Book 3: Et Tu?

Hollis

“Almost.” Standing in the training room in the castle, I adjust the shoulders of a teenage boy, training to become part of the military someday. “But you want them in line with your hips for the maximum draw distance. Try it now.”

He relaxes his hold on the bowstring then pulls it back again. At least another inch. I nod. He’s got real promise, but he’s up against a tough crop of potential recruits this—

‘Army approaching the gates,’ one of my scouts yells through the mind-link. ‘Armed, flags flying. Maybe two hundred strong.’

Oh, fuck.

Candace was right.

“Zain, take Alek and Val. Get outside before they shut the gates. We’re going to need eyes,” I bark.

‘Do you know who it is?’ he asks.

‘No. But protocol doesn’t give a shit, and neither do I. Move. Father’s been jumpy.’

He hurries off to find my other two favorite scouts.

My mark pulses, and Candace’s face fills my mind. She doesn’t know. I can’t wa