“Of course I do—as you said, we need your armies,” he shot back without missing a beat. But even he couldn’t hide his grin. “Selfish bastard, remember?”
“How could I forget?”
“As adorable as this is,” Liam interjected, “Will has a point. It’s too risky.”
Aidon shook his head. “I don’t need them to accept me as their king,” he reasoned, all levity gone from his voice. “I need them to join the fight for Eteryium. I believe I can accomplish that.”
He let that truth settle in his bones, let it take up a place of certainty in his heart. Dauphine’s hand slid into his and squeezed.
“I’ll go to Queen Nyra,” she said. “She needs to know what’s coming, what we’re truly facing.”
Liam pursed his lips as he considered them for a long moment before a heavy, resigned sigh left him. “I’ll join you,” he murmured. “Perhaps hearing from a former member of the Dyminara whowasn’tunder Gianna’s influence will help sway her.”
Aidon glanced to Cole. He had a favor to ask of him, but it could wait. Once he said his goodbyes here, they’d have to make their way to the closest port. He’d ask him then.
So instead he turned to Aya. “And you? Where will you go?”
She glanced up at Will, another wordless conversation passing between them.
“Home,” Aya finally answered.
“Hyacinth may not welcome you with open arms,” Liam warned. “Evie was successful in painting you as the Dark Saint.”
“She’s in for a rude awakening, then, when the demigod appears in her kingdom,” Aya replied, something hardening in her voice. Her spine straightened as she shook her head. “I will not allow her to scare me away from my home.”
The words stirred something in Aidon, something bright and fierce and awed. Perhaps even a little envious, as much as he hated to admit it.
Aya caught his gaze, and there was such a depth of understanding there that he wondered if, perhaps, she knew exactly what effect those words had had on him.
Gods, she was so incredibly brave. It made him want to be brave, too.
If Aya could face Hyacinth and her people in the wake of what they’d done to her father, then Aidon could face whatever fate awaited him in Trahir.
“It’s settled, then,” he said, his thumb stroking the back of Dauphine’s hand. “We go home.”
49
Saying goodbye to Aidon and Liam in the early hours before dawn left a pit of dread yawning open in Aya’s stomach. She wasn’t sure if it was some omen she should be listening to, or simply the wariness of war weighing on her.
Either way, she owed them her life, and parting with them just hours after reuniting felt like another cruelty of fate.
“Please be careful,” she murmured to Aidon as she hugged him tightly. She closed her eyes, his familiar warmth surrounding her. His baritone voice rumbled against her as he chuckled.
“This from the woman who nearly brought down a building on top of herself,” he teased. But his eyes were wet as he pulled back, and he squeezed her shoulders, as if he couldn’t yet bear to let go.
“You are more than a saint to me. You know that, don’t you?” he asked with a small frown.
Aya laid a palm against his chest, right over his heart. “I do. Because you are more than a king to me.” She tapped his chest once. “But that does not change that Trahir needs their ruler.”
Just as it did not change that the realm needed theirSecond Saint to see a prophecy fulfilled. That silent truth hung in the air between them, heavy and unrelenting. Aidon broke the tension it stirred with a vow.
“I’ll see you soon,” he promised.
Aya nodded. “Thank you for keeping him alive,” she said, glancing to where Will was saying his goodbyes to Dauphine as he readied their horse.
Aidon flashed her a grin. “I would say it was my pleasure, but you know how Will can be.” He looked to where Tyr was standing at Aya’s side. Her bonded hadn’t let her out of his sight since they’d reunited yesterday.
Aidon patted his head, as if the two had come to some sort of understanding while traveling together, and he gave Aya’s shoulder a final squeeze before he departed with Cole.
