Chapter 129: The Weary Load

~ DAVID ~

Zara left the alcove first, Fireknight stalking at her back. And despite the grate on my nerves every time I set eyes on the man, I was grateful, too. At least I didn't need to worry about her immediate safety on top of everything else. There were so many things threatening her and us together… at least that I could rely on. The man would die for her protection, I was certain of it.

That left a niggling unease in the back of my mind, but I didn't let myself entertain it.

If only he could win others to the same level of devotion to her, there would be no need for any of the charade any longer. But ironically, Zara had seen the right of it. She needed to win these people over.

I was glad to have seen Agatha—always a hard sell—beginning to soften towards her. I wasn't sure Zara yet understood that for Agatha, growled criticisms were a mark of friendship. When she'd told me that Zara reminded her of my mother, I'd almost wept.