“I didn’t live this long being careless, Rooke.” I murmured, sifting his hair through my fingers again, picking out the snow from the ebony strands. “And I’ve faced worse than this, too. So have Ry and Varian. And I expect, so has Ariel. After this is over…once you’re free, I’ll take you to the Citadel.”
His eyes flared in surprise, and I chuckled, shaking my head.
“Don’t get too excited. Even if we survive this, there’s a chance we’ll be hung as traitors.”
Those lips curled up into a devastatingly beautiful smile. “I’ll bet there’s a great view from the execution blocks.”
And I couldn’t help smiling back.
“Actually, there is.”
43
ROOKE
Irolled up my sleeves, surveying the chaotic throne room one final time.
Usually a ridiculous waste of space, but for this—for today—the room was perfect.
The Rooke family throne, carved from a chunk of solid black quartz, and every table and chair was shoved to one side—courtesy of Ryland’s muscle—the blood circle in the center of the room was already drying, and the Rooke Ancestral Codex on the podium was open at the very beginning, to the spell that could potentially set me free.
Or kill me.
It had been on the top of my tongue to tell Lyrae the truth, that this ritual wasn’t always effective. That different Rookes of varying strength and abilities had attempted this over the millennia to varying degrees of success. Some never walked away.
In truth, I could hardly believe I was standing here right now.
The Triune—all three pieces—in the center of the blood circle.
That the moment I’d hungered for and obsessed over more than was sane had finally arrived. That I would have my vengeance, for my entire family, for the enemy we’dnever seen coming, who had crept out of the shadows like a snake and stolen away my future.
And as desperately as I wanted to unite these three relics and feel raw power roar through my veins like fire…part of me wanted to be back on the ramparts, freezing my ass off, cupping Lyrae’s beautiful face in my hands, tasting her soft lips, staring into eyes the color of a perfectly clear sky.
“What more do you need from me?” Ryland asked, the faint scent of steel and old blood still clinging to him. “I moved everything that can catch fire, I noticed. Should I have Varian put Ariel in another part of the castle?”
"They aren’t in any danger,” I said, moving to the center of the room. I raised my hand and called up the barest flicker of power, lighting the candles lining the walls. The sudden illumination revealed the remnants of a once-great house, crests and shields and tapestries of events that had long faded from memory.
“When we left Evernight, the front of the castle and one of his tapestries was burning,” Ryland pointed out drily. “So I’ll ask again, should I have Varian move Ariel? Maybe to a different wing, closer to the water?”
“You seem to be having a lot of second thoughts, Ryland Storme,” I shifted the podium closer to the circle, “for a thief who couldn’t seem to keep his hands on the Crown, I’d think you’d have a little more faith.”
“The guard was huge; he took me by surprise.”
“Of course he did,” I agreed. “Incrediblyhuge.” I stared down at the three artifacts forged in the First Age of Fae civilization, long before we fractured into courts and houses. Long before we became three separate realms, divided by two vindictive brothers.
“Gods, you’re insufferable. Are you going to be this much of an asshole when this is over?”
If I’m not dead, then yes, probably.
“Of course,” I grinned. “I’ll make it my purpose in life to make your life miserable. Perhaps I’ll move to Tempeste, I’m assuming you and Varian have a couch I can sleep on while I get back on my feet?”
“You’re…what?” Ryland choked. “You’re not moving in with us. That’s…” he shook his head. “No.Absolutely not.”
“Why not?” I tipped my head. “Or I could see if the commander will take pity on me and…”
“I know what you’re doing, Kaden,” Ryland cut in, his voice losing all sense of amusement. “I’ve seen the way you look at her when you think we’re not watching. We both know you want Lyrae, we both know after this,” he tipped his head to the Triune, “neither of us will be a match for you.”
“That’swhat you’re thinking about right now?” I searched his face. “The fact I want Lyrae? Of course I want her. She’s smart and brave with a heart as big as the entire world. She’s protective of her friends and family, she’s caring, even when she pretends not to be. Who wouldn’t want that?”
