“Then I decide what’s right for her as her healer,” Eres snarls at me. “Believe it or not, I am thinking rationally. We have a Lightbringer here in Umbraxis for the first time, and I intend to see if she can help.”
My sigh is heavy. “You’re putting expectations on the witch that she can’t possibly meet.”
He sniffs. “As if you care about that. But our whole lives have been given up to this damn war, Kae, and I’m tired of it. We have lived this war and breathed this war and soon—very fucking soon—we are going to stand out there and die for this war. And if that happens, then what the fuck was any of it actuallyfor? Can you blame me for looking for an answer somewhere other than the battlefield? Because that hasn’t done us much good, has it?”
When I reach for him, he slaps my hand away. “Do not touch me right now.”
My heart climbs into my throat. “Eres.”
“No.” He points at me again, eyes glittering. “You’re going to getLyra—not it, but her—ready for the Binding.”
I almost choke on air. “What?”
“I have to prepare.” He turns his head toward the castle entrance. I do the same, my scowl deepening, and the fewwatching us curiously suddenly find better fucking ways to occupy their time. “You know that. She has nobody to help her, so you’re going to do it. And so help me, if she doesn’t appear at the Gloam or if she has a hair out of place, I will hunt you down andmake you regret it.”
For fucks’ sake—
“Fine,” I snarl back at him. “I will bring the witch to the Gloam, and I’ll try not to kill her on the way.”
“Good.”
He tries to walk away from me. My shadows lash out, wrapping around his body and spinning him as his scowl grows. Before he can get the words out, I stalk over and slam my lips down over his, pushing my tongue into his mouth before I pull away and hold his chin in place. “You had better tell me you love me now, or I’m not taking her anywhere.”
My hold only tightens when he tries to wriggle free. “I will fuck it out of you if I have to.”
I don’t make any effort at lowering my voice.
When I raise one eyebrow at him and fold my arms, he purses his lips. “I love you. Asshole.”
My head cocks. “I’m sorry? I’m not quite sure I heard that.”
The smile plays around the corners of his mouth even as he tries to keep it contained. “I called you an asshole.”
Sighing, I release him from the erevas. He darts forward and brushes his lips over mine. “But I do love you, even when you’re being an overbearing ass. I’ll see you there.”
My mouth twists, torn between a smile and a grimace as he walks off.
I’ll see him at the Gloam. But first, I have to face the witch. And steal two of Eldritch’s men.
I wonder if—
“Kae!”
My head jerks up. Eres shakes his head, his words carrying across the courtyard. “Donottell Darian to do it.”
Damn it.
Lyra
With my eyes closed, it’s almost easier to pretend that I can’t hear the mutters of the two soldiers beyond the bars of the cage they’ve placed me in.
Sighing, I wriggle further into Duskbane’s cloak. At least it’s warm. Fur-lined, even though the ends are soaked from the floor. I didn’t want to risk wetting it further by sitting, so I’m just… standing here.
Eres said he would be back. But it’s been… a long time.
My throat feels as if shards of glass from the Dunes are filling it. My head feels heavy, my face hot. I’ve been in better conditions.
Gingerly, I press my hand against my stomach, lifting my shirt beneath the cloak to trace my skin. That strange lattice flexes against my touch, warm and soft as skin, just a little more raised.
