Adrian paced outside the tent that had been set up for Colonel Soto as he tried to figure out the best way to handle the Empire without risking more lives than necessary. Scouts had been sent out to see if there was a way around New Rosanthe’s perch on the ridge. Adrian could understand Tomas’s desire to sneak past the Empire. They’d brought a good number of soldiers into the Ordas, but they had little chance of receiving timely reinforcements if they encountered more trouble than they could handle.
But the delay could mean the king’s life as well as Rayne’s, Eno’s, and Drayce’s.
He wasn’t the only one who was feeling that, judging by Prince Shey’s angry tirade that was just barely muffled by the tent canvas.
The royal heir of Caspagir had arrived at the temporary base on the Ordas border the morning they were preparing to move out. The prince had taken one look at the gathered forces and agreed to hand command of the combined armies over to Colonel Soto so long as he was allowed to accompany them.
Adrian had a feeling the man was now beginning to regret that decision.
Prince Shey stomped out of the tent, tossing the flap closed as violently as he could manage. His steps faltered when his eye caught on Adrian and Haru. The dragon was almost perpetually at his side. The only time he wasn’t close to Adrian was when it was his turn to help clear the road, and then it took two dragons to replace him—both from Clan Omari.
Adrian saluted and bowed low to the crown prince. “Your Highness,” he greeted.
“How far are we from Cael and the others?” Shey demanded in a clipped tone.
Adrian winced and slowly straightened. He had been asked this question countless times by Soto and his aids. They all wanted an exact number, but the bond between him and his king didn’t work that way. It was a feeling.
“It’s hard to say, Your Highness. This…” He drifted off and lifted both of his hands toward his chest as if he could wrap his fingers around the steel cable that linked him to Caelan. “It’s not something I can give an exact number to.”
When he looked up at the prince, it was to find him staring at him through narrowed eyes. Shey lifted his left hand and rubbed two fingers against his thumb. As he did it, he swore he saw a shimmer of blue sparks.
The prince had magic. Was this the same kind of magic that Rayne held?
Adrian gasped and jerked his eyes up to Shey to find the prince giving him a grim smile. “You. With me. Now.”
Shey marched away from them, heading to the farthest point of their temporary encampment, away from as many soldiers as possible and to the shelter of a grouping of trees. Adrian glanced over his shoulder at Haru, who offered up a half shrug and an indifferent look.
“Could be more interesting than waiting here,” Haru muttered.
With a sigh, Adrian hurried to catch up with the prince. Drayce had told him a few stories of meeting Prince Shey and other events that had happened during their stay in Sirelis. His friend had been vague about the details, but it was clear that Caelan and Shey were on good terms. Adrian had no desire to fuck that up.
As they reached the secluded spot, the soldiers that were following Shey around to protect the prince backed away to give them as much privacy as possible. The prince pointedly stared at Haru behind Adrian’s shoulder.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness, but you’re not going to get him to leave. He’s my shadow until we’ve located the king and his companions,” Adrian apologized.
“I’m not leaving you even after that,” Haru murmured, sounding all too pleased with the idea. Adrian bit his tongue. Now was not the time to pursue that. “He is mine and Caelan is my cousin. If you cannot trust me, I don’t see how we have any business to discuss.”
Adrian groaned and dropped his face into his hand. He really thought Haru had understood that he wasn’t supposed to tell anyone that he was related to the king, but there was no stopping this dragon’s mouth, apparently. Just as he was peeking through his fingers at the prince to see his shocked expression, Haru patted his shoulder and continued in a whisper that Shey undoubtedly heard.
“It’s okay, Adrian. The prince has his own secret. He smells the same as you.” Adrian twisted around to snap at the insane dragon to find Haru watching Shey through narrowed midnight-blue eyes. “Prince Shey smells of the gods.”
Shey held Adrian’s gaze for several seconds, neither of them breathing. The prince broke first. With a sigh, he waved his right hand over the ground and lifted it, holding it palm up. An eddy of wind swirled between them, stirring up the dead leaves and some twigs before disappearing completely.