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  Copyright © 2019 Sarah Addison-Fox

  All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission in writing from the author, except brief quotations in critical articles, news articles and reviews.

  Cover by Savannah Jezowski www.dragonpenpress.com

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  Thank you

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  About the Author

  Thank you

  Savannah Jezowski and Kandi Wyatt.

  Big hugs for all the time you both invested in this series.

  Chapter One

  Kade Dawson wasn’t good with emotion. He wasn’t good with the smooth talk that his cousin Carl found so easy. Give him a set of daggers, a target, and he’d land every single one dead centre. Take down an incoming Numachi warrior at a gallop, easy. But ask him to talk to a girl about how he felt, that was beyond his usually high tolerance for pain.

  But a promise was a promise, and if there was one thing Kade would never do, it was willingly break a promise to his only sibling. But as Hadley’s mount grew closer, and his heart beat more unevenly, a little more of his usual confidence ebbed away.

  He shifted his footing, glad that the snow was dissipating, spring bulbs pushing through the ground surrounding the valley retreat belonging to Cester and his family.

  His jaw worked as Cester’s elderly aunts bustled around outside. Ma Hamlin, Cester’s mother, waved at the new arrivals from the top step of the main building.

  For a lot of the Northern Stormers, Kade included, Cester’s family were stand-ins for their own. Maybe if most of his own family and friends hadn’t been stolen by the plague and famine that ravaged Azetaria, he’d be less careful with his affections.

  But to care about someone and have that person ripped from your grasp, no matter how much you tried, no matter the promises made or endless prayers to uncaring gods, that kind of loss left scars he tried hard to avoid reopening.

  His body may be riddled with evidence of his brutal career, but as the trio rode closer, Kade knew without a doubt he’d rather face three incoming Numachi than rip open the scars on his heart.

  Two years of retrieving for his captain, two years of risking his life in hostile countries, wasn’t nearly enough preparation for telling Hadley how he truly felt.

  His breath was too rough as he waited for Captain Cester to meet the incoming party. That they’d arrived without Hadley’s lost brother, Thomas, a big part of Hadley’s reason to journey to Kingsport, caused his veins to pulse with anticipation.

  They’d returned without Thomas, but Hadley’s face gave no indication she brought with her bad news. The more he assessed the way she was smiling as she passed through the gates to the retreat, the more he realised she looked almost pleased to be returning.

  His lips tugged into a smile though she wasn’t looking at him, her eyes on Luna as she bounced through the gates only to be swamped by incoming members of her pack.

  His sister Meg waved at Hadley, her smile growing at the return of her new friend. A knot formed each time he thought too much on her upcoming marriage to the Captain of the Northern Stormer Unit. It would be the first time in seventeen years they’d not live together.

  Try as he might, he couldn’t imagine a future without seeing his sister’s blue eyes and mousy blonde curls, without hearing her quick tongue when he finished each retrieval. Though given his current injury, and Cester’s offer to promote him, he may never retrieve again.

  His nerves cranked up a notch as he waited for Hadley to dismount, taking in the set to her shoulders, the dark circling her eyes, and a twinge of relief passed through him.

  Now wasn’t the time to be trying to talk to her, not when she was tired, travel weary, certainly not with Brute and Carl so close, and with Meg eying him so intently.

  He sent his sister a not so subtle frown at the smile playing at her lips as he moved forwards to take the reins of Hadley’s mount.

  Meg ignored his warning, but moved into Hadley, a bright smile on her face as the two girls hugged each other. “You didn’t find him?”

  Hadley shook her head; again Kade wondered why she didn’t seem crestfallen at Thomas not being with her. Instead, her eyes widened as she grasped Meg’s hand, her eyes locked on the brilliant rock sparkling on Meg’s finger. “He asked you?”

  Meg’s smile widened even further as Cester stood awkwardly, eyes downcast to avoid looking at a bemused Brute and a smirking Carl as Meg began retelling the entire proposal.

  His stomach tightened as Hadley smiled over at him, her blonde hair catching the sunlight that highlighted the fine bone structure of her face. For whatever reason, she really did seem happy to be here again.

  Meg hugged her again and held her back a little to examine her as though she were a treasure to be inspected. “You will be my bridesmaid, won’t you?”

  Hadley’s eyes filled, her chin quivered slightly as she nodded vigorously as though unable to speak. After another hug, Meg stepped away, closer to Cester, and they locked hands.

  Kade looked away, only to find Hadley launching herself at him. Her arms wrapped around him, and she hugged him fiercely as if it was common for them to do so. His thoughts tangled as he returned the unexpected embrace. For a moment, he didn’t care about the snickering around him.

  When she pulled back, a flare of heat crossed her sun-kissed cheeks as she hastened backwards. “Sorry, I’m just so pleased you’re on your feet again.”

  Kade scowled past his embarrassment, slinking back a little himself, ramming his hands into his coat pockets. “How did you get on?”

  Cester broke in, stealing Hadley’s reply. “How about we allow them some time to rest first, Stormer Kade? We can meet in the sitting room.”

