Lyra hugged one side of the bed. Sleep had taken her with a worried brow. I kicked off my boots and slipped beneath the furs from the other side, careful not to wake her. She let out a sigh when I draped my arm over her waist and curled my body around hers.
I breathed in the sugared scent of her hair until her body sank against mine and her breaths were deep and steady, at peace.
For now.
46
Lyra
I was Alone in the bedwhen the pale morning light stirred me from sleep. Still, I knew Roark had slept beside me. The other half of the down mattress smelled of him. I hugged the second pillow, breathing in the dewy forest scent of him before I dared face the day.
I could not shake the unease that no matter what happened, my life after today would not be the same.
Foreboding never lifted, not during a somber morning meal with my two silent shadows. Kael had nothing boisterous to say, a few smiles, a few comments about my lazy braid. Roark hardly met my gaze until commotion in the corridors drew our curiosity.
“What is it?”
Roark held up a hand, inspected the chattering stampede of noble folk and courtiers rushing to the wide window at the end of the corridor. A few ladies covered their mouths, gasping in horror. Even a man or two wrinkled his nose, cursing to the gods.
Roark held out a hand, waiting for me to take hold, then led us to a narrower lancet, away from the crowds, and peered down to the courtyards below.
“Good gods.” Kael’s soft curse blew against my hair when he peered over my head.
Waves of sick churned in my stomach. Displayed over the gates that had been left open during the attack, Tomas Grisen’s head was spiked at the top. Limbs were draped over the walls; ribs and what looked to be a spine were propped against the gate.
It was horrible and gruesome and filled with rage.
And my heart knew.
While others retched and gasped at the sight, there was one who grinned.
Roark’s mouth was set in a look of satisfaction.
I glanced down at his freshly scrubbed palms, to his damp hair, noting the clean scent of his skin. A shudder danced down my arms when he stepped against me from behind. On the small of my back, his fingers moved slowly, giving me time tofeelhis words, heart-deep.
He lived once after touching you. He opened the gates, believing the Dark Watch would come for you. I could not ignore the insult a second time. Do I frighten you?
Roark’s body crowded mine. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t look away from the slaughter below. I ought to be afraid, fear the true nature of the Death Bringer. I wasn’t afraid, and I did not know what sort of woman that made me.
I shook my head and squeezed his palm three times. He drew in a sharp breath and covered my heart, gently patting my skin, once, twice, three times.
He was mine.
And I was his.
“We are no closer toa way to keep Lyra free of the soul bones.” Kael paced the length of the sitting chamber. “Though I applaud your…creativity, Sentry, you’ve admitted Tomas did not give up those who made the deal. I think it’s time we get Lyra out of the gates.”
I could not shake the image of Tomas’s mangled form.
I always imagined love meant being willing to die for someone. I supposed it was true. But what no one told young, girlish hearts was sometimes they fell for a man whokilledfor them instead.
“Kael, the gates are lined with Stav and Myrdan guards. If we try to leave, we’ll need to fight our way out.”
An option, Roark offered.
“No.” I shot him a narrow look. “It isn’t.”
Roark leaned against the wall near the inglenook.I should speak to Thane. He’d distract guards, lie, anything. He does not want this any more than we do.
