Chapter 152 Preparations
Coban's POV
The palace hums with preparations. Tomorrow evening is the big day. There's rhythmed footsteps walking up and down the halls. Low murmurs of voices talking about tomorrow and planning out security. Warriors are moving around with purpose. They are checking and re-checking their armor and their blades. But still, no one rushes. There's no wasted motions. This is definitely what readiness looks like.
Benjamin's crew moves like ghosts throughout the halls. They have their tool kits out, wires are coiled, devices laid out on velvet cloths like a fine piece of jewelry. The only thing with that, this jewelry will kill.
I watch from the doorway as Benjamin kneels. His hands are steady as he explained something low and technical to two of his men. The faint metallic scent of explosives linger in the air.
"Pressure plates go here." he says, tapping a schematic.
"Directional charges there. If Norman's people pushed too far in, they won't even know what hit them." he says, as an evil grin comes on his face.
"Damn. This is fucking beautiful guys." Mark mutters from behind me. "This brings a tear to my eye." he finishes as he raises a finger to wipe at his make believe tear.
"You cry, way too easy." Benjamin snorts without even glancing up.
Explosives is Benjamin's art. There is no one better than him. He is known for his chaos through his light shows and large booms.
His team marks walls and measures distances. They recalibrate twice just to be sure. Every trap is layered. If one fails, the other compensates. There is no single point of failure. Benjamin doesn't allow for it. Tomorrow Norman will learn the difference between confidence and arrogance.
Downstairs, the kitchen staff has laid out a buffet meant to feed an army. Roasted meats glisten under warm lights. Bread is stacked high. Soups are simmering in huge pots. The smell alone should be comforting. But tonight it's fear.
No one lingers too long. Plates are filled and carried off. Everyone is keeping their conversation short. Even laughter when it even happens, fades quickly.
Caden is making Trixie a plate himself. I watch him do it. He's careful of everything he puts on her plate. He pauses more than once as he considers the portions. He doesn't say a word as he brings it upstairs. Just gives me a look that says she needs this. I nodded my head once agreeing with him.
Trixie is stretched out on the bed when he returns. Pillows are stacked behind her back. She has one hand resting protectively over her stomach. The room smells faintly of herbs and clean linens. She looks exhausted. She looks so damn beautiful, but she's still very pale. Her energy hasn't came back to her yet. So I don't leave her side.
Caden set the tray down. I take the fork cutting the food into small bites. My hands are steady, even though my chest isn't.
"Hey love." I murmur, brushing my knuckles along her cheek. "Eat for me, yeah." I say softly to her. She gives me a weak smile. "Bossy much, my king." she says quietly.
"Your mated to two of those." I remind her as I bring the fork to her lips. She eats slowly.
She says the pressure is still there, but the sharp pain hasn't returned. Every bite she manages to take feels like a giant victory.
Kevan shows up first, leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed. His eyes already scanning the room. "Benjamin's almost done with phase one. Phase 2, starts at dusk." he says as his eyes land on Trixie.
"Good. Norman won't even expect half of it."
Mark follows carrying a mug of something that smells of coffee and defiance. He leans in close enough that only I can hear him. "outer patrols doubled. Inner rotated. No one slipping." then he raises his voice a bit louder. "We've rotated guards every four hours. That way there is no fatigue and no gaps."
Darien and Lucian came in together. Silent as ever. They don't ask where to stand. They just do. One near the window, one near the door. Always between danger and Trixie. They are always watching. Their presence is a wall all on its own.
Eugene checks Trixie again mid afternoon. "She needs to rest. No movement if possible. Those babies want to come out and meet everyone." he says as he shakes his head.
"I'm resting!" Trixie mutters. "I'm just aggressively horizontal." That earns a few quiet laughs. Even Eugene's lips twitch.
The girls move in and out of the room, checking on her. Talking and trying to keep everyone's mind off of what's coming up.
Roxie settles carefully into a chair and exhales. Her hand resting over her own stomach.
"We should move her and everyone in the tunnel tomorrow. Sooner rather than later. Before the war starts." she says, everyone now is turned to look at her. "It's safer. They are reinforced. We won't be scrambling at the last second. We know he's coming for her. This way, we don't have to rush to move her and hurt her worse. Also, Eugene should be with us just in case." she explains herself fully.
Eugene raises his brows. "I was going to insist."
"So I'm officially grounded to the walls." Trixie sighs.