The Secret of Spellshadow Manor 6 by Bella Forrest (books for men to read .TXT) 📕

if it were any ordinary day, fixing broken parts of their homes, chatting happily to one another, and warming themselves by the fire.

Farther afield, many people were lifting and carrying covered bodies toward a graveyard that had been fenced off. The camp already had a cemetery, but it was much too small for the number of dead. Some individuals were digging, while others buried the deceased. Friends stood by, saying kind words and a prayer over the fallen, to send them on their way to the afterlife. Alex watched the sad scene, saying a silent prayer for them too.

As they trotted through the makeshift avenues, Alex saw the central square up ahead. In it sat more clusters of soldiers, magical ropes tied tight around them. Hadrian was there, going around the groups of militia and taking notes. He looked up as the Kelpie approached, an expression of relief falling across his face as he saw Alex.

“Alex!” he cried. “You’re alive!”

The nervous royal tried to rush forward to give him a hug as Alex clambered down from the back of the enormous beast, but Ceres stopped him in his tracks, shaking her head. A subtle look passed between them, Hadrian’s brow furrowing as he looked from her to Alex, and back again.

“It’s okay, Ceres, I won’t break,” Alex said, forcing a smile upon his face. Even so, Hadrian did not attempt the hug he had been going for. Instead, he stepped forward and patted Alex lightly on the shoulder.

“It’s good to see you alive and well, though you’ll have to tell me how you managed it,” Hadrian said, all hint of his stammer gone.

“Perhaps later, when I’ve gotten some rest,” Alex suggested. “Right now, all I want to hear about is what happened to this place. I was expecting to find a warzone.”

“Here, let’s get you sitting down, and I’ll tell you all about it,” he agreed, helping Alex over to a nearby bench, where he could warm his hands by the fire. “So, when I left you at the statue, I waited a short while, then came straight here with a small army of my own students. None of the soldiers here were expecting it, and we ambushed them. As soon as we got the corral pens open, they were done for,” he began triumphantly. It was nice to see the nervous royal so animated, without a hint of a tremor anywhere. “That’s not the best part, however. I have some even better news for you, which I’m sure you’ll be thrilled to hear!”

Alex smiled. “Go on.”

“Well, Venus is here too,” Hadrian explained. “She was the true mastermind behind the release of the Starcross survivors. My army was good, and we fought well, but we would never have won if she hadn’t arrived, demanding the soldiers stand down.”

“The queen is here?” Alex asked, incredulous. Perhaps he had misjudged her, believing she’d stay in her ivory tower until the whole thing had blown over.

“Oh yes, but there’s more. She helped me in my plan, after Virgil explained to her what it was I had in mind. But, when she arrived, she brought guests.” He paused for effect, grinning broadly. “Your friends are with her, Alex. She got them out of the palace and brought them here, where they would be safe.”

Alex frowned. “Why would she do that? If I’d failed, her neck would be on the line.”

Hadrian smiled. “It’s love, Alex, or so she told me—something about honoring a former flame.”

Alex had thought he was past being surprised by anything in this world, but that admission left him gloriously speechless, for just a moment.

“So they’re here?” Alex asked. “My friends, they’re here?”

Hadrian nodded. “Indeed they are, Alex. In fact, let me go and fetch them. You wait here—I’ll be back in a moment,” he promised, jumping up and disappearing between two tents.

“I don’t have much choice,” Alex muttered, holding out his hands to the warmth of the flames that danced in the firepit before him, flickering against the warm breeze that rippled through the makeshift town. Suddenly, he felt a shiver of panic, though he couldn’t pinpoint why.

When they came tearing around the corner, his fears soon faded. Natalie saw him first, happy tears streaming down her face. Aamir and Jari followed, broad grins breaking out upon their lips. Ellabell came last, moving shyly around the corner of the tent, but her relief was unmistakable.

“You’re alive, you sly devil!” Jari beamed, throwing his arms around Alex.

Alex grimaced, the impact making everything pulse with pain. “Good to see you too,” he gasped, waiting for the stabbing sensation to cease.

Ceres, seeing what was going on, came up to the group. “He’s been through a lot,” she said. “Maybe go easier on him, okay?” she suggested, though not unkindly.

Jari glanced at his friend, suddenly concerned. “Sorry, dude, I didn’t realize,” he murmured, patting Alex lightly on the back instead, before sitting down near him.

Alex smiled. “It’s really okay, I’m just a little tender,” he assured them, though his insides felt as though they were on fire. Looking up, he caught a sympathetic look from Ceres, but she duly backed off, giving him his space. Nothing was going to ruin this reunion, not even the sensation of every cell spiking at his flesh.

“You look like you’ve been through hell,” Aamir remarked, giving Alex a careful hug.

“It’s not as bad as it looks,” Alex replied, brushing off his friend’s concern. Even now, he didn’t want to appear weak in their eyes. In front of Lintz and Virgil, it hadn’t been so bad, but he couldn’t show his friends how much he was hurting. It would only worry them, and that was the last thing he wanted.

“It is wonderful to see you here, living and breathing,” Natalie gasped, planting two air kisses on either side of Alex’s face.

“It’s good to see you all too,” Alex said, the relief washing over him. “I didn’t know how I was going to get you out, but it seems Venus kept