Chapter 17: Break Formation

Althea's POV

I sent the scout back to the Temple with a coin and an order to watch the priestess's door.

Then I sent Ronan to the east wing, and he went with a stupid, shining grin he could not hide.

I went down to the gate in my cloak to tell Elias to double the watch.

His post was empty.

His grey coat hung on the gatepost, and his sword leaned against the wall under it.

"Elias?"

Nobody answered.

I found him at the back of the house, at the woodpile, with both fists braced on a chopping block and his head down.

He had not heard me, which was not like him.

"You left the gate," I said.

He turned, and in the lantern light his face was shut and hard.

"I'm sorry. I heard you in the house tonight."

"Heard what?"

"All of it," he said. "I have a wolf's ears. I stood at the gate and listened to Ronan call your name, and I couldn't make myself stay at my post."

I felt heat climb my neck.

"You're my guard," I said. "You don't leave the gate to listen to my bedroom."

"No."

"So give me your reason."

He took one step toward me, and stopped.

"Because I would have given anything to be him," he said. "I'm not asking for a place. I'm telling you what I did."

I looked at the black-haired man who had carried my mother's chest into my house before he knew he had.

His left hand hung at his side, with the old scar across the knuckles.

"Come here," I said.

He came.

"You left your post without orders. That's a punishment."

"Yes."

"Stand there and don't move."

I put my hand flat on his chest.

His heart was pounding under the shirt, and he stood perfectly straight, with his hands at his sides.

Elias was a commander, and he knew how to be still for a long time.

I wanted to see what it took to break him.

"Now," I said, "I'm giving you an order."

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