ArcKnight (The ArcKnight Chronicles #1)

Chapter Seven

I clapped, shaking my head and chuckling. Where Jason had skill on Lily, she had speed and was petite enough to evade his grip. It was surprising, but I couldn't have been more thrilled to see her prevail in combat.

"Well done! I need to see you fight like that more often." I grinned at Lily as she breathed hard, matching my smile with her own. Her teeth gleamed white and perfectly straight. Jason, whose frown deepened the lines in his sun-aged face, couldn't be more upset as he rubbed his arm. "You got beat by a girl, ol' buddy," I said.

He growled, the low resonating hum of his wolf boiling underneath the surface while his eyes flashed yellow.

"Whoa now, we don't want any crazy happening, now do we?" I narrowed my eyes at him, and he immediately calmed. He wasn't my second lieutenant for nothing. He knew exactly what he had to do when he had to do it. Jason jumped to his feet and huffed as he walked away to cool off.

I turned toward Lily as I heard the door to the locker room slam.

"How are you feeling?" I asked.

She grabbed a towel from the rack on the side wall and rubbed her neck with it. Her hair stuck to her face and flared out in a slight halo.

"Better now. I thought he was going to pound me into the ground." She wiped her face and rubbed her shoulder. "I think my shoulder is going to have some marks on it tomorrow. Let's not forget how much my entire body is going to hurt tomorrow."

I waved her over. "Let's put some ice on your shoulder. You did great. Keep at this, and you'll be a legionnaire in no time."

She rolled her eyes. "Are they all like him? Damn. Some friend you got there."

"Jason is a bit rough around the edges, but he's a loyal and courageous friend. He's always had my back."

She nodded as her eyes darted to the ground, a tiny frown pressing on her lips.

"I've never had friends like that. I thought I did, but...." She shrugged. "Oh well, right? Can't trust anyone." She quietly walked toward the ladies' locker room without another word.

"Wait. Why? What do you mean?"

I jogged up to her as she came to a stop, still looking upset.

"Look, it's nothing."

"Lily." I reached out and touched her shoulder. She winced, so I pulled my hand away. "Sorry."

"It's all right." She sighed and met my eyes. "You know why I'm banished, right?"

I nodded, but I still want to hear her version of the story. "Just what the news has said about it, which isn't much. The royals usually make that kind of news go away fast."

She rubbed her hand over her hair, pressing her tousled strands back and looking more frustrated. I could tell she wanted to say more.

"Well, it's because... I lost my Ardent talisman. It was like yours." She picked up the pendant still hanging around her neck. "But with just one rune on the back of it and more of a topaz-colored gem."

This piqued my interest, but I didn't want her to notice.

"Do you know where you lost it?" I asked quietly.

"I—I actually didn't lose it." She bounced from foot to foot, fidgeting with the edges of her shirt as she stuttered. "It was stolen from me."

"You know who took it, don't you?" I already knew the answer to that. She was a horrible liar. Her guilt was displayed across her face like a billboard sign.

"Yes," she whispered.

"So why didn't you get it back? You might be reinstated if you find it."

Her shoulders drooped as she shook her head. "My best friend, Elise, took it. I couldn't have her hunted and killed. I had to tell the council it was stolen and I didn't know who had it."

"But she did steal it. Why would you defend a so-called friend like that?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. I couldn't let her be hunted like that. I've seen what they do to traitors. I couldn't let her be thrown to the wolves. I couldn't watch someone I loved die because I was stupid."

"But you'd rather be banished and die in the Outlands? Does that sound right to you?" I walked away toward the locker room, fuming. She'd let her friend steal the Ardent amulet? My talisman? What kind of person lets anyone get away with that? My life was in danger because of her carelessness.

I stopped, realizing she didn't know it'd been my amulet she'd lost. "You know wolves usually don't survive without their amulets. The ones that have them, I mean. They just get too weak to protect themselves."

"Yes." her voice came out in a whisper, cracking as though she was holding back tears.

If I looked at her now, I'd beg her to forgive my harsh voice. I usually relented for no one. That was, until now. I risked a peek at her, and my heart turned to mush. "We'll find her."

Blinking away the salty sweat mixed with tears surely stinging her eyes, she gave me a nod. "I know." Peering up at me, her eyes sparkled. "You'll help me, won't you?"

Even if I wanted to say no, there was no way I could turn her down now. Not with her looking at me like that.

Well, darn.

"Yeah. Of course. I'll help you."

Lily studied me for a moment before giving me a smile that could suck my soul in and never let it go. There was no denying she had a subtle power to entrance anyone who spoke to her. I was pretty sure she was used to getting her way. Even then, I was also certain that she was more vulnerable than she'd ever admit.

I was a sucker for vulnerable.