demanded it.
Once Ellis was safe with me, we would disappear. Our province was large, and a small piece of farmland far away from the city would keep Ellis safe from discovery. I would never see Quill or Krey or my mother again, but I would have my sadora with me and that’s what mattered. I was barely hanging on now with her being in Iron Gate, but at least I knew she was safe there. The thought of her suffering and dying in an Earth prison made me nearly mad with fear and anger.
I loved Ellis and I would not allow her to be taken from me.
If she’ll even have you. You hurt her. You said terrible things to her.
She would forgive me. She had to. I loved her and would spend the rest of my life trying to repair the damage I had done. I would show her that I loved her, explain to her that it was fear that had made me speak so cruelly to her.
“Galan?”
“Yes?” I refused to turn around.
“Look at me.”
I glanced at Krey. “What is it?”
“What are you planning?”
“Nothing,” I said as guilt made my tail thump on the floor. “What are you talking about, Krey?”
He studied me, his blue eyes burning into me. “Do you love her?”
“Yes.” I wouldn’t lie about that.
“She will die in the Earth prison.”
“I know.”
He scrubbed his hand through his dark hair. “Let me know when you are planning the prison break and I will help.”
“Krey, I – I am planning no such thing.”
He laughed and slung an arm around my shoulders before kissing the side of my head roughly. “Brother, when will