Not All Heroes Are Guiltless

Chapter 64

Chapter 64

Ethan’s POV

I stand on the beach as the stranger spins the princess in a circle. It's romantic, and my heart falls heavily into the sand at my feet. I know she said she’s not interested because she has a mate, but I can’t keep myself from feeling sick when she’s with another man.

For the first time, I’m enraged that my parents told me to deny my wolf when I was a toddler. It's now my biggest regret in my life. They thought it would make me safer because of all the hostility the Queen and her court had over lupines, but maybe I would have been her mate if I had accepted him.

Could this man be her mate? I assumed it was Delmar, but she never talked about him, and they separated almost instantaneously to me, inviting her to join me. No one in their right mind would let her walk away from them. She’s so beautiful and smart.

Watching their happy reunion felt like time lasted forever. They were emersed in talking and embracing each other. Finally, he lets her go, and she grabs hold of his hand, pulling him out of the water. Her genuine smile melts away all my anger and frustrations. I will show her I’m happy for her no matter what.

“Ethan, let me introduce you to Marquis Andrew. Andy, Ethan has been the one who has been leading the rebel groups and is now in charge of the protection of the capital and the roads entering.” She says with so much pride I feel compelled to puff out my chest.

“Ethan, I’ve heard a lot of your conquests. Did any of that training from the academy help at all?” Andrew smirks at me while crossing his hands over his chest.

I grimace as I realize he’s referring to an argument I had with one of the trainers, and I know he recognizes me from the academy, “To tell you the truth. Not a lick of it. If it wasn’t for Princess AmAela, then I would still be fighting like a bandit in the backwoods.”

“You have to give yourself more credit, Ethan.” Silence says with a soft smile I’ve never seen before. It hurts me even more that I know this is the princess from before the attack. Marquis Andrew brings out her natural self. Not the rugged, deadly killer who wants nothing but revenge against the enemies, which decimated everything she knew. But the girl who was still studying and learning how to fill her role before she was thrown into spiteful chaos.

“You arrived on four ships. We are limited in housing currently. How many are we expecting?” She turns to Andrew, and now her serious and regal presence fills every ounce of her being. She’s in work mode. I’ve seen her shift to more often than the softer side I just saw.

“Four hundred and twenty-eight men and sixty-two women. Most noble living in the capital when it was attacked. The Queen is among us. All of us had most of our ability suppressed, but she had been shackled without access to any of her magic for too long. She’s been covering after we finally managed to get the cuffs off.” Andrew is nearly as regal as she was. “Turmac has given us these four ships so we can worry about housing at another time. We heard about Ethan’s victories but never had any word about you. We were hoping to ask Ethan to allow us back. We will help rebuild any way you choose.”

His eyes focus on me, “It has been the Princess who is the mastermind on organizing the rebuilding. I’m sure she is grateful for the extra manpower.”

Andrew extends his hand out to me, and for a moment I’m lost to the gesture. I extend mine out, and he shakes it, “Thank you, Ethan. You are a good man, and I’m glad you’ve been taking care of my princess.”

I accept his gratitude and have to swallow my gut because I want to argue, and I know it will get me nowhere. Silence isn’t his princess. I hate this guy.