Page 167 of War Queen
“Hammel’s hell,” she said.
Adrian.
His eyes traveled around the room, and he stepped through the small doorway inside. He stopped when he saw the paintings. Norah only stood and waited. He made his way slowly, looking at each one, taking them in as she had done.
“It’s him, isn’t it?” he asked her. “Lucien?”
She nodded.
His gaze locked with hers. “I want to see him.”
Chapter forty-one
Atentstoodinthe distance. Norah drew in a deep breath. She’d used the last of the blood to call Lucien, to tell him she was bringing Adrian to meet him. He’d been surprised. She’d surprised herself. But if there was one thing that might temper Lucien’s thirst for vengeance, it might be a connection with his brother. Adrian held a deep respect for Mikael and Kharav, a belonging and love. Kharav was a part of him now, a part of who Adrian was, and if Lucien could see that…
She glanced at Adrian as he sat on his horse beside her. It had been easier than she’d thought to take the tunnels and slip out of the castle. After a couple wrong turns, they’d found themselves near a city bakery, but they’d quickly been able to find the stables and leave without drawing attention. Bhastian and Soren would be looking for her now. She tried to push it from her mind and focused on the tent in the distance. There was a singular horse outside.
“Looks like he’s quite trusting,” Adrian said.
She combed her eyes across the empty terrain. “Well, he’s confirmed we’ve come alone too, no doubt.” She glanced up at the sky for birds.
Adrian followed her eyes and looked at the sky. “And you’re sure we can trusthim?”
She had told him of Lucien’s ability, and how she’d been able to communicate with him. She wasn’t sure he believed her or not.
“I don’t know.” She wanted to believe they could. “I do think there’s good in him, though. There’s a lot of pain… but kindness too.”
He nodded.
“Are you ready?” she asked.
“I think so,” he whispered.
They made their way toward the tent. As they neared, two dogs stepped out from around the sides. They were the same dogs Lucien had shown her before—the dogs used in blood sport that he’d taken for his own. A low growl emanated from them.
Just then, Lucien ducked outside, and the dogs dropped back and disappeared once more behind the tent. Lucien paused when he saw Norah and Adrian, then he started toward them. There was no sign of his witch.
Adrian pulled up his horse, and Norah brought Sephir to a halt as well. He slid down, and she followed suit.
Lucien wore no armor. He was dressed simply in a dark fitted tunic and breeches. His hair had grown slightly since the last time she’d seen him in person—it was still short, but it was long enough to show a slight curl, like Alexander’s.
When he saw them, he smiled. Except for the staves reaching up his neck above the top of his tunic, he looked more like Alexander than he ever had.
Norah glanced up at Adrian, who only stared at him. His eyes welled. No doubt he felt the same shock she had when she’d first seen Alexander’s exact likeness.
Lucien’s eyes stayed locked on Adrian as he neared. His smile faded as he was caught in his own emotion. While Adrian wasn’t a twin, there was no denying the similarity, no denying the blood relation. Lucien stepped slowly in front of him. They could only stare at each other.
Adrian was slightly taller and more heavily built, as he had been compared with Alexander, but somehow, now, he seemed smaller. He reached up his hand, trembling, and touched Lucien’s face. A tear escaped down his cheek.
Lucien stood motionless—patient, or perhaps caught in his own wonder.
Adrian drew his hand down to Lucien’s shoulder, as if testing that he was real. Then he abruptly pulled Lucien to him in an embrace. Whether he was hugging Lucien or Alexander, she didn’t know.
But Lucien hugged him back. They held one another.
Curse the gods. Tears came to her own eyes.
Finally, they broke and stared at each other for another moment.
