Chapter 178
**LUCINDA POV**
The wind is howling like a wolf at the moon, and I'm fairly sure a storm is going to arrive before the night is over, and if it does, I'll be trapped out in the open with the men i brought with me. We have enough supplies, if it comes down to having to make a camp out here, but it isn’t what i want.
I need to get back to the castle and warn Dieter that our daughter has met her demise, or she hasn’t. I honestly do not know what has become of her, for better or worse, i know nothing.
The fact that her body was never recovered should fill me with hope, but it does not. Not even a little. If she is alive, it means that she has been taken by the shifter general, and according to those who have faced him and lived to talk about it, being captured is a fate worse than death. He does not show anyone mercy, not even his own men.
I sigh, rubbing my tired eyes as we continue to push though the brewing storm with the horses, my body exhausted. I am not used to the long days on horseback anymore, it has been a while since I've had to do it. Years.
One of the soldiers comes forward, his eyes laced with concern, “We should stop and make camp, my Queen, the storm is getting worse, and we fear snow is going to fall.”
I look ahead as the miles of road before me, knowing that he is right, we can’t just ride through the storm.
“Make camp, we’ll stop for as long as the winds are against us.” I say, climbing down from my mare to stretch my legs.
I walk towards the small river, taking my shoes off and soaking my feet in the water, I don’t mind the cold, not anymore. My dragon and I have grown used to the harsh winters, we are prepared for it. We know how to keep each other warm through the long nights.
Dieter used to keep me warm, we used to be so close, but as Cay started to drift away, so did we, and our love has somewhat soured over the years.
I should have known it would happen, we only came together because of our daughter, because we wanted to give her a good life, with two parents.
But now I cannot help but wonder if I have wasted my best years by his side, I love him, somewhere deep down, and I want us to go back to how we were. But I also know that such a thing isn’t possible. Not anymore. We’ve drifted too far from each other.
I turn when I hear distant shouting, sighing before I pull my boots back on and follow the sound, shocked to see two of the men I assigned to my daughter. Jamie and Kiren. But one was missing, and he was the one I trusted the most.
“What’s going on here?” I shout, gaining the attention of every man present.
You have to have a strong voice as a Queen, I learnt that early on.
Kiren steps forward, bowing, “my Queen, we’ve been searching for you.”
“Why?” I ask, my hands on my hips, “why would you search for me unless you have brought news of my daughter demise, which I already know.” I step closer to him, “and yet, you are still alive when you had sworn to always protect her and die for her.” My voice grows colder, “my daughter is dead, and you are not. Clearly something has gone wrong.”
“My Queen, if you would just let us explain!” Jamie shouts, stepping forward only to be stopped by one of my guards.
I shake my head, “I don’t want to hear any of your excuses.” I snap, turning to one of my men, “get them out of my sight.”
My guard, Sam, nods, shoving both men backwards as they continue to try and argue, but I don’t care. They had sworn to protect Cay with their lives, and they had failed. My daughter is dead, and they are partly to blame.
“She’s not dead!” Kiren shouts over the noise, “Cay isn’t dead!”
I stop, my heart thudding loudly in my chest, and I turn staring at Kiren, urging him to continue. But he doesn’t.
I move the guards out of the way, stopping inches away from the traitor, “what did you say?” I ask, smoke oozing from my nose.
“The princess isn’t dead.” He pants, my power rushing over him, “she was taken by the shifter general, Alive.”
My shoulder deflate, what little hope I had been clinging to dying with his words. If the general has taken her, she’s already dead.
“Then she will not last much longer.” I say, turning to walk away.
“He spoke about using her.” Jamie says, trying to sound braver than he is, “I think he’ll keep her alive until they reach the capital, he’s using her to get to the king.”
The words echo in my mind, “he’s using her to get to the king.” I murmur, “Do you know why?”
Jamie and Kiren both shake their heads, Kiren stepping closer, “if we can just get some men together we can try and get her back.” He says, urgency in his voice, “we can catch them before they reach the next city.”
I laugh, “And how do you suppose we get these men you want?” I ask, “the princess disowned the king, I doubt he will do anything at all to help her.”
“He will if you ask.” Kiren says, straightening his shoulders, “she’s counting on us.”
It’s a sad thought to believe Dieter would leave his daughter to die, but it is true, the king can be bitter and cruel, he may leave her to her fate because he believes it is the correct thing to do.
But Kiren is right, he may also give us the men we need to get her back, if I am the one to ask for it.
But that would mean building bridges between us that have long since been demolished, and I am not sure that my heart can take anymore.
If it weren’t for my children and Yen, I would have given up long ago, I would have joined the great dragon mother in the sky and returned to ash.
I would have stopped trying, but right now, my daughter needs me, and I will not fail her.
“Ready the horses.” I say, “we ride to the capital tonight.”
One of the guards shakes his head, “but my Queen, what about the storm?” He asks.
He’s warning me against riding through the snow, but it wouldn’t be the first time I have done it.
“The storm won’t stop me.” I say, straightening my shoulders, “it won’t stop any of us from saving the princess.”
Kiren smirks, and so does Jamie.
It’s time for battle, it’s time to save my only girl.