“Lyr!”
I froze.
Rhyan’s anguished voice had called out. Not Dario’s.
“Lyr,” he said again. “It’s me.”
The door closed, and I turned slowly, barely daring to believe what I’d heard. Barely daring to hope that Imperator Hart had kept his word. That I’d actually had one thing go my way since we’d been captured.
Then I saw Rhyan standing in his old bedroom. We were alone.
“Rhyan,” I practically gasped his name, tears in my eyes.
“Lyr,” he cried.
And then we were both rushing for each other, running, racing, desperate to cancel the space between us, needing to find each other’s embrace.
“Partner,” he said, his hands on my back, pulling me into him. He buried his face in the crook of my shoulder, and breathed me in, one hand sliding up my spine to cradle the nape of my neck, fingers twisting in my hair. “Are you hurt?” he asked, with deep gasping breaths.
I let out some unintelligible sound as I wrapped my arms around his back, hugging him against me as tightly as I could. Then I sobbed in relief. “You’re here.”
“I’m here. I’m right here,” he said, his voice hushed and desperate. “Gods, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
“Me, too.” I shook my head. “I’m sorry we’re here, I’m sorry I put you through this.” The guilt had been gnawing at me for hours. “I should have been faster at the cave, thought quicker—”
“Lyr, no. Shhh, no,” he murmured. “That’s not your fault. None of this is. All right? We’re alive. That’s all that matters. Have you seen Meera?”
“No. But, I heard she’s in a room nearby, being watched by Aiden.”
“Okay. Okay,” he said again, almost as if reassured, one hand rubbing up and down my back, before gripping the nape of my neck again.
I let the shawl fall from my shoulders, content to bask in the warmth of Rhyan’s hug. I squeezed him even tighter, trying to meld his body to mine. I wanted no space between us, no end and no beginning to our bodies, no distinction. I tangled my fingers in his hair, trying to find the soft curls I loved, but his hair had been cut since I’d last seen him.
Of course, his father would have had him cleaned up. I buried my face against his neck.
A moment passed, our hearts pounding together as if in their own conversation, our stifled gasps the only sound in the room as we simply held each other.
And much as I was content to stay there holding him, and being held by him until I lost consciousness, until I forgot the day we’d had, forgot where we were, forgot we were prisoners, I opened my eyes. Time was a luxury we were not afforded. Kenna had already warned me. Imperator Hart would use nahashim to watch me inside these walls. I could only truly speak to Rhyan before they came. After that, nothing would be private. Not unless we escaped.
And that … that was no longer an option.
I pulled back, and stared into his eyes, reddened and damp with unshed tears. He smelled clean, like himself, like pine and musk. The scruff across his chin and cheeks had been shaved, his nose no longer broken. At least … it appeared healed. His skin was smooth, and the overall color of his light complexion looked even, and healthy, though the skin under his eyes was still dark.
Rhyan slid his hands down my arms, his eyes searching me over, frantic with worry. “He hurt you,” he said, his accent so thick his words ran together. He tugged my dress off my shoulders, his fingers pushing and prodding my skin.
I shook my head. “I’m okay.”
“Lyr.” His eyes blazed into mine. He didn’t believe me. “I’ve been so fucking worried.” He pushed my dress down even farther. “What did he do to you?”
Shaking my head, I said, “I’m not the one who had a broken nose.”
“But Kane—” he said urgently.
“I broke his nose,” I said.
“And after?” he asked. “After using your power like that?”
“I’m fine. I promise. It was like the other times. I passed out.” I gently stroked the scar up from Rhyan’s left cheek to his eyebrow. He leaned into my touch, sighing in relief as I let my finger slide down the bridge of his nose. I watched for any signs of pain or discomfort. “It’s healed,” I whispered, half expecting to be fooled by another of Aiden’s glamours. “Truly?”
