The Princess's Revenge Chapter 63

Valencia’s POV

I watched him dress, my mind still foggy from sleep. Looking toward the window, the sunlight seemed bright - it felt like it was approaching noon, and panic filled my heart. This was the first time I'd slept until nearly noon. I never slept this late.

"It's fine," I offered, moving to get out of bed. "Let me help you dress."

Logan was putting on his tunic, the white linen falling over his broad shoulders. "You don't need to," he said simply.

I didn't insist, settling back against the pillows. My heart raced with nervous energy. "Do you still have to go to Ironwatch?" I asked, trying to keep the anxiety out of my voice.

"No," he replied, reaching for his doublet. "I need to handle pack business first."

Relief flooded through me. Something deep in my heart wanted him to stay at the pack house. I wanted to be able to see him always. I didn't understand why I felt this way.

"Do you know the pack's situation?" His words interrupted my thoughts.

I watched him put on his doublet. "Before Dorian left, he killed the horses," I said quietly. "He also set fire to the armory, the food storage, and the supply storage."

I watched Alpha's face grow darker, and my heart sank. "Is there more?" he asked.

Even though I knew the truth would hurt him, hiding it from him would be worse. I lowered my voice. "The food will only last three days."

His body clearly paused as he put on his boots, shock filling his eyes. Before I could stop myself, comforting words tumbled out of my mouth.

"We'll figure it out," I said softly. "You're strong enough to get us through this."

I bit my lip. Would he find my comfort annoying? Alphas weren't supposed to need reassurance from anyone, especially not from someone like me.

He walked to the wall pegs and took down his cloak, draping it over his shoulders. "Yeah, you're right," he said quietly.

He walked over to the bed and leaned down to kiss me. I felt the scent of his desire, but I couldn't control myself from responding to his kiss. He grabbed my hair and pulled me closer. I was surrounded by his scent, my arms around his neck, and our kisses became more and more intense.

The kiss was overwhelming. Every nerve in my body felt alive as his lips moved against mine. His hands tangled in my hair, holding me exactly where he wanted me. When we finally broke apart, both of us breathing hard, he looked at me with those gray eyes that made my heart race.

"I'll have someone bring food here later," he said, his voice still rough from our kiss.

"No need," I replied, trying to catch my breath. "I'll go to the kitchen and find something to eat."

He nodded. "I'll be waiting for you at the stone house later."

"What for?" I asked, curious about his plans.

"For the challenge," he said.

"I have a secret weapon that needs upgrading, and I need to find Gareth."

Logan raised an eyebrow, clearly interested. "What kind of secret weapon?"

I made a playful face and grinned. "That's a secret."

He laughed. "Alright, keep your secrets. After you upgrade your weapon, meet me at the stone house."

I nodded. He headed for the door. I watched his retreating figure, and my heart sank. We had finally been reunited after so much, and now he was leaving again. Even though this separation would only last a few hours, it still made me feel lost.

I put on my turnshoes. I walked to the wardrobe and took out my clothes and weapon belt to put on.

Another new day. Only four days left until the challenge. I took a deep breath and pushed open the door.

The corridors were quiet as I made my way through the castle. Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, casting long golden rectangles across the stone floors. The light felt warm on my skin as I walked, and I found myself pausing to watch the dust motes dance in the bright beams.

When I reached the kitchen, the familiar sounds of activity greeted me. The clatter of wooden spoons against bowls, the sizzle of something cooking, the gentle murmur of conversation. It felt like home.

"Valencia!" Nestor's voice boomed across the kitchen as soon as he spotted me. His face lit up with a warm smile.

Kael looked up from where he was chopping vegetables, grinning widely. "Look who finally decided to join us," he teased.

I felt heat creep up my neck. "I slept in," I admitted, moving closer to where they worked. "I never sleep that late."

"Don't worry about it," Nestor said. "After everything that's happened, you needed the rest."

I watched as Nestor moved to the large stone fireplace that dominated the center of the kitchen. Massive iron pot cranes extended from the hearth, and he used them expertly to swing heavy cauldrons out of the fire. The rich aroma that wafted from the pots made my mouth water and my stomach growl loudly.

"Perfect timing," Nestor laughed, ladling the steaming contents into a wooden trencher. "We were just finishing up this batch."

I couldn't help but smile. "We really do think alike."

Nestor's grin widened. "Alpha Logan sent someone to the kitchen earlier. He told us you'd be coming down for food."

My cheeks immediately flushed red. "Oh," I managed, trying to sound casual despite the warmth spreading through my chest.

Kael chuckled. "You should see your face right now. Bright as a tomato."

"Shut up," I muttered, but I was still smiling.

I moved to where a large stone mortar sat on the table. Using my fingertips, I pinched some mustard powder from inside and sprinkled it into my wooden bowl. The sharp scent cleared my head slightly.

"What are we eating?" I asked, carrying my bowl to the small table in the corner of the kitchen.

"Swan," Nestor said proudly. "Cooked in the old style, with wine and herbs. It's been simmering for hours."

I took a bite, the rich meat almost melting on my tongue. The flavors were complex - the wine had reduced into the meat, and I could taste thyme and rosemary. It was delicious, far better than anything I'd expected.

"This is amazing," I said between bites.

"So," Kael said, settling down across from me with his own bowl, "what are your plans for today?"

I swallowed my bite of swan, thinking. "I need to find Gareth."

