Read The Destroyer Book 3 for Free Online

did . . . how are you here? How am I here?"
    "We can get into the details tomorrow after you rest."
    "Last I saw you, we were in your bathroom." She smiled at me and then covered up her lips with the cup of water.
    "We were in the hallways of the castle and I ran after an Elven into the city. It was foolish of me; I should have realized that it was a trap." Her eyes widened. "They ambushed me in the thick of the streets. I managed to get away and kill most of them. Just as I was about to return to the castle, I heard horses racing out of the west gate. I saw three Elvens on horseback. One of the Elvens was carrying Jessmei."
    "Nanos betrayed us to the empress," she said as she set down her cup. Her mouth made a hard line.
    "I didn't have time to come back, I just set off after them. Jessmei is safe. She is in Merrium, a small dairy village about a week's ride north of us."
    "Jessmei is alive?"
    "Yes." I couldn't help but smile. "Greykin and your father should be there, along with the queen. Runir sent a few dozen men north to get them."
    "My father is alive?" Her face cracked and tears streamed from her eyes. I got up from my chair to touch her but she met me halfway, scattering our plates of food across the floor of the tent. My arms circled her shoulders and hers came around my chest. She buried her face in my tunic.
    "At Merrium we learned of Nia being sacked. The news was grim, but I didn't want to believe it. I set off on my own and got back to the castle." I continued my story when her sobs seemed to ebb, "I found Greykin in a tavern on the south side of the city and we exchanged tales. He intended to travel through the sewers and make his way through the dungeon of the castle. He had a small group of men and planned on saving whomever he could from the royal family."
    "I am glad he is alive. Last time I saw him he was defending Paug and I from half a dozen Losher soldiers." Nadea pulled her face away from my shoulder and looked into my eyes with a faint smile.
    "We got separated under the dungeons and they ended up making it there before me. I put on servant's clothes and was going to get my feeling for the workings of the castle, but then I met your father. He had taken over as one of the managers." Nadea laughed and hugged me again.
    "That is just like him. Genius." The sensation of her body laughing against mine made my head spin.
    "Beltor's men found Greykin's and the three of us discussed what to do next. He had heard no news of your death, so he imagined that you were somewhere in the castle. He knew that Nanos was being kept as a prisoner, but he did not know that the prince had betrayed us."
    "Fucking asshole. After this I am going to rip each of his rib bones out one at a time," Nadea seethed.
    "We'll discuss that tomorrow." She was getting agitated and I wanted her to relax. I did not want to tell her that I was the reason Nanos was alive and well inside the castle. I had not wanted to waste time on him when she needed me to save her life.
    "Your father left a note for Nanos and had it delivered with his food. There were instructions to meet in the West Wing’s garden about your whereabouts." Her eyes flashed dangerously and I smiled. "Nanos came to the meeting place but the leader of the Elvens found him and then questioned him about the note."
    "The Elven leader threatened Nanos, I couldn't hear what he said. Then he left. We caught up with Nanos before he made it back to the castle and told him what we were planning. We had no idea he had betrayed the kingdom."
    "He's done worse than that." Her voice tore like she wanted to scream.
    "What did he do?" I asked. Runir said that Nadea had been imprisoned by Nanos and the Elvens. He told me that the prince gave us up to the empress, but had he done something worse to Nadea? I felt my blood begin to boil as I imagined the annoying blonde man raping her.
    "Finish. Please." She gritted her teeth and let out a deep breath. I searched her eyes for some hidden