The apples of Jessa’s chiseled cheekbones turned pink. But Beatriz turned solemn, her voice uncharacteristically soft. “You killed a man for us, little sister. You would’ve stayed and bled out with the rest of us if it had come down to it.”
“And you went toe to toe withSylvia Reyez.” Jessa’s voice shook slightly, reminding Elysia of just how reckless that choice had been.
Uncomfortable, her gaze darted to Topp, but if she was looking for judgment, she wasn’t going to find it in him. Not when it came to doing whatneeded to be done.
Elysia scraped at the dried blood on her hands, unable to keep her voice from being harsh. “I told you two to be careful. You can’t just walk into deals without any research or protection when you’re moving the type of product that you are. You’re both smarter than that.”
Her voice heated as she continued flaking dried blood onto the cream rug beneath her feet. “And why did you have to drag Remy into your underground bullshit? Couldn’t you have just left her alone? She wassafe. Why do you think I’ve ignored her and Daphne since this started? It was to keep themsafe.”
Remy’s voice was an even thing amidst the rising tension. “I will remind you that you do not get to make those decisions for people, Elysia. You tied your life to a god’s, protected us when it would have been smarter to run, and you won’t even let us stand beside you? If we are yours, then you are ours as well.”
A lump lodged itself in Elysia’s throat. She was making up for years of blood on her hands, but somehow, for her it wasexpected. She had no such expectations of other people. Years of being alone in both her fears and successes had taught her not to rely on the fickle caring of other people.
Remy moved like water, gliding closer to Elysia with her usual fearlessness returning to her eyes. “Iwent to Beatriz. It’s my job to pay attention to the businesses within our city, and while it may surprise you, I support what she is doing. Call it what you wish, but she’s creating a market for our people to build something of their own. And I think the time is coming when we are going to need as much ingenuity as possible.”
Tension spiked up Elysia’s neck into her skull. “How bad is it in court?”
Remy’s manicured hand flexed. “Garrison is in a frenzy. He won’t stop until he’s exterminated magic as far and wide as he can. We all know what almost happened to Kava after the Fall.”
Topp spoke up for the first time. “He’s whipped the people into chaos as well. He’d already built a base of fear around magic, and now he’s capitalizing on it. Staging events that make it looklike people with magic are violent and depraved. He’s going to have a ready and willing army.”
A throbbing ache banded around her head now. “It was all to be expected.”
“It’s still a nightmare,” Topp replied, looking worn. “I received word that he intends to allow Kavians to keep their magic when they cross the borders. It will be a reverse of the Fall. Kavians slaughtering and pillaging the kingdoms that did the same to us when we lost magic. No doubt he’ll take it away once he’s used them to achieve his ends.”
Elysia turned back to her oldest friend, hoping she would hear her earnestness through the tired rasp of her voice. “I liked knowing that at least you and Daphne were safe. I never had such hopes for me, or Beatriz, or anyone else in this room, but I thought maybe you two could be.”
Remy grabbed her hand. “I do not wish for immediate safety, but a lasting one. I’mgoodwith numbers and business. You know that. Let me do what I do best for something worthwhile.”
Elysia looked down at their interconnected hands, her pale, mottled, and bloodied fingers wrapped tight with Remy’s smooth warm brown ones. She squeezed Remy’s hand. “You already were. You were the only one who was. That’s why you deserved to keep your peace. But if you want to turn my sister’s ill-thought-out bullshit into something lethal enough to wreck a kingdom, thenokay.”
Remy smiled. “Okay.”
The women filed out shortly, leaving Elysia alone with a pair of bright green eyes that belonged to a man who used to make her heart race. She traced the outline of his broad shoulders and strong jaw with her eyes, too tired to feel anything but oddly comforted by his presence.
Pacing over to the window on aching feet, she looked out at the fat flakes of snow lazily drifting down from the sky. “They’re going to create a network of magical deviants. Probably blow up the castle or something equally insane.”
Topp’s low chuckle sounded closer than she expected, and she turned her head to find the warmth of him right behind her. Sweat and the scent of a crisp summer storm filled her nose. It was three in the morning, she was exhausted, and it would be so easy to simply keep turning, until she fell into him. She doubted he would stop her. But behind the tired impulse, she knew she didn’t want that at all. She wanted comfort, but she didn’t want him.
Topp wrapped a single arm around the front of her shoulders and rested his chin on her head. “I don’t know how to do this.”
Elysia remained silent, flicking her face up at his. He looked down softly at her. “Part of me thinks I should chain your wrist to mine and guard you like I said.”
Her mouth flattened. “Because I’m what’s most important for Kava.”
“Youarewhat’s most important to Kava.”
Elysia deflated, giving a clipped nod to the harsh but expected answer. The Doorman’s words came back to her.That man has a destiny to fulfill, and love will not stop him.
Quietly, he spoke against her hair. “And you’ll always be important to me.”
But never important enough, and never for the right reasons.
She stared out the window, knowing what came next. “You’re leaving, aren’t you?”
He nodded and pulled her tighter against him. “I thought about what you said, and you’re right.”
Elysia looked up at him, feigning shock. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say that to me before. Can you say it again?”
