Now was not the time to doubt. This was the plan, and we had no choice but to follow through.
If Cornelius really was stealing powers from the citizens of Pericius, he’d likely gotten stronger since our last visit. He would continue getting stronger every chance he got. Now was our best chance to stop him.
“I’ll be okay,” she said, interrupting my spiraling thoughts. “I know you think you need to protect me, but it’ll all be okay. I can feel it in here.” She pointed to the center of her chest. “I’ve never been so sure about anything in my life.”
I scoffed. “Maybe that’s all that new badass magic coursing through your veins.”
She cracked a smile—just barely. “Maybe. But either way, I can do this. I’ll walk back into the kingdom tomorrow and insist that you and Xavier dragged me away, swearing I came backbecause I want to work with Cornelius. He told me I was part of his destiny, so there’s no way he’ll miss a chance to take me back.”
My jaw ached from grinding my teeth so hard. “I don’t like him. I don’t trust him. And I hate that you have to go in there alone.”
“He doesn’t trust you either,” she replied. “Not after we took off the way we did. But this is our best chance.”
She was right, but it still killed me to let her march back in there alone. I wouldn’t be far, lingering just outside the walls of the castle in case she needed me, but the idea of being anywhere but at her side tortured me.
When silence fell over us again, I didn’t fight it. The crackling embers became the only sound for miles as I draped an arm over her shoulders and soaked in these last few moments of peace.
Chapter 37
Rummy
My body buzzed with the anticipation that coursed through every breath. Or maybe it was the monstrous amount of new magic pulsing through me. Either way, I clasped my fingers together in front of my body to keep my hands from shaking. I didn’t need Jessiah to see that I was nervous, although with our new bond, hiding it was impossible.
Just like I could feel the hesitation pushing against our bond from his side. He was doing everything in his control to keep his emotions in check.
And everything in his control not to scoop me up and fly me all the way back to Scarlata.
But we’d made it this far. There was no going back. We would succeed, or our entire kingdom would be at risk.
“I’m only going to say this once,” Jessiah started, “so you better listen.”
Goddess above,I soaked in the sight of him. The sun glittered against his bronze locks that had grown out in the last few weeks. His skin was tanned and dirty from our trip, and his shirt hung loose across his ridiculously sculpted chest.
And those wings. I regretted all those times I actively triednotto stare at his wings. They were magnificent.Hewas magnificent.
“Are you listening or just staring at me?”
My cheeks heated. “Go on.”
“I am the son of an archangel. I am the brother to the King of Scarlata. I have lived among vampyres. I have fought the hungry ones. I have flown for miles and miles, have visited dozens of kingdoms. And still, in all my existence, I have never met anyone stronger or more capable than you. You have amazed me time and time again. I am endlessly grateful that I met you, and if anyone can do this, it’s you, Rummy of Midgrave.”
Dammit, Jessiah.I cleared my throat and shook my head fiercely. “You’re not supposed to make me cry right before I risk my life.”
The corner of his mouth rose. “Crying over my words? I was convinced you tune out everything I say the moment I start talking.”
“You’re supposed to know me better than that by now.”
“Oh, I know you, Rummy.” He closed the distance between us and put both hands on my hips. “I know you enough to know you’re the perfect person to defeat Cornelius. I might be protective of you, but that doesn’t mean I don’t sense exactly how powerful you are.”
He let his side of the bond flood open, and his emotions overtook my senses. Devotion, warmth, and passion.
Feeling everything he felt… it was hard to believe we spent two entire years pretending like we hated each other. Like we could possibly live in a world without each other.
I rose up on my toes and pressed a solid kiss to his lips. It was more than just a kiss. It was a promise.
All too quickly, I pulled away. “We’re going to make it out of this. And I want you waiting for me right here with those big wings of yours when I get back.”
His eyes glittered. “Hurry back, then.”
