I stilled. He was right. Maybe we weren’t getting out of here alive, but I knew they’d be kept safe.
I swallowed. “Shehasthe fiercest glare.”
Darian nodded once, firm despite the weakness in his body.
He leaned his head back. “Eilrys likes to say Fionn and I will run her into an early grave.” His lips twitched, his voice fracturing. “Joke’s on her, I guess.”
“We’re never holding them again, are we?” The words broke from me before I could shove them back down.
Darian didn’t answer right away. He sat there, breathing, staring at the darkened ceiling as if searching for answers in the carved stone.
A soft tremor ran through him. “No. I don’t think so.” The answer sounded like it came from the same dark place as my own.
There wasn’t anything either of us could say. Nothing that would fill the hole that had been ripped in each of our chests. I did the only thing I could. I leaned in without thinking, cheek against his shoulder, the fabric of his shirt scratchy with dried blood and salt.
“Eilrys will look after them.” Darian exhaled, slow and steady. “She’ll raise them like they’re her own.”
I pressed a hand to my mouth. Because I couldn’t cry. Not here.
“Darian—” I started.
He cut me off before I could say somethingstupid. “It’s not charity, Isara.” He slipped his hand into mine. His palm was warm and steady. “You’refamily.”
My throat ached. I gripped his fingers so tight I was sure it hurt, but he didn’t pull away. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet.” Darian huffed a quiet, dry chuckle. “I might live through this just to be annoying.”
I snorted. “You already are annoying.”
He made a quiet noise of agreement before resting his head lightly against mine.
We fell into silence again. But I had to say it.I had tosayit.
“Thank you.”
Darian shifted, the fabric of his shirt rustling against the stone. “For what?”
“For your friendship.” I nuzzled my head against his shoulder. “For letting me into your life. Your family. I’d forgotten, you know? What it was like. Having people around. Gods, having otherparentsaround. People whounderstood.”
“Yeah,” he said quietly. “I know.”
Someone shifted in their sleep. The drag of breath a reminder we weren’t alone, but somehow, in this moment, we were.
Then, Darian scoffed. “Not that you gave me much of a choice.”
“I suppose I didn’t.” Ilaughed. A real, quiet,gods-damnedlaugh.
Darian turned, pressed a delicate, fleeting kiss to the top of my head. “It’s been a while since I’ve had a real friend.” A shaky breath brushed against my hair. “Without all the political bullshit.” His fingers squeezed mine. “So, I suppose I should thank you too.”
I let my eyes slip shut, the warmth of Darian’s shoulder steady against mine. “You should. I’m anexcellentfriend.”
“Debatable.”
I gasped, scandalised. “Excuse me?”
“You’reviolent,” he said, his voice teasing but laced with fondness. “And dramatic. And you’ve got an awful habit of dragging me into trouble.”
“You walk willingly into trouble.”