  His captain gave him a clipped nod, before disengaging himself from Meg, turning on his heel and stalking back towards the main building.

  Kade gestured towards the barn, his nerves still cranked too high. “I’ll go untack your mount.”

  Luna yipped from alongside Hadley, earning her a pat and a scratch between her ears. “I’ll come with you.”

  Meg, ever helpful, called Luna away and sent him a grin as she scooted towards the kennels.

  Brute, his muscled form swathed in a calfskin coat to match Carl and Hadley’s, met his eye as he pulled his horse towards them. “You doing good, then?”

  Kade smiled and extended his hand, flinching as Brute grip crushed his fingers. “I’m fine. You meet any trouble?”

  Carl, wearing a frown that put grooves in his tanned forehead, was the first to answer. “Let us get some grub then we’ll fill you in.”

  Kade nodded, wondering why his cousin seemed less than pleased to see him. There had been no welcoming hand shake or tentative back slapping that usually followed any time they spent apart. Was it the hug Hadley had given him that was causing Carl’s frosty attitude?

  His stomach tightened as Carl knocked Hadley’s shoulder, a cocky grin growing on his face as they walked towards the barn
. “You want to join us at the hot springs? Best way to shake off saddle soreness.”

  Kade’s eyebrows rose, heat blazing down his neck at the lewdness of the question. He readied a reprimand, but Hadley merely rolled her eyes as if Carl’s flirting was a mere irritation. “Not with you, I won’t.”

  Carl’s smile dissipated, the frown returned, and a stiff posture replaced his usual swagger.

  Brute’s lips tugged into a frown as he looked sidelong at Carl. “You never stop trying, do you?”

  Carl shrugged and muttered under his breath as they reached the barn doors. Kade yanked them open and steered Hadley’s mount inside, not bothering to cover the smirk overtaking him at Hadley’s cool attitude towards his flirtatious cousin. Serves him bloody right.

  The moment the horses were inside the barn, the rest of the Stormers seemed to appear out of nowhere to greet them. Duke and the others all sent Hadley cautious smiles, reminding her she wasn’t really a part of their community.

  She found herself edged out of the conversation and staring at Kade’s broad shoulders, trying to see if he was really recovered.

  Inside the warm barn, with activity going on around her as mounts were checked over, saddles hung and banter filling her ears, Hadley heaved a weary sigh.

  They’d rode hard to get here, Carl insisting he wanted to make the most of the final few weeks left to his annual holiday. All the way back to the valley retreat, he’d continued flirting and teasing her despite her protestations she wasn’t interested.

  She’d even had to step in between he and Brute, who’d had enough, and intervene before they got into a fist fight.

  Somewhere between Renhold and the retreat, she’d started tuning Carl out and began assuring Brute she wasn’t bothered by the constant overtures.

  Carl was a pest, but one she was no longer afraid of, and she was fairly certain she could count on him despite his annoying behaviour.

  While the Stormers took care of the mounts, Hadley followed Carl, Kade and Brute and stepped back outside to the fresh air. “How’s the head?” Brute asked.

  Kade shrugged. “I survived.”

  Hadley’s eyes slid to Carl, his pace quicker than theirs as they walked abreast down the snow dusted pathway.

  She frowned at the broody look on his face, and a pang of irritation shot through her at his attitude. Didn’t he care that Kade had been badly injured? Surely he should at least let Kade know he’d been worried?

  Beside her Brute shook his head, before a deep frown marred his forehead. “You always do.”

  Kade chuckled, and Hadley quickly examined the scar on the side of his head. Aside from the healing scab, and a patch of uneven hair where the healer must have cut it back, he looked well: his shoulders back, posture strong again.

  He caught her looking, and an uneasy smile twitched at his lips. “You managed with these two louts, then?”

  Hadley’s own lips creased into a smile. Despite her doubts, she had managed, and because of Carl and Brute, they had information about the possible location of Thomas and other boys who’d likely been abducted.

  “We managed just fine.”

  Kade’s smile faltered before he gave Brute a shoulder jostle. “Luna kept you all in check, I hope?”

  Brute laughed. “You know it.”

  Hadley listened as Brute replayed a few instances that’d happened as they travelled to Kingsport to relay the message to the king. Curiously he left out the arrival of Jax, and the ensuing fight she’d not been a party to.

  Kade listened, barely asking two questions until they found themselves at the main building. Cester’s bulky outline stood in the open door at the top of the stairs. Meg pressed into his side as they peered out.

  Carl was the first to strip off his coat as he thumped up the stairs, waiting a beat as Cester and Meg retreated. He stamped the snow off his boots before entering.

  With Kade and Brute at her back, Hadley wiped her feet and peeled off her jacket, stepping inside to the warmth and the smell of fresh baking.

  The hint of spiced tea filled her nostrils as she spied the trolley Cester’s mother must have wheeled in. At Cester’s invitation, she took a seat and folded her ankles, enjoying the crackling heat from the fire.

  Cester cleared his throat as he settled in, his eyes shifting from her to Carl and Brute. Kade’s eyes found hers for the briefest of moments before he took the seat beside her.

