Chapter 21 – Reinforcements
MARCIA’S PERSPECTIVE
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The news came tucked into a sealed scroll, handed to me by one of Dravic’s messengers. I didn’t open it right away. Just stared at the wax crest, turning it over in my hands.
“Open it,” Laura said, nudging me with her elbow. “Let’s see what this is.”
I did as she said, unfurling the scroll and scanning the words.
It was short. Formal and precise. No beating around the bush.
For a moment, my breath caught in my throat.
I had been promoted.
Officially.
Not just a pat on the back or another whispered compliment passed between soldiers. This time, it was real. Written in the King’s own words.
I was now ranked higher than both Kael and Eunice.
A smile stretched across my lips. It wasn’t pride, or even satisfaction. Just relief.
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I’d been dismissed too many times before. Laughed at. Judged. Assumed to be nothing more than a girl with too many opinions and not enough strength. Even the King had thought I’d joined the war out of petty jealousy. That I wanted to compete with Eunice. Chase after glory. Chase after Kael.
But he was wrong.
And this battle, this war had proven it to everyone.
This wasn’t about any of them.
It was about Ryke. Arthur. My father. My mother. And my people.
It was about the Xendale name and the legacy tied to it.
I exhaled slowly, folding the scroll and tucking it inside
my coat.
“Was it good news?” Quin asked.
I gave a small smile. “Yeah. I think so.”
Later that day, Dravic found me sitting with my squad.
I stood up when he approached, offering him a smile.
“You got the news?” he asked.
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“I did,” I nodded.
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“Congratulations, Lady Xendale.” He smiled, his green eyes glinting under the evening sun.
“Thank you. Wouldn’t have been possible without your help.”
Dravic shook his head. “You give me too much credit.”
“You deserve it.” I shrugged.
“The others don’t know yet about the promotion,” Dravic added. “It’ll be announced at the banquet.”
Right. The banquet.
I scowled. “I don’t like celebrations,” I muttered.
“Neither do I,” he replied, lips quirking. “But soldiers need them. Something to remind them they’re still human. That there is more to life than just fighting and bloodshed. It keeps up the morale.”
I nodded. “Yeah, I know.”
“Walk with me?” he asked, turning around and setting out towards his camp. I fell into step with him. “I wanted to give you this,” he said, extending a leather pouch towards me, one I hadn’t noticed in his hands before.
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“What is it?” I asked, taking it from him.
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“For the witches,” he replied. “Consider it a small reward for your efforts.”
I opened the bag to find medicinal supplies inside. Salves, pastes, bandages.
I looked back at my team. Tired, scraped up, but smiling.
“Thank you, but the witches don’t need it,” I said. “They heal themselves. I’ll give it to the rest of my squad.”
“Whatever you want, Mar. You should clean up and dress well for the banquet. Tonight, you’ll be honoured, whether you like it or not.”
I met his eyes, something steady and strange stirring in my chest. Warm and quiet.
“Okay,” I said softly. “Whatever you want, Dravic.”
He smiled.
As we reached his camp, I noticed the change in his gait. There was blood on his side. Not healed, dry blood usually found on werewolves. But fresh blood from an open wound.
“Are you hurt?” I asked.
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We entered the camp, and I stared at him, waiting for a response. There was no one else here. Just us.
“Close the flap,” he said simply.
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I did as he said. “Dravic?” I pushed, walking up to him. “Show me.”
He stared down at me. “It’s nothing. Don’t worry.”
“Show me,” I insisted, refusing to back down.
I tried to rip off his shirt, but Dravic caught my wrist.
“I’m fine, Mar,” he said, eyebrows pulling together.
There was a large stain forming on his tunic now.
Without warning, I pushed him down, forcing him to sit on the tree stump behind him.
Dravic raised a brow at me.
“You’re bleeding,” I said, attempting to see his wound again.
But Dravic caught my other arm as well, spinning me around and pulling me into his lap.
I gasped, as he trapped my arms against my waist, his chin
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resting on my shoulder.
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“Stop,” he whispered, breath fanning my ear. “Just… stay quiet.”
My heart hammered in my chest.
For a moment, I found myself obliging like a little girl.
But then I frowned.
“No,” I snapped, freeing my hands and standing up. I turned to him, leaning in and finally ripping his shirt off. My eyes widened when they fell upon the deep gash in his side. “Dravic,” I whispered incredulously, “forgive me, Your Highness, but you are an idiot.”
Immediately, I opened the bag of medicinal supplies that he’d handed me, and knelt before him.
Dravic chuckled drily, allowing me to treat his wound. I poured alcohol over it, and he hissed, teeth gritting. I glanced up at him, raising a brow.
“You’re a child,” I muttered. “Sit still.”
Dravic narrowed his eyes at me. “And you’re scarier than your father and brothers combined. That’s saying something.”
I smiled, wiping away the blood and cleaning his wound, my fingertips brushing his hard chest in the process. Dravic’s heart
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thumped, loud enough for me to feel it beneath my skin.
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I swallowed, staying silent as I pressed the salve to his wound.
“You didn’t have to do this,” he said.
I felt his eyes on me. But didn’t have the guts to meet his gaze. I focused on his wound, not allowing my eyes to wander to his toned chest or the veins peeking through the skin of his arms.
“I know. I want to.”
He fell silent then, and I finished dressing his wound, bandaging it again.
“All done,” I whispered, lowering my eyes to the ground.
Dravic’s fingers found my chin, and he tipped my face up, leaving me no choice but to look at him. He held my gaze, leaning in until his breath fanned against my lips. My heart threatened to beat its way out of my chest, but I remained still, holding my breath.
His gaze flickered to my lips, while his own parted.
“They’ve arrived!” a loud voice shattered the silence, and I almost jumped away from him, glancing over my shoulder. It was one of the fresh recruits, looking slightly flushed as he stared at us. “Uh, the—the reinforcements. Kael Lightwood and Eunice Hale. Sorry.”
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Chapter 21 – Reinforcements
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He rushed back outside, and I realised why when I glanced at Dravic. His eyes had turned black with annoyance.
And were I a wolf, mine would have done the same thing.
I was going to see her in a moment.
Eunice Hale.
The one responsible for my family’s massacre.
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