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January 31 - February 8, 2023
“Don’t underestimate him.” I think of the whip scars on my back. On Tycho’s back. “When he’s cornered, Rhen can be efficiently brutal himself.” “Yes, Your Highness.” Iisak makes the flame flicker again, and it glints off his black eyes. “So can you.”
I’m confident in my strengths, but that doesn’t mean I don’t think about my weaknesses.
“I have done nothing to your friends, my lady. And I would never hold them accountable for your actions.” “Is that a threat?” I demand. He blinks, startled. “What? No. I do not—” “Because Grey spent his life doing everything you asked, and the first time he didn’t, you strung him up on that wall.”
“His Highness ordered me to keep you on the castle grounds.” OH, DID HE.
“I could never defeat you in battle.” “On the contrary.” He takes my hand and kisses my fingertips. “You know all the ways to make me yield.”
“How can you ask them to fight for you when you won’t fight for yourself?”
“As I said,” he whispers, his voice a low rasp, “you know all the ways to make me yield.” This is different from the wildfire attraction of a moment ago. More powerful. More precious. This is trust. Faith. Hope. Love.
“I’ve heard many stories,” he says against my cheek, his voice teasing as he drags his teeth along my jaw. “You read so very many books.” His thumb strokes against a sensitive bit of skin, and I gasp again. He draws back enough to find my eyes, and he smiles. “Surely, we can figure it out.”
“You know,” she calls behind me, “for Harper, I would have done it for free.” She pauses. “I was curious how much it was worth to you.” “I would have given you ten times as much.” I think of the moment Harper plunged a dagger into Lilith’s chest. I have to put a hand against my midsection to shake off the sudden emotion. “For Harper, I would have given you everything.”
“And if Rhen survives, what then? What happens to this war?” “You said he wanted peace, did you not?” “He does,” I say. “He does. I swear it.” “Good.” Grey pulls the boot off my foot, all business again. “If he survives, then he can prove it.”
Grey kissed me one last time, then whispered against my lips. “I will come back to you.” I hooked my fingers in his armor before he could pull away. “Your word?” He smiled, took my hand, and kissed my fingertips. “My vow.”
“What’s wrong? Do you know her?” “Her name isn’t Chesleigh. It’s Ellia Maya.” I look over at Jake. “She’s not just a spy. She’s an advisor to the queen.”
But. He glances over. “When you offered your life for them, you didn’t have anything else to live for, Grey.” The words hit me like an arrow. “Thank you,” I say. I feel a bit breathless.
“You took her torments for me,” I say quietly. “Season after season. What you did to me cannot undo that.” “You stayed with me,” he says. “Season after season. Long after you should have fled. What I did—” His voice breaks. “What I did to you—” “It is over,” I say. “It is done.” Because it is. “One poor choice shouldn’t undo a thousand good ones.”
Instead, I throw up all over his boots. “I’m sorry,” I gasp, mortified. “I’m sorry. I’ve—I’ve been sick with worry—” And then, to my horror, I do it again. “Noah!” Grey calls, and there’s worry in his voice. His hands hold back my hair. “Oh yeah,” says Noah, and his voice isn’t concerned at all. If anything, he sounds amused. “About that.”
“Have no fear, my love. No one will touch you.” He pauses, and his voice gains an edge. “And rest assured that no one will dare touch our child.”
