All Chapters of Bloodbound Destiny : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Silence.I wasn’t sure if that meant he agreed with his father or not, so I added, I won’t stand by while innocents die in a fight over me. If you try to stop me, I’ll stab you in the stomach.”Tristian snorted. “How do you propose to save them? To sprint past them, shield flaming bright, and hope the whole lot of Cassius’s army pursues after you?”“Hardly.” I lifted my sword. “I’m going to light his ships on fire and lure him down to the beach.”It was the best idea I could think of. A fleet of ships would cost a fortune in time and treasure to replace.When they noticed the fire, Cassius’s troops would quit the combat to preserve the vessels so they wouldn’t lose their opportunity to retreat. At least, that’s what I hoped. “The ships will be guarded. Hagrold’s no fool—he’ll protect his line of retreat.”My hands balled into fists. “Then help me.”Tension grew between us, and I could hardly breathe. Not because I feared Tristan would try to stop me but because I wanted him to help

Alpha Orion was thrilled that it had been me who’d set fire to the ships, considering it as proof of the accuracy of the seer’s foretelling. I was half tempted to tell him that I’d become floating on the sea if not for his son.Victorious or not, buildings in Mystic Rune pack still burned, scores of corpses cooled on the ground, and many more moaned and cried from injuries. Logically, I understood the death toll would’ve been far worse if I hadn’t given the early warning, yet it still felt like a failure.Standing close to Lyra and Orion , we witnessed an ancient woman conduct the rituals for the burial of the dead.I looked away and my attention latched on a hooded person going slowly down the waterline, veiled by haze. At first, I assumed it was merely the smoke from the pyres. But as I observed, I saw the smoke was coming from the individual. Not just smoke, but particles of ember and ash, as though the individual were aflame.“Lyra.” I got hold of her arm. “Look at that person

My feet created echoing thumps as I stomped to the far end, the sea a shimmering steel blue. Though the spring air was cold and the tops of the neighboring mountains were still covered with snow, the overhead sun was warm enough that I didn’t regret leaving my cloak at the great hall. I turned back in time to witness Tristan dumping his shirt into the dock, muscular muscles and tattooed flesh all in obvious view. Setting the shields at my feet, I crossed my arms. “Worried about falling in?” I refused to say the term wet.“No.” He hooked his thumbs over his belt. His trousers fell low enough to display the sharp V of muscle that disappeared inside them.The wound he’d sustained last night was gone, likely healed with Seraphina’s power. Realizing I was staring at the delicious length of naked skin, I dragged my eyes to his face while waving at his discarded shirt. He only shrugged. “I rarely wear a shirt when I fight.”This time my eye roll was unfeigned. “Is that part of your strat

My interest rose with each passing second as we traveled, soaking, back to the vast hall. ?” Tristan shook his head. “I merely provided the flame. Was Andronika who set them ablaze.” At my name, Owen turned from his brother, gazing at me up and down. I gave him the same courtesy. He was only slightly taller than I was and fairly thin, his hair golden blond where his brother’s was dark, and his eyes blue rather than green. “You are the warrior princess, then?” he asked, and without waiting for a response added, “I suppose I must congratulate you on your marriage to my father.” Nothing in his tone suggested congratulations, which was perhaps reasonable, considering that Lyra was his mother, but I gave him a little nod. “Thank you.” He glared, then turned his back on me in favor of his brother. “We captured a spy.” Tristan moved on his feet, gaze narrowing. “Whose spy?” An elder warrior, a man with brown skin and silver-streaked dark hair coiled

The mountain top is a sacred ground.” Tristan’s palm pressed into my ribs to hold me stable. “No weapons are allowed, as all deaths must be in sacrifice to the gods, which means some level of safety within Vanda’s borders.” I didn’t take much comfort in that. “How long will it take us to reach the mountain?” “Tomorrow we’ll reach the village at the base of the mountain, where we’ll leave the horses,” he continued. Then another half day’s climb.” A night out in the open. I swallowed hard.“I think we should ride faster.” By the time dusk arrived, the horses were laboring hard and my body hurt from bouncing up and down for hours on Tristan’s lap. Judging from his groans as he gently dismounted his horse, collapsing on his back in the dirt and shouting at the heavens that he’d lost the ability to sire offspring, he’d not fared much better. Yet it was the first time since we’d left Mystic Rune pack that anyone laughed, so I appreciated the release of tension even i