I pick up my drink. “Here’s to keeping the peace.”
All four of us clink our cups together before setting them down, and then Wick looks to me. He seems relieved now that he’s told us his plans, like he’s ready to take on the world. “I also want to formally ask that you and Slade become the first members of the assemblage.”
I suck in a breath, indecision warring through me as I glance at Slade for a second. “I don’t know…”
“You don’t have to give me an answer now,” Wick hurries to say. “But I want you to have a voice. There won’t be any requirement to do anything you don’t wish. But when youdowant to give input or address concerns, being on the assemblage gives you that opportunity. It’s because of you and Slade that Annwyn is getting this second chance in the first place. So just…think about it.”
Slade and I exchange another look before I answer. “Okay. We’ll think about it.”
Wick nods and gets up from the table. “I’ll catch up with you later,” he says before he turns and leaves.
“What do you think?” I ask Elore.
Her gaze moves from Wick’s retreating form, back to me, and then she gives the smallest nod, her lips curling in a smile.
“Yeah,” I reply. “I think so too.”
Just then, one of the Orean women I released from the dungeon cells walks up along the road beside us. She’s one of the Drollard villagers that Slade and I are taking care of, making sure they have everything they need as they recover. Slade is incredibly attentive to them all.
Her eyes light up as she stops. “Elore!” she says in greeting. “We’re going down to the river for a boat ride. Would you like to come?” Her face is still healing from the whip mark across her cheek, but it’s already looking so much better.
Elore nods and gets up from her chair. She leans over to pop a kiss on top of Slade’s head before she walks away. The woman smiles at me, and the two of them head for the water.
“You think she’ll be okay?” I ask Slade quietly.
He watches his mother as she and the woman stroll down the street. “She’s strong,” he says, though I can hear the underlying layer of regret. “We’re here now, and he’s gone. I hope, with enough time, she can heal. Be happy.”
I nod, but my chest constricts. “It’s hard though, isn’t it?” I say softly. “We’re sitting here surrounded by sunshine and beauty, without danger or problems breathing down our necks for once. But how can we even really enjoy it when we don’t know if the others are okay?”
Slade stays quiet, but I see his own worry tangled in the shadows of his green eyes.
“I can’t imagine how you and your poor mother must be feeling about being cut off from Ryatt,” I say, sadness wetting my eyes. “Your Wrath are your family, and we’re cut off from them too. Cut off from your whole kingdom. I mean…you’re akingin Orea, and here…”
“My Premiers will lead. Fourth is better off without me. Once I found you, my priorities changed,” he says with a lift of his shoulder. “I’m not saying I regret that, I’m just stating a truth. Fourth is in good hands—betterhands—with Isalee and Warken.”
“I miss everyone so much,” I confess as I look at him, my stomach twisting with the bitter taste of separation. “And we’ll never know—any of it. If they’re okay. If they defeated Carrick.” I sniff, like I’m trying to pull my sadness right back in. “We’ll never get to see them again. Your brother, Lu, Osrik, Judd, Digby, Rissa…none of them. And I’ll never know what happened to Emonie either. We’re just…cut off.” I press my fingers to my eyes, wiping at the tears. “It’s a grim side to this peace.”
“It is,” Slade replies quietly, his eyes drawn. “It’s a hard reality to swallow.” His gaze moves through the trees and focuses on the plateau we can see in the distance. Glassworth Palace sits there, empty and full of color.
Color, and smoke.
Wick sent a large group of Vulmin to deal with the dead soldiers and Cull’s rotting corpse…and also Slade’s dragon.
That beautiful, formidable creature that felt exactly like Slade. That flew us through the sky. It was taken from him after he’d only just gotten it.
“I’m sorry,” I say quietly, and his eyes come back to mine.
I hate that he lost his dragon, especially because I know what it’s like to lose a part of yourself like that. For someone to come in and take it away from you.
Slade leans forward and takes my hand between both of his. “You are the most important part of myself. So long as I have you, I’m whole.”
My eyes tear up and threaten to spill over, while his fingers bracket mine, surrounding me with his warmth.
“We’re going to savor each other, okay?” he says softly. “We’re going to tell ourselves that everyone in Orea is alright, because we have to. And they’ll be doing the very same thing with us. That’s how we’ll get through the separation. That’s how we keep going.”
I nod. “You’re right.”
There’s always going to be this bitter to our sweet. A sharp edge to our smoothed surface. I’m going to miss them all. Desperately. But Slade is right. We’ll just have to have faith that they’re okay, and savor each other.
