Rise (The Order of the Krigers #1)(82)

A powerful jolt shot through my body, and I gasped. “You’re not going to die,” Morlet said.

I opened my eyes and found myself lying on his bed. Like before, he sat next to me, his hands hovering above my stomach. Blue tendrils of light poured out of his fingertips and into me, healing my knife wound. Breathing became easier, and my strength returned.

Morlet mumbled something, and his power left my body, returning to him. He collapsed on the bed. I moved his hood off his face and ran my fingers through his thick, dark hair. He didn’t say anything as he lay there heaving deep breaths, working through his exhaustion. In this state, he appeared kind and peaceful, a hint of the person he could be if things were different.

“Thank you,” I whispered, even though he was forced to save me because of the stunt Anders pulled. It wasn’t out of kindness but out of necessity.

My hands and arms started to dissolve—Vidar must be close by with the medallion. Morlet reached up to touch my face just as I disappeared.





Chapter Twenty-Three


My eyes fluttered open. I was lying on the ground in a small, dark room. Vidar lingered above me, my hand clutching his medallion.

“She’s awake.” He moved back, allowing Anders to sit by my side.

“I’m so sorry I did that to you,” he said, his voice strained. His eyes were red and glassy.

“Don’t ever pull a stunt like that again,” I said.

“Then don’t ever offer to give yourself to Morlet to save Vidar or me.”

The truth was, I’d do it again in a heartbeat, so I didn’t promise him anything. I sat up, my stomach not even sore. “Where are we?”

“We took cover in a friend’s apartment so you could heal,” Vidar answered. “Since you were so injured, we didn’t lure the soldats after us. We narrowly escaped the castle grounds. Luckily, Morlet was too busy worrying about you that he didn’t have time to organize his army.”

Anders pointed to my stomach. “Are you healed?”

“Yes.” Although, I was still covered with blood. Anders pulled me to my feet, kissing my forehead, shocking me with the intimate gesture especially in front of Vidar.

“The two of you have been lying to me,” I said.

Vidar ran his hands over his face. “Technically, not lying so much as concealing the truth.”

“Why?” Didn’t they trust me?

“I wanted you to like me for who I am—not my position. I was also afraid you’d think I only cared about retaking the throne.”

“What’s your excuse?” I asked Anders.

“Vidar ordered me not to say anything.”

“Do the other Krigers know?” Vidar scratched his chin and shrugged. “I’m the only one who didn’t know?”

“It’s also hard to stomach the reality of being related to Morlet,” Vidar said.

It went deeper than that. “He’s your brother.” They shared the same blood. Was that why Morlet felt familiar to me? Because he was Vidar’s brother? I wanted to get out of the capital so I could have some time to myself to think about everything that had happened today—my father’s death, rescuing the Krigers, and Vidar’s true identity.

“Espen and I may have been brothers once, but Morlet is no kin to me. He is my enemy.”

“I think there’s still a part of Espen in him.”

Three loud thumps sounded on the ceiling. “That’s our cue to go,” Anders said. “Soldats are getting close to the building.”

“We’re in a hidden room below a friend’s apartment,” Vidar explained, sensing my confusion. “He’s keeping watch for us. This room has an escape route he uses for emergencies.”

“What sort of escape route?” As much as I hated the tunnels, they were preferable to running through the streets when the army was actively searching for us.

“Well,” Anders said, “you’re not going to like this, but it’s the fastest way.” He handed me my bo staff.

Taking my weapon, I rolled my eyes. I never liked any of his crazy ideas, but they always worked, even if they didn’t go as planned. He led us to the corner of the room where there was a door in the rickety, wooden floorboards. “Another tunnel?”

“Not exactly,” Anders said with a wry smile. He opened the door. Cool air and a loud noise greeted us.

It sounded like a river flowed below. “This is a tunnel filled with water?” I asked with disbelief. “We’re not swimming out of the capital are we?” My venture through the underground cavern when I was forced to take the water tunnels to escape hadn’t been particularly fun or easy.

Anders laughed. “The tunnels are only half full of water.” He pointed inside the opening. I peered down—there was a boat. He reached below the floor and unlatched several hooks. “When I undo the last one, we won’t have much time before the boat is carried away. I’ll jump first, Kaia second, Vidar—close the door and jump last.”

“Wait,” I said, “maybe we should discuss this.”

“There isn’t time.” Anders undid the last latch, and a loud boom sounded below.

“How far down is it?” Panic swelled inside me.

“Not far.” Anders jumped.