Nestor's eyes lit up with understanding. "Gareth knows everything about weapons and metals. If anyone can help you surprise Amara, it's him."

"Do you think he'll help me?" I asked, suddenly feeling uncertain. "I mean, I'm not exactly a favored member of this pack."

"Are you kidding?" Nestor scoffed. "Gareth respects courage. And accepting Amara's challenge took serious guts, even if it was crazy."

I felt a warmth spread through my chest at their words. "We're all rooting for you, Valencia," Nestor said seriously. "Every single person in this kitchen wants to see you beat that crazy bitch."

Their support meant more to me than I could express. I finished my meal quickly, suddenly eager to get started with the day's tasks.

"Thank you," I said as I stood, carrying my empty bowl back to the washing area.

I waved goodbye and headed for the shop. The familiar sounds of hammer striking metal echoed through the air as I approached the place. Smoke billowed from the chimney, and the acrid smell of hot iron filled my nostrils.

Gareth stood at his anvil, his massive frame silhouetted against the orange glow of the fire. Sweat glistened on his dark skin as he worked, shaping what looked like a sword blade with powerful strikes.

"Gareth," I called out, raising my voice over the ringing of metal.

He looked up, his face breaking into a surprised smile when he recognized me. "Valencia! Good to see you alive and well." He set down his hammer and wiped his hands on his leather apron. "Heard you've got yourself into another fight. Word travels fast in a castle."

I felt heat rise in my cheeks. "The challenge with Amara. I need your help, Gareth."

His expression grew serious as he studied my face. "Amara's a killer, lass. Trained from birth. What can an old blacksmith do to help you survive that?"

I pulled the sling from beneath my chemise, holding it out for him to see. "Delphine said you might know about projectiles. Something better than stones."

Gareth nodded approvingly as he examined the leather weapon. "Ah, still the same one I gave you. Good to see you've been taking care of it." He ran his thick fingers over the leather pouch. "But you're right - stones won't do much against armor or thick skin."

"What else could I use?" I asked, hope flickering in my chest.

Gareth walked to a wooden chest in the corner of his shop, rummaging through its contents. "As it happens, I've been experimenting with something that might interest you." He pulled out a small wooden box and brought it back to his workbench.

Inside the box were five small, dart-shaped projectiles. Each was about the size of my thumb, with a needle-sharp metal tip and what looked like a small reservoir near the base.

"Paralysis darts," Gareth said proudly. "My own design. The tip is hollow, filled with extract from nightshade root and wolfsbane. One hit from these will drop a full-grown warrior in minutes."

I stared at the darts in amazement. "How do they work?"

"The impact breaks the sealed tip, releasing the poison directly into the bloodstream," Gareth explained, picking up one of the darts carefully. "The paralysis starts in the limbs and works its way to the core. Even someone as strong as Amara won't be able to fight once this takes hold."

"But will they work in a sling?" I asked.

Gareth nodded. "That's the beauty of the design. They're weighted perfectly for sling use. The poison is concentrated enough that even a glancing blow will be effective." His expression grew serious. "But here's the catch, lass - the conditions for success are tricky."

"What do you mean?"

"The dart has to penetrate skin to release the poison," he said. "If it hits armor, clothing, or just bounces off, it's useless. And the poison takes time to work - maybe two or three minutes before full paralysis sets in. You'll need to stay alive and keep your distance during that time."

I felt my stomach clench. "How accurate do I need to be?"

"Any exposed skin will do. Arms, legs, neck, face. But remember," Gareth's voice became stern, "I can only give you five darts. That's all I have, and I won't have time to make more before your challenge. Five shots, Valencia. That's five chances to hit Amara with enough force to penetrate her skin."

I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on me. My heart raced with anxiety. Five chances. Only five opportunities to hit Amara.

"Will you teach me how to use them?" I asked.

Gareth moved to a practice area behind his forge where several straw targets were set up. "The technique is the same as with stones, but these darts are lighter. You'll need to adjust your aim slightly."

He demonstrated the proper grip, loading one of the darts into my sling. "Feel the weight difference?"

I nodded, noting how the dart sat differently in the leather pouch compared to a stone.

"Now, the key is to aim for the largest area of exposed skin," Gareth instructed. "Don't try for a perfect shot to the heart. Go for her arms or legs - bigger targets, easier to hit."

"Here," Gareth said, handing me a small pouch. "These are practice darts - same shape and weight as the real ones, but no poison. Use these to get the feel for it."

I took the practice darts gratefully. "Thank you." I practiced the motion slowly, getting used to the new weight and balance. The dart flew differently than a stone, with a slightly different trajectory.

"Remember," Gareth said, "once you release that dart, you need to move immediately. Don't stand there admiring your shot. Amara will come for you, and she'll be angry."

We practiced for another hour, with Gareth giving me tips on timing and accuracy. By the end of the session, I was hitting the straw targets more often than not, though I was far from perfect.

"That's the best I can do for you," Gareth said, carefully placing the five paralysis darts back in their wooden box. "Take these, and may the Moon Goddess guide your aim."

I took the box with trembling hands, feeling the weight of its contents. "Thank you, Gareth. I can't tell you how much this means to me."

He placed a massive hand on my shoulder, his expression kind but serious. "You've got courage. More than most. But courage alone won't be enough against Amara. Be smart, be quick, and don't hesitate when the moment comes."

I nodded, tucking the box safely inside my chemise next to the sling. "I won't forget."