Vex shook his head. “That’s your place. But we better still go out and cause a little chaos from time to time. Even if Cansu’s one of the people in charge of this government, we gotta keep it in check, ya know? Can’t let ’em get too comfortable.”
Nayeli grinned. “Deal.”
“See? I told you!”
Teo burst into the room, hauling Lu behind him. Shefaltered inside the threshold as Teo started jumping up and down again.
Vex straightened against the pillows. An absurd smile rolled across his face.
She was wearing a dress now, a long brown one covered in stains. Her golden skin was flushed, her hair loose and swept over her shoulder in a tangle of curls. She looked more her, moreLu, than she had in weeks.
Entirely because of her smile.
Nayeli cleared her throat and tapped her fists on her knees. “Well. Remember, Vex, your rib is broken, so no strenuous activities.”
Vex bellowed a laugh and grabbed his side.
Way too pleased with herself, Nayeli stood and held out her hand. “Teo, let’s go find that uncle of yours, yeah?”
Teo snatched her fingers. “Yeah! Do you like him? He knows a lot about Mama—”
His voice faded as Nayeli steered him out of the room. Lu shut the door behind them and Vex gawked at her.
“His uncle? Jakes is here?”
Lu leaned against the door. “After what he did, helping us in the end—” Her smile wavered but held. “We all deserve a fresh start. None of us chose this war. And Teo has been through a great deal—his life has changed more than he even knows. Jakes adores him. I have people watch him with Teo, of course. But so far, it’s been good.”
Vex swallowed his own feelings about Jakes. Jakome.
If Jakes stepped out of line at all, Vex would deal with it then. But for now, he watched the way Lu’s hesitation hung on to her.
“There’s more,” he guessed.
Lu’s eyes went teary, but she shook her head. “I’m not ready to talk about it. Someday. But today, I just want to—” Her smile softened. “You almost died.”
Vex sank back into the pillows. He didn’t know how to respond to that. Couldn’t, really, with his throat swelling up.
Lu nodded as though silence was enough. And after everything, maybe it was.
Elazar had finally gotten what he deserved. Ibarra was no longer a threat. Lu’s father was dead, too. And Edda. And Fatemah. And everyone they’d lost, all the destruction around them, and the possibility, too—the work still to be done.
Vex reached out to her. “Come here?”
Lu’s smile returned. “I don’t know if I should. Nayeli’s orders.”
He tipped his head, stretching his fingers as far as he could. “If you don’t come here—”
“What?” A blush tinted her face. “What will you do to me, raider?”
Vex snapped his head back with a laugh. “That’s it, Princesa.”
He shoved onto his palms and pain seared his rib cage.“Goddamntheever-lovingPious God—”
“Down!” Lu chirped, and dove for him. “You’ll hurt your—ah!”
Her chirp of concern broke into a giggle when he looped his arm around her waist and lowered her down on top of him.
The humid lake breeze pulsated through the balcony doors, fluttering the blankets and Lu’s hair where it made a shield around them. Vex twisted his head to one of the hands she had planted on his pillow, his lips meeting the warm, sweet skin where her sleeve showed her wrist.