  “I know you are all tired, so let’s get to the most obvious question. How did the king take the message the Stormers can no longer retrieve in Amaria?”

  All eyes seemed to focus on her, and she shifted uncomfortably under the scrutiny. A flush worked its way up her neck and cheeks. “He seemed more concerned about war starting internally in Azetaria than with Amaria.”

  Cester’s face seemed to lose all colour, his gaze dropping before he pulled his shoulders back. “He told you that?”

  Hadley squirmed a little. Carl, who’d heard the king as plainly as she had, spoke instead. “His guardsman are defecting; we have information from Spike at the docks there’s talk of a revolt down south. Looks like that might be why boys old enough to carry a sword are going missing.”

  Cester’s eyebrows raised, his gaze switched to Kade, who was examining the knife hilts strapped to his chest, seemingly unconcerned until his head popped up. “The tea’s getting cold,” Kade said mildly.

  Cester frowned but looked at Meg, a question on his lips. “Would you mind?”

  Meg shook her head and moved so she could pour them all tea and pass out the sticky buns sitting on the plate.

  As Cester asked more questions, this time directed more to Brute and Carl, Hadley’s lips quirked at the stark contrast between the armed Stormers—all muscles, tattoos and knives—sipping out of delicate tea cups as they carefully balanced plates with creamed scones and dainty pastries.

  Her amusement dulled as they began to discuss all the king had said and the consequences of what an overthrow of the crown would mean not just for the country but for the Stormers.

  Carl, still looking gloomy, was the first to speak. “What difference does it make who’s sitting on the throne? They’re all the same. Blue bloods who couldn’t care less about us at the bottom of the pile.”

  Cester’s jaw worked, but he remained silent as the other Stormers voiced similar opinions.

  “Whoever’s in charge down there doesn’t have a problem taking men. Men who should be looking after what’s left of their families; whatever you say about the king, he never went that far, now did he?” Brute said.

  Carl shrugged before he grumbled under his breath. “No, but he left us to starve while he and his pals got even fatter by trading with Amaria.”

  No one disagreed with him, and Hadley knew from the sights in the capital of Kingsport, he spoke the truth. The king was still holding feasts, stuffing his gullet to overfilling, while his people scrounged enough to feed families still reeling from the decimation the plague had wrought.

  Having met him, Hadley felt little sympathy for the bloated ruler; he was full of bluster, uncaring, and seemingly unaware of just how much his own country despised him. But Carl was right, overthrowing the king now would only lead to more bloodshed, heartache and pain for the already miserable citizens of Azetaria.

  Kade eyed her for a brief moment, before speaking. “What did the king say about the princess still being in Amaria?”

  Again, all eyes fell to her, though Carl could have answered in her place. “He made it sound like the princess was supposed to marry one of the royals; he’s angry with her for marrying Prince Rahid instead.”

  Kade shifted slightly so he could look sidelong at her. “So that’s the only reason he wanted his daughter back? So she could marry to keep him on the throne?”

  Hadley shrugged, unsure of what to say in reply. “It seems that way.”

  Kade frowned; though she knew it wasn’t meant for her, it rankled her to see him aiming it in her direction. She was only relayi
ng what the king had said. She didn’t like it any more than Kade did.

  Brute finished with his sticky bun, stifled a yawn. “Beg pardon, Cap, been a long journey.”

  His gaze slid towards her, and he gave Cester the slightest of nods, that made her want to hug him for his consideration. Consideration he’d shown the entire trip, forever endearing her to him.

  If she could ever think of a substitute for her missing brother, she couldn’t think of a better one than Brute Kincaid. His muscles alone had already proven effective in warding off unwanted advances as they travelled.

  One growl from him, and uncivilised men had turned tail and run. Brute had been a fierce protector even before she’d changed back into her dress and out of her boyish disguise.

  Cester nodded slowly and released a low sigh that caused every set of eyes to focus on him. His shoulders slumped a little before he gave met her eye. “You don’t need to be here for this; perhaps you and Meg could take a moment to discuss other things?”

  Meg shot out of her seat, nearly knocking the cup from Cester’s hand. Her excitement contagious as she held out her hand. “What about a dip in the springs?”

  Hadley’s body seemed to react at the thought of the warm pools hidden at the back of the Retreat. The idea of soothing her aching muscles caused her to share Meg’s expression.

  Kade’s gaze locked on hers as she pulled herself out of the chair, the slightest pink tinging his tanned cheeks as she passed by.

  Carl grumbled as she slid out the doors behind an enthusiastic Meg. “Typical.”

  The moment Meg and Hadley were out the doors, Carl’s grumbling ceased. Instead the tiniest of smiles appeared as though he was scheming something.

  Kade’s unease grew as Carl started yawning, exaggerating the motion as he slumped a little further back in his chair as if illustrating his point.

  Kade didn’t need to think too hard on where Carl’s thoughts lay. If Hadley was going to the hot springs, Carl would likely try to also.

  Cester’s voice broke into his thoughts, and after a hefty frown at Carl, he turned his attention back to what Cester was saying.