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

Chapter Thirty

Richard helped Beatrice climb out of the well and he held onto her hands as he asked her how she felt.

"I can manage," she said. "Thank you, Richard." He released her, and she turned around as Ashton emerged. She smiled at him. "After being in that dreadful darkness for so long, it is lovely to see your face again."

Ashton widened his eyes as a dark pink hue colored his cheeks. Luc cleared his throat, and it took every bit of Beatrice's remaining strength not to roll her eyes.

"I'd like to go home now," he announced.

"We should hurry," Richard agreed. He whistled softly as he walked up to his horse.

"Beatrice," Luc said, taking hold of her wrist. "You can sit in front of me." He pulled her toward Macie and let go before climbing first. Then he offered Beatrice his hand. Beatrice sighed as she accepted and carefully placed her foot into the stirrup. She sat sideways, and Luc wrapped his left arm around her middle.

Ashton mounted Rosie and glanced over at everyone. "Are we ready?"

"Where are we, precisely?" Beatrice asked. "How did the three of you come here?"

"Julian," Luc answered.

Beatrice wrinkled her nose and shook her head. "I don't understand. I need to know everything about that encounter. Why was Julian with you?"

"We found him on our way to the manor," Richard explained, steering his stallion toward the narrow path. Ashton and Luc followed suit. "There was a broken carriage, and he was stuck inside. He claimed he'd been locked away by Inferum cantivat for the past five years. I hesitated to believe his words, but Luc wanted to give him a chance. So, Ashton healed him, and he led us here."

"It's a strange village," Ashton chimed in. "There seems to be people living here, yet no one comes outside to check on us. I was almost worried something could've happened to our horses while we were away. Then again, there is a war happening. These people may just be frightened."

Beatrice rubbed her temples as she tried to recall where she'd been. Her head hurt, and her memory was clouded. She couldn't make sense of anything, except for the fact that she didn't entirely feel surprised by Julian's return. Well, of course not, right? She knew he would eventually appear, but it almost felt familiar. As though she'd already been told he was back.

"He did not mention me... did he?" Beatrice asked.

"We asked him about your whereabouts," Richard said as he surveyed the area. "He had no idea what could've happened to you."

"He knew where you might be, though," Luc informed.

Ashton hummed.

"Is there an issue, Ashton?" Luc questioned.

"Julian was a little too confident about where Beatrice was," Ashton said, squinting as he kept staring forward. "As someone who'd supposedly been a captive for so many years, how would he know anything?"

"Are we admitting that my suspicions were correct?" Richard grinned. "I knew he couldn't be trusted. Now he's suddenly gone, too?"

Beatrice winced as the ache intensified. She touched her forehead and sighed.

"Don't strain yourself to remember," Luc urged, leaning forward.

"I should be fine," she said, lowering her hand and blinking slowly. "I think... I think Julian was with me."

"As a captive... or as your captor?"

"I wish I could say. This all feels familiar to me. Something tells me I've already spoken to him recently." Beatrice winced again as a memory flashed through her head. She caught a glimpse of Julian's grin. The window in her bedchamber... the looking glass.