For the first time in a long fucking time, I’m embarrassed.
“Wow, you’re blushing. You know, once Nero finds out you have a mate, he’s going to pester you for all the sex details. Fucking a mate is said to be the best sex of your life.”
“It’s not just fucking or sex,” I snap, keeping my eyes ahead so he can’t see my fury. I don’t like him talking about Selene. For a moment, I felt like hurting my brother. That’s the bond making me crazy. “I’m protective of her. Sorry if I snap.”
“I get it. I’m protective of our family,” he shrugs.
“Having a mate multiplies that feeling,” I admit. I force a cough, breaking the swelling in my throat. “There is this noose around my neck, Ryker. I want her by my side so I can see her. At the same time, I need her far away, caged so I know she’s safe. I can’t win. The rope is pulled tighter.”
He cools me down by blowing wind over our backs.
“She’ll forgive you.” His eyes drift to the sky. The stars can’t be seen; soon the sun will break the horizon. I hope Selene slept. She needs to recover and recharge her magic.
“I’m not so sure.” My heavy exhale bends the blades of grass into the dirt. “She wanted to kill Galen. In truth, itshouldbe her kill.”
“Is she that good of a fighter?” he wonders.
“She is but… she’s been caged. She trains hard, fights strong, but?—”
“Battle is different,” Ryker grunts.
“Yeah.” Training to fight is a dance; war is an argument. It’s not pretty or justified; sometimes, plans go to shit, and you have one second to figure out how to survive. Thinking like that takes years to master.
“Buy her a pretty ring. Nero says women like that.”
“Not the kind of women you and I like,” I reply with a wry smile. Ryker and I are brutes; we don’t touch silk, we rip it. Finery has no place in our hands. A part of me wants to be gentle with Selene. I want to take the sword from her hand and replace it with a child. I want her to know I will defend her, that she doesn’t have to build walls now.
But she’d never let me. She’d find dishonor in that, the same way I find dishonor in allowing her to risk her life for mine.
“Don’t think about your mate right now. It’s a bonded pair’s weakness. Focus on the battle.” Ryker widens his elbows, nudging one closer to me.
I’m surveying the area below. “I need to tell you something.”
“Is it a plan of attack? Or are you just gonna ride and start fighting? You’re my king now, so I was waiting for orders, but shit, you’re leaving it all to the last minute. Before you start, Adrian warned me about Galen’s crown. I was thinking I would use my wind to knock it off. You hit him with fire, aiming for his hands so he can’t aim his vines our way.
“I’ll watch your back in case the men with him are not as loyal as Adrian thinks, although from what I’ve seen, Adrian has poisoned Galen’s waters for years. Galen never drank water; he was drunk on wine.”
Ryker mentioned only my fire. I still have to confess I have fae magic.
He rolls to his side and watches me. “I know you didn’t want this, but I think you need it.”
I glance at him quickly, making sure to keep my ears toward the road. “What do you mean?”
“Soldiers can lose purpose when war is endless. With you as king, that will change.” His eyes glance to where our family mark is under my armor. “If I die under your rule, no, don’t stop me, listen. I want you to know it’s my choice. Cry for me, but then make sure you smile, and live for me. You took me into yourgroup, called me brother without an ounce of judgement. You gave me your food rations, shared your blanket, and knocked out Declan because he bullied me about my eyes and hair color. The memories you gave me make death a small price to pay.”
Turning my face to the road again, I blink away the tears. My voice is trapped; I can’t find words. We observe the grass turning yellow as the sun paints it with light.
“Promise me you’ll keep my mate and our family safe,” I whisper.
“No. If I promise you that, it permits you to die. Keep them safe yourself.” His wind magic blows harshly, shoving off the bead of sweat on my neck. “Galen should arrive soon.”
The earthy scent of dirt fills my nose. I flex my toes, roll my ankles, and begin to pump blood into my muscles. “This fight is going to be different.”
“You killed a prince. A king is no different. We will stick to my plan,” Ryker whispers, though his lips barely move. He wants no arguments.
I trace a circle in the dirt. “It’s a good plan, but I have a better one.” My eyes fill with mischief. “Did Adrian tell you I have fae magic now?”
Ryker peels his eyes off the valley below. “What did you say?” he breathes.
