Shadows of Demise (The Warrior Angels Trilogy - Book 3)

Chapter Ten

Beatrice set down her hairbrush and stared blankly at her reflection. Then her heart jumped when she noticed a figure behind her. She shifted her gaze and smiled when she locked eyes with Maribel through the glass.

"Richard asked me to inform you that he might not be around for a while," Maribel said, stepping forward. "He said he is going on a mission."

"A mission?" Beatrice turned around in her seat. "Why did he not inform me himself?"

"I wondered the same. He was in a hurry, it seems, and asked me to quickly take him to the manor to gather his supplies. I did not want to waste his time by asking him too many questions. I worry about him, though. He is a great fighter, but he is also human. No one is invincible."

"Do you believe he went alone?"

"He did not mention anyone else joining him."

Beatrice widened her eyes. "He cannot be this foolish."

"I can search for him if he does not return within two days."

"Luc has also departed with soldiers to investigate a few areas. Considering how secretive Richard had been, I know they are not going to the same place."

Maribel folded her arms across her chest and frowned. "The group I am with has not been given any orders to attack. Therefore, I'm uncertain what Richard could have heard or seen to make him leave so abruptly."

"It is a matter of him wanting to find out more answers for himself. I've no doubt about that. I only wish he would have come to tell me where he was headed."

"On the bright side of this, at least you will not have to see Luc for a while either."

Beatrice knitted her eyebrows and stood. "I was not happy with that, though. He is marching out there to prove to everyone that he is supposedly stronger than I am—that he cares far more about assisting. He will return sore and exhausted and wanting to be coddled. Who do you believe my mother is going to force to fulfill that need?"

"That is..." Maribel grimaced and shook her head. "I look forward to all of this being over and to see you finally throwing him out of the capital."

"There is nothing more I want." Beatrice lowered her shoulders and glanced toward the door. If Richard had confided in anyone about his whereabouts, it would've been Ashton. Whether Ashton was willing to confess to Beatrice was beyond her. The mere fact that he hadn't already found a way to speak to her about this told her more than enough.

"I should go before anyone suspects anything," Maribel then said as she turned back to the window.

"Take great care of yourself, Mar," Beatrice whispered. "We shall meet again soon." When she looked, Maribel was gone. She closed her eyes as she pictured the inn in her mind.

However, Beatrice quickly reopened her eyes and groaned. She wanted to avoid being seen by anyone, and she had no idea which room would be his.

"Think... think," she scolded herself as she began to pace in front of her bed. "There must be a way for me to find him. I am not going to sit around and wait for the possibility of him coming here. No, it is less likely for him to want to come here now. I suppose I can simply speak to the owner and ask..."

Beatrice halted and rubbed her temples with the tips of her fingers. Then she gasped.

Something had occurred when she attempted to go to Lolitus. She'd tried to will herself to go there directly, yet she appeared where the soldiers had been instead... where Ashton had been. He'd crept into her thoughts during her process, and her magic took her right to him.