They stared at each other across the room.Dimri wanted to reach out, but he couldn’t, and it had nothing to do with the people surrounding them.He couldn’t afford to let himself weaken.
Yesterday, he’d told Roque that he wanted a future with him.That future might be about to get taken away from him—from both of them—and there was nothing either of them could do to stop that from happening.
“It’s the only way to do this,” Berith said.“We can’t let them surprise us from behind.”He didn’t sound any happier than Roque, but he’d put his own safety before Dimri’s.He didn’t have a choice.He was the prince, and keeping him alive meant keeping his entire territory safe.
“We’ll have surprise on our side,” Dimri said.“A small group will move fast and stay hidden longer.If we’re lucky, we’ll take them out before they even realize what’s happening.”They could use the labyrinth-like nature of the tunnels and his knowledge of them to their advantage.
Berith was quiet for a long moment, weighing their options.Dimri could hear the sound of guards and servants preparing for the fight.People were shouting and running around, and Dimri wished he could have a little silence, just for a few minutes.
“All right,” Berith said.“Dimri, take whoever you think is best suited for this with you.”
Dimri had hoped he’d be sent to the tunnels because he was the only one who could defend them effectively and because he’d volunteered for it, but knowing it was coming didn’t make it easier to accept that this might be the last time he saw Roque.
“When are you going?”Mikal asked, no doubt aware that Dimri would take some of his people with him.He already had a few names in mind.
“Now.Ramiel’s forces will reach our first defenses soon.If his tunnel team is moving at the same time and using the distraction to sneak in, we need to be there before they get too deep into the palace.”They couldn’t afford to lose even one of them in the tunnels.Who knew where they’d pop up?
Berith looked around the room.“This is it.Everything we’ve prepared for comes down to the next few hours.Be safe, everyone, and try to survive.”
There was nothing else to say.Everyone moved since they all had their orders.Mikal left the room, his assistant running after him to keep up.Zeno, who’d once been a mercenary, hovered in the corner of the room.He wasn’t one of Berith’s bodyguards, but he’d offered to stay with Berith during the attack, and Dimri had been relieved.Zeno had a well-earned reputation as a dangerous killer, and he’d defend Berith with his life.His partner and his brother both lived at the palace and would be killed if Ramiel won.
“You know those tunnels better than anyone,” Berith said to Dimri.“But don’t take unnecessary risks.We need you alive.”
“I’ll be careful,” Dimri promised, even though they all knew he might not be able to keep that promise.
It was time for him to leave, but he couldn’t do so without talking to Roque.He moved closer, not surprised to see his own fear and desperation reflected in Roque’s red eyes.They’d known this moment would come, but that hadn’t prepared them for how it would feel.
“I should be going with you,” Roque murmured.
“Berith needs you here.This is what we do, right?We protect him from different perspectives.I move in the shadows while you take things head-on.”
“Dimri,” Roque’s voice cracked slightly.“What if—”
“Don’t start thinking about what-ifs.We do our jobs, we survive, and we find each other afterward, okay?”
“Promise me.”
“What?”
“Promise me you’ll come back and that you won’t do anything stupidly heroic down there.”
Dimri chuckled.“You’re the one facing Ramiel himself, and you’re worried about me being heroic?That’s more your thing, isn’t it?”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.”Dimri reached out to grab Roque’s hand.“I promise I’ll do everything I can to come back to you.But you have to promise me the same thing.”
“I promise.”
They stood there for a moment, watching each other.They weren’t alone, but they might as well have been.“I have to go,” Dimri said.
“I know.”
Neither of them moved.Dimri had to stop wasting time, but he couldn’t leave without one last thing.“Fuck it,” he muttered.They’d agreed to wait, but he couldn’t allow this to possibly be their last goodbye.
He stepped forward, closing the distance between them, and kissed Roque hard.It was desperate and clumsy and over way too fast, but Dimri didn’t care.Roque tensed, but he cupped the back of Dimri’s head, pulling him closer.
When they broke apart, both of them were breathing hard.The office was completely silent, even though they weren’t alone.Dimri didn’t look around.
