“Let’s all sit,” she said.
She wheeled Mettius to the sitting area beside Augustus, then perched on the opposite chair. She scraped her palms up and down her thighs.
“Lili, you’re going to start a fire,” Augustus warned. “What is it?”
“I’m leaving,” she blurted, her cheeks turning a rosy pink. “Maybe it’s crazy, and the gods know I’m not into all that leather and weaponry…”
“Idon’s Eye,” Augustus cursed, exasperated. “What are you on about?”
“Roslyn asked me to go with her. I’m joining the Rangers.”
Mettius laughed. “You’re going to hunt monsters for a living?”
“I helped savehisass not long ago,” she said with a sharp aim at Augustus. “I could be quite good at it.”
“Aye,” Mettius said with a fond smile. “Of that, I have no doubt.”
Lili’s brown gaze slid to Augustus. “What doyouthink?”
Augustus felt a tether snap loose inside him. The world was changing too fast, and every shift seemed to leave him standing in the wreckage.
Omar and his family were gone, their oath fulfilled.
Abi had the fleet now. Mettius had made it official with a flourish, handing over the reins while keeping only theEntiamoored. The rest of their ships were already wreaking havoc on the seas, reminding the world who was in power.
Even Blaze, who’d once looked settled here, had announced the Rangers were sailing soon. They were itching for new lands and new fights. Blaze’s boots were never meant to stay planted.
And now Lili, smiling like a woman on the cusp of freedom, choosing a life no one had seen coming.
Augustus felt heavy under this news. Everyone was moving on. Everyone but him.
Somehow, he rummaged through all that for a smile. “I’m happy for you.”
What else could he say? He wouldn’t beg her to stay. And hadn’t he just thought it washisresponsibility to aid Mettius in the new family operation?
Mettius clapped him on the shoulder and smiled. “It’ll be just you and me, son.”
“And Selene,” Lili said.
“Obviously.” Augustus dragged fingers through his hair. His gut sank all the way to the carpeted floor.
Selene didn’t belong here.
She wasn’tsafehere—not in the long term.
And Augustus couldn’t leave.
Someone had to stay with Mettius. For now, at least. It could be months still before his father was out of that blasted chair. Then, another long period of time getting used to whatever contraption got him hobbling around on one and a half feet.
Augustus had complained about five months in Perean. How would Selene feel about twice that? More?
“Son?”
He met his father’s concerned stare. “What?”
“Something on your mind?”
“No.” Augustus smiled. “We should plan something before you go,” he said to Lili. “Can’t send my two best friends out into the world without getting you smashing drunk first.”
