He continued to stroke her until her trembling ceased and she was limp in his arms. But that fire in her still burned, and she went to sit up, her hand reaching for him again. Will caught her wrist, pressing a kiss to the inside of it.
‘Motivation, remember?’ His eyes sparked with mischief as he grinned at her.
‘You can’t be serious.’ She wanted him. Her whole body trembled with the force of it. But Will tugged her down next to him, tucking her back against his front. The heat in her blood surged as she felt just how badly he wanted her too.
‘Get through tomorrow,’ he murmured against her ear.
He was serious.
Aya thought she might still hate him after all. Told him as much, too. But Will just laughed, the sound so out of place with the hells they were about to face. His arm tightened on her, locking her closer.
‘Sometimes it amazes me that you’re a spy,’ he whispered. ‘Because you’re a horrible liar, my love.’
75
‘Sonnoira, mi couera.’
Sleep, my heart.
The words were a soft hum in her ear as Aya floated in the place between wakefulness and sleep. She wasn’t sure where she was, or what was real and what was the haze of a dream as she floated deeper into a memory.
She was standing outside the Athatis compound, her hip braced against the outer wall of the barn. A deep, melodic voice sang in the Old Language – a somber song, sung only when he thought no one was listening.
And even though it had terrified her at the time … she thought she might be content to listen to him forever.
Without windows in the cell, it was impossible to tell when morning had come. But Aya could feel her body starting to tense as time continued to pass, her mind no longer letting her slip in and out of that restless slumber. That wall still sat between her and her magic, despite the number of times she’d thrown herself at it.
She turned in Will’s hold to find him watching her, his gray eyes calculating. She traced his jaw with her fingers, the stubble pricking her. ‘I’ve seen that look before,’ she said.
Will raised a brow, a smirk tugging on his lips as he nipped at her finger. ‘I always knew you couldn’t resist watching me.’ Aya nudged him as she settled her head on his chest.
His fingers dragged through her hair, his voice vibrating against her cheek as he said, ‘Our best chance is waiting untilwe get to wherever they take us. This prison is a labyrinth, and Aidon will have his men at every turn.’
The mere thought of the prince made her want to scream. She hadn’t given herself time to think on his betrayal – hadn’t been able to fully explore the depth of that wound. He had done his job thoroughly. He’d gotten close to her, made her feel understood … hells, even pretended that he too had nerves and hesitation about a match in the name of duty, all to garner her trust.
She’d thought they were friends, and that was the lie that hurt worst of all.
‘It would be foolish for Dominic to move us anywhere together,’ Aya said, frowning as she propped herself up on her elbows. ‘Even with the tonic in our systems.’ They’d given Will an injection as well when they’d dragged him to the dungeons.
‘Ah, but you and I both know the king loves a spectacle.’ She stiffened, and Will’s fingers paused in her hair, his hand moving to cup the back of her head. ‘I’m sorry, that was—’
‘Tactless,’ she finished with a small smirk. ‘Good to know you’re your usual self. If you weren’t, I’d truly know these were our last moments.’
His fingers slid to the base of her neck, his gray eyes devouring her in the flickering firelight. ‘If these are our last moments, then know I will climb out of the hells and take on the gods if it means finding you again in the Beyond.’
Aya blinked away the burning in her eyes as she leaned down and brushed her lips against his. He held her there, his heart hammering in time to the footsteps that had begun echoing down the hall.
‘Fight with me,’ Will whispered one more time.
Aya pressed her forehead against his, letting his woodsmoke and spiced-honey scent settle her raging pulse.
‘Always.’
76
It was sick, Aya thought, that Dominic had chosen the throne-room for their execution.
The king sat on his golden throne, looking the picture of ease. Zuri stood to his left, her jaw tense as she gazed unseeingly at the door, her hands clasped tight.
