We The Kings: Book Two

Chapter 49

"What! We can't kill him." I said.

"He's an enemy. Even if he's not as evil as my father, he is still a Vendov soldier. What makes him different than the other soldiers that we slayed?"

He's different because I loved him.

"I just don't think unnecessary killing will get us anywhere."

"What if he runs back to Vendov and tells my father everything he's found out? Then what?"

I looked over Orion's shoulder to look back at Carlo. He didn't move. He wasn't a fighter like Orion. He was the calm in the storm. He was the pink in a sunset.

"Fine. We can kill him. But let me do it."

"Now you want to kill him? What's changed?"

"Orion, please. Trust me. We can trust each other. I've never been dishonest with you. Let me kill him. He'll be gone by tomorrow, I promise."

Orion looked back at Carlo then returned his eyes to me. He let out a sigh.

"I hope you know what you're doing." He handed the dagger to me.

"Thank you. Goodnight."

He shot a final look back at Carlo. I knew he had suspicions, but couldn't place what he thought was happening.

"If you're going to kill me, make it quick." Carlo said. His eyes dropped to his boots.

Once I could hear Orion was gone, I dropped down and untied Carlo.

"Lee? What are you doing?"

"I'm setting you free."

"What? No! You're going to get in trouble."

"I can't let them hurt you, Carlo. Fuck, why did you have to come back?"

"I did what I was told. I can help you if you want. I can stay here and fight with you."

The thought of Carlo hurt turned me into an angry thunderstorm. I couldn't allow myself to imagine him hurt, let alone dead from the war. He didn't deserve that, I would die before allowing him to step foot on the battlefield.

"No. No fighting. Please, just go home. Tell them you were captured and beat, but gave us no information. Tell them you fought your way out but you're injured and can't fight anymore."

"I don't know if they'll believe me. You have to hit me. Draw some blood or something. Make it believable for both our sakes."

"I could never, ever lay a hand on you."

I instructed Carlo to remove himself from the chair. I pulled out the dagger and slid it across my hand. Blood began to pool in my hand. I smeared it on the wooden chair, and left some drops along the floor.

I turned to Carlo and dabbed my bloody hand on his clothes and neck. The blood dried fast.

"Your hand. Let me-" He reached for my hand.

"No, no. It's fine." I yanked my bloody hand away, afraid for our hands to touch. I couldn't feel for him again. I was dangerous for him, he would end up dead because of me. I couldn't be selfish. He had to go. He had to run and find the peaceful life he deserved.

"We will go soon. Follow my lead."

I covered Carlo with my cloak as we scurried our way out of the castle, careful to avoid seeing any guards. The downpour of rain in the dark night provided a cover for us.

I took a hefty breath, relieved we weren't caught.

I took him to the stables where he had previously been hiding. The horses appeared flighty on account of the storm.

"Here. Take my horse. He's relatively calm." I said trying reigns onto his snout.

"Keep heading west. Vendov won't be hard to find." I told him as he got onto the horse.

"I don't think I want to go back to Vendov." He said.

"Go wherever, then. Just get far away from here."

"Lee. Did you go to the Calkhorn desert?" He asked, looking back at me.

The memory of me leaving Carlo strutted through my mind. I felt terrible thinking about how I left him. He told me not to go, perhaps I should've listened.

"Yes. I did."

"Did you find what you were looking for?"

"Yes."

"Good. Well. If you found what you were looking for, then it sounds like the loyalists may have a chance in the war afterall...If it ever ends. I'll be around, Lee. I hope you are too." He said.

His words stung my heart like a hornet to the chest. What was he trying to say?

"You better go. I'll walk you through the back wall to avoid the gate."

I did as I said. I walked him to the edge of the grounds before sending him off.

"Please be safe out there." I dug into my pocket and handed him the few coins I had.

"You too. Thank you." He said.

He rode off into the damp darkness. Seeing him then losing him in only a span of a few hours hurt almost as much as leaving him the first time.