“Of course,” Scarlett replies without hesitation. She turns to me, wrapping me in a tight, fierce hug. When she pulls back, her emerald eyes bore into mine. “Chin up. You’re a queen now.”
Her words are meant to bolster me, to remind me of my strength and position, but instead, they feel like a weight pressing down on me. Dread claws its way through my stomach, twisting and churning.
I nod numbly and watch as they head toward the door.
“Tristan, go with them,” I call out.
He hesitates for only a moment before bowing deeply. “As you command.”
Without another word, he slips from the room, following Zaria and Scarlett.
The door closes softly behind them, and silence falls. I turn to find Mia still seated on the edge of the bed, hands clasped tightly in her lap as she gazes out at the open balcony. Her brown hair catches the light, but her face is pale, the usual warmth replaced with a somber stillness. She hasn’t said a word since we got here.
“Mia?” I say gently, stepping closer.
Her head turns slowly, and when her eyes meet mine, I see the glistening tears welling within them.
I tense. “What’s wrong?”
She hesitates, blinking rapidly as if trying to force the tears away. “I just . . . I hate this,” she whispers finally. Her voice trembles, and she looks back toward the balcony, as though the view of the horizon might steady her.
“Hate what?” I ask softly, sitting beside her.
“All of this,” she says, motioning vaguely at the room, but clearly meaning more. “The danger, the uncertainty . . . the constant what ifs. Not knowing if everyone will come back.”
Her words hit me like an arrow, because they echo the fears I’ve been trying to suppress.
“I feel so powerless,” she continues, her voice breaking. “I want to help, but I don’t know how. I don’t have magic or abilities. All I can do is watch, wait, and hope—hope that you will survive whatever lies ahead.”
My stomach drops, filling me with a sickening sensation, and I place a hand over hers, squeezing gently. “Mia, I understand,” I murmur quietly. “I feel it, too. Every decision I make feels like a gamble, and every time I send someone out there, I wonder if it’ll be the last time I see them. But we can’t let fear control us.”
Her eyes glisten as she looks at me, a single tear slipping down her cheek.
I take a deep breath. “You do help, Mia. More than you know. You’re the calm in the storm, the one who keeps me and Scarlett grounded. And right now, I need that. I need you.”
“Thanks,” she whispers.
I glance up and catch Fenris watching her, a deep frown etched across his face. His sharp features are softened by a flicker of something I can’t quite place—curiosity, perhaps? His head tilts ever so slightly, and I notice the way his hand unconsciously drifts to his chest, rubbing over his heart as though trying to soothe an ache he doesn’t understand.
A small smile tugs at my lips. Despite his gruff exterior and his disdain for humans, I can see the cracks forming in that icy demeanor. His frown deepens as Mia shifts, wiping away the remnants of her tears, and I watch as something softens in his expression. He doesn’t say a word—he rarely does unless it’s to criticize or growl out an order—but his actions speak louder. Theway his hand lingers over his chest, the way his eyes stay on Mia, tells me more than his words ever could.
I tuck this small observation away, a tiny spark of hope warming my chest.
Raiden steps forward, his tone all business. “We’ll prepare supplies for our trip. You should get some rest until then.”
Chapter fifty
Everly
Every step is charged with impatience and frustration as I pace my chambers. Today spiraled into one disaster after another, and the thought of spending another night in this castle without Maxon is unbearable. Zaria has returned unable to find the mystery flower that grows in the Outlands. So now we wait for Alivar and Fenris to get back, and pray to Morrigan they return.
“Sit down, E,” Mia urges from her spot on the daybed where she’s sitting with Anika curled up beside her, watching my frantic pacing.
“I can’t,” I reply, shaking my hands out in front of me, feeling the tremors running through them. I’m unable to tell if it’s nerves or adrenaline fueling me, but the restless energy keeps building, threatening to spill over.
Scarlett drops into the chair next to Mia, letting out a sigh.
“Weneed alcohol.”
