“I know, sweetheart, but we all have things we have to get back to,” Folami mollified, but Itanya wasn’t convinced.
“How about I stay with Lex and Ilyas?”
Peytor stiffened imperceptibly, and I quickly shook my head, torn between wanting to spend more time with the vivacious girl and not ostracizing Peytor.
“I would love that, little one, but Ilyas and I need to train a bit today with our magic. Why don’t you spend the afternoon with your daddy in the stables with the horses?” I suggested softly. Itanya’s eyes gleamed as she turned to Peytor, a smile on her face.
“Can I?”
Peytor flashed brilliant white teeth at Itanya with a nod of his head. “Of course you can.”
Itanya jumped up with a loud “hooray,” eliciting chuckles from the four adults.
“If only it was that easy to make everyone happy,” Folami quietly mused as she helped to gather the used plates. I waved away her efforts.
“I’ll take care of everything. You go ahead with Peytor and Itanya. Ilyas and I will find you later.” I flashed her an easy grin, hoping to assuage any fears.
Folami’s shoulders relaxed, lightness dancing in her eyes as she gave us each quick hugs. My skin tingled, body coming alive where she briefly laid her hands on me, and a heat spread in my blood, awakening urges I tried to keep dampened in her presence.
“Thank you,” she whispered, hugging Ilyas as well. “This means more than you know.”
I grunted something unintelligible as pink rose in my cheeks. Thankfully, Folami was too concerned with wrangling Itanya to see.
Folami grabbed her daughter’s hand after she’d wished each of us a good rest of our days, sending a quick smile and wave over her shoulder at Ilyas and me as she followed Peytor back to the manor.
I blew out a breath, the tug to Folami as strong as ever.
“That went well,” I mused, watching until the three forms faded into shadow.
Ilyas chuckled from the ground, watching me stand like a lovestruck fool.
“We are so fucked,” he said, but it didn’t contain any heat.
I laughed and silently agreed.
I wanted Folami and everything that came with her, and not just because she had the power to offer me access to my Pain Magic again and stall the Mage Sickness that would inevitably strike once I depleted the two crystals in my pocket.
But I also wanted Peytor. There was something magnetic about him, something that drew me in and clutched me tight.
I wanted them both, and it was easy to see that Ilyas felt the same.
My Vessel was right—we were fucked.
Chapter Thirty
Torin
The carefree, uninhibited belly laughter of a child floated across the ample grounds, echoing off the weathered stone of the manor to encapsulate me completely. There were a plethora of things that needed my immediate attention this morning: dividing our army into task forces based on skill set, discussion with our scouts to ascertain movement in Samyr, my own personal training both with Folami and Ellowyn, and ensuring that each of my generals had what they needed for their designated roles.
Yet all thoughts bled with the sound of Itanya’s joy. The sound was so pure, so undiluted, that I froze mid-step, boot hovering over the weathered stone stairs. As if drawn by some invisible force, I turned around and approached the edge of the garden where a white stone arch, blackened by sea brine, separated the manor from the rest of the property. I leaned against it, breathing deeply as a smile broke across my face at the sight of Itanya running from Lex and Ilyas, shrieking all the while.
The large Vessel extended his arms, intent on capturing the little girl, but she skirted his reaching fingers with a spin and a squeal before slapping Ilyas’ back with a loud “You’re it” before scampering back across the open grassy field to hide behind Lex.
Ilyas straightened with a look of disbelief before shaking his head, eyes glimmering with humor.
“Oh, you’re going to get it this time, little one!” he called.
Itanya giggled, her hands wrapped firmly in Lex’s tunic, as she poked her head around the Mage. “Nope! Lex will protect me!”
