Dorian appeared on the other side of Bala. "Will you fight with us?" he asked.
Two beats and a grunt sounded.
"Will you support and trust us to make the best decisions for our people?" Bala asked.
The battle grunt roared, and heads began to lift.
Bala reached for both Dorian and Nyssa's hands, and wind curled the air.
"Then stand with us."
The Rhamocour cried out again, making goosebumps rise on Nyssa's skin. Her lashes flickered, and when they opened, she saw people rising to their feet.
"Hail your Kings," Nadir shouted to his people.
Cries filled the air.
"And to the High Kings behind us," Nyssa added, meeting his eyes.
Swords lifted to the sky.
Bala's hands squeezed Dorian and Nyssa's as the Honest and Venari began to celebrate. Whoops and high five's, excited bursts of laughter, and the clanks of swords in the air. Bala wrapped her arms around them both.
"Who knew the Venari King was such a dramatic," Dorian mocked.
"You know, I was perfectly well mannered before I met you two," Bala said. "You're terrible influences."
Nyssa met Dorian's eyes.
"Sounds like us," Dorian smirked.
"Sounds likeyou," Nyssa argued. "I am the epitome of innocence. I would never encourage such behavior."
Bala and Dorian laughed so hard they nearly fell to the ground. And Nyssa was left standing on her own and staring at them, trying to hide the smile on her lips. But she shook her head, and her eyes wandered back to the crowd, finding Nadir smiling and staring at her as his people celebrated around him. Dancing by the fire. Cheers’ing their drinks. A collective army of people now with a singular goal: to keep their freedom.
CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE
WATCHING DORIAN AND Nadir battle each other on the rolling logs was the most entertainment Nyssa had had in months. She took bets with Reverie over who would win with which weapon. They were well matched against one another. Both steadfast and equally balanced.
“Come on, Prince!” Reverie shouted once at him, sitting on her knees beside Corbin. “I’m losing all my gold to your sister.”
“Wait—“ Dorian swatted at Nadir’s legs, but Nadir jumped, and the Commander’s stick hit Dorian’s knee. Dorian cursed and fell into the ocean.
Laughing, Nyssa threw her hands in the air with victory. Reverie’s eyes rolled, but she slapped a gold coin into Nyssa’s palm as Dorian broke the surface.
“Fuck off—my sister is betting against me?” he said loudly, swimming over to the jetty rocks. He met Nyssa’s eyes. “Traitor,” he accused, though the play in his tone and lift at the corner of his lips made her head shake.
Nadir extended his hand and pulled him up to the rocks. He grinned and said something, clapping Dorian’s arm, and Dorian laughed. Nyssa couldn’t help her curiosity as she watched them interact, unaware that they’d ever really shared many conversations, but the two were joking together like old friends. Nadir grabbed the wooden swords from the rocks and tossed two to Dorian. Dorian took a few steps back and set up, whirling the blades in his hands.
“Someone is going to break an ankle on those rocks,” Reverie muttered as they watched.
“Dorian,” Nyssa and Corbin said at the same time.
Nyssa caught the Belwark’s shy grin, and she laughed with him. “I’m glad to see he finally broke you, Bin.”
“Broken feels like an understatement,” Reverie muttered from behind her cup.
Corbin pinched her thigh in response, and Reverie choked on her drink. She started to lunge at him, but the sound of Lex’s voice over the waves averted all their attentions.
