Read Online War of the Princes 03: Monarch by A. R. Ivanovich - Free Book Online

what you did. You can't go back to Haven alone. You don't even know the way.”
    “ I'll go,” Ruby said meekly at first. When our eyes met, she nodded definitively. “I'll go with him.”
    “ But–” I tried to speak, but she wouldn't let me.
    “ Kyle's Abilities could save your life, Kat, he should stay with you. I don't even know if I have any. What if my parents had the color of my eyes changed to match everyone’s when I was born? I might just be normal, and we all know I'm not any kind of fighter.” Her laugh was shallow and it pained me. “I need to see Sterling's family, and tell them what happened. They deserve to know. And... the Lurchers will follow our commands, right? If I can get a litter, I can make them pull him most of the way. Then it's just a winch and some rope... we could get him home.”
    I frowned. It was a noble notion to return our friend's body to Haven . I'm sure it would help his family with closure, but hefting your dead boyfriend over rough terrain. The emotional scars would last a lifetime. “Ruby, I don't think–”
    “ Now isn't the time to... to wilt aside or hide from what frightens us. I'm not a coward,” she told me firmly, her voice cracking. “Sterling is dead, and if we don't do something, we'll all be dead too! If we can get his body back home, we won't just have Professor Block's word as a warning. We'll have physical proof of what Prince Raserion is capable of. We need to do this.”
    “ Ru...” Kyle said, smiling sadly. He pulled her in by the shoulder, hugged her from the side, and planted a platonic kiss on the top of her head. She was rigid and wouldn't look any of us in the eye.
    Block cleared his throat and pulled a hand down over his mustache and goatee. “We can do it, if we have the supplies.”
    Lord Brendon's tone was sober and respectful. “That shouldn't be a problem. I'll give you what materials you require. Make sure to represent Breakwater's offering of peace when you speak to your people. I'm not here to multiply our enemies.”
    “ We’ll tell them, Lord Axton,” Ruby promised.
    “ You can count on us, I swear it,” Professor Block said.
    My best friend had transformed before my eyes. She wasn't the shy girl who cowered in the face of change. The worst kind of tragedy had made her a better person. Like Brendon said, it wasn't fair, but it was life, and I was proud of her. I felt lucky to have known her all this time.
    I noticed Dylan watching Ruby. There wasn't any flirtation in his body language, no pomp or attitude. A true rarity, he actually seemed sympathetic. Whether he was sincere or not, my protectiveness flared. This was yet another reason that it was better she didn't come with us. I didn't want to have to kill Dylan.
    “ It's settled then. The two of you can return with me to the keep and I'll see that you’re well equipped to return your friend home. Pilot, you may set course now.”
    “ Aye. Humbly yours, so long as I get paid,” Carmine said smoothly.
    “ Your compensation will go unchanged for this final journey,” Brendon promised.
    Carmine smiled and trotted off to the forward cabins that led to the helm of the ship.
    “Watch over them, Thayer,” Brendon said.
    Rune bowed his head. “I will, sir.”
    Dylan broke from our loose circle to intercept Brendon. “No one has ever done this,” he said in low tones.
    Lord Brendon clapped Dylan roughly on the shoulder. “But you will.” Such words of encouragement coming from the Lord of Breakwater were worth more than gold.
    Brendon gestured Block and Ruby to disembark before him.
    At first, Ruby followed Block, but before she stepped off the ship, she turned. She pushed up her glasses, higher on the bridge of her nose, and then ran to me. My best friend threw her arms around me and squeezed. “You be careful,” she sniffled. “Don't do anything you'd normally do.”
    A laugh hiccupped out of me. She had tears in her eyes, and they were infectious. I fought off the