“Fuck,” Ben whispered, combing a large hand through his hair.
“That seems to be the word of the day,” Faylinn said offhandedly, causing Asha to snort in mirth. Faylinn shot her a small smile that quickly disappeared.
“He told us to stay here?” Asha asked, and I nodded once.
“You disagree with it,” Ben said, not even needing to ask the question.
“We took the greater numbers and more powerful Mages, thinking this is where they would attack first. Our navy will be decimated. Alvor will be destroyed. Then Torin rides forward with less than a thousand soldiers while we sit here with nearly double that number, including Life Bonded Mages and the only dual power wielder. It seems . . .” I trailed off, scrubbing a hand down the scruff on my face.
“Foolish,” Faylinn finished for me. I grunted in reply.
“So, what do we do, then?” Ben asked.
All around us, soldiers and unAwakened cadets rushed about, making last-minute preparations for a battle I wasn’t even sure would happen here. The sound was both overwhelming and grounding at the same time.
“We get ready to move. Not all of us, but the vast majority of our numbers. I want to be prepared to leave as soon as Torin says the word,” I stated. Ben nodded once.
“Who do you want here, and who is to come with us?”
“Sol will stay here to guide our defenses. I want you and Asha, Lex and Ilyas, as well as half of the Life Bonded Mages to pack and prepare.” I said nothing about Faylinn, not wanting that argument right now. If—and when—my force left Vespera to aid Torin, it would be without her. I would not put her in harm’s way, not intentionally, and where we would travel would be the most dangerous place in Elyria.
No, she would stay here and keep hidden. Keep safe. So I could focus on the battle I would have to command.
Ben and Asha expressed agreement before politely excusing themselves, speaking to a few other Mages and Vessels as they went, likely preparing them to leave.
I watched with a detached stoicism, my mind already eleven steps ahead, predicting the battle we would inevitably join shortly.
A hand brushed tenderly against my arm, softly jarring me from my thoughts. I pulled my gaze downward to see my Bonded looking at me with a mixture of reverence and . . . was that heat I saw in her gaze?
I cocked my head at her, feeling down the Bond for what she was feeling.
“You need to relax for a moment, Rohak,” Faylinn practically whispered, her hand coasting up and down my arm. Her touch caused sparks to jolt along my skin, my cock slowly springing to life in my pants.
“Faylinn . . . I love you, but is now really the time?” I couldn’t believe I was going to turn away my woman when she clearly wanted me. But this was war, and danger could spring upon us at any moment.
“Yes,” she said with utter conviction. “You forget I lived through Isrun, Rohak. I never got to tell my father I loved him, and I refuse to make that mistake again. Yes, this is battle. Yes, we will be thrust into unfathomably dangerous situations, but I need to hold you close first. Need you to know how you make me feel, how much I love you, before any of that begins. I cannot go into a life-or-death situation without knowing one last time how your skin feels against my own.”
My heart pounded and features softened as I saw the seriousness in her gaze, felt the despair and longing down the Bond.
I took her slender hand in my own and pulled her up the stairs toward my office. If connection is what she craved before all of this went to utter shit, connection I would give her.
Especially since I would leave her here once the call came. She would hate me in that moment, but perhaps she could focus on this—on the ardent way in which I loved her—instead.
Chapter Ninety-Two
Faylinn
Rohak’s door closed with a softthud, the utter silence deafening.
My heart pounded against my ribs, sweat coalescing on my palms and neck, as I gazed at my Bonded. His eyes were hard but understanding, softening only for me.
“Come here,” he said, pulling me into his warm embrace.
We stood like that for a few minutes, simply reveling in the silence and each other’s company.
“I don’t have long, Faylinn. But I want to give you what you need,” Rohak rumbled in my ear, chest vibrating against my own.
I nodded, tears suddenly springing to my eyes, unbidden.
