The early morning light stung my aching eyes as I walked through the courtyard leaving The Hidden’s fortress, my captive in tow.
King Euron would be surprised to find out we had more soldiers in his circle than he anticipated, and Kassiel would be a flagstone to the whole coup. Our tentative plan was to send Jessamine and I, with the help of Leeson, under the ruse of Lady Orlah and her servants to visit the court. Perhaps then we could end the eternal tie,kill the bastard and free Kassiel in the same swoop.
The Hidden had received information that the king had been planning a masquerade in honor of the upcoming Blood Moons offerings. King Euron, Kassiel had revealed to us later, had no longer been paranoid about his life with the binding of The Nightmare. Orlin’s proclivity to cause suffering made it so that no one wanted to be under that vicious gaze.
The masquerade, in King Euron’s words, was a time when the sun god and moon goddess were in equality, which was important in his plans for an heir.
With the blessing of both primordial gods, perhaps they would allow him to conjure up the successor of Noxia. While he prayed and beseeched the gods, we’d be making our own attempt at rewriting fate.
“It’s strange,” Kassiel began, “to be walking freely with you. Here of all places. It’s almost as if I’m dreaming and I dare not wake.”
I turn slightly to watch his expression as we get closer to the edge of the markets. Golden light trickles down from the gaping hole above us, causing his ebony hair to shine.
I watch the way it dances over his sharp features. Wonderment coats his gaze as he looks around the arched cavern, the coves’ shimmering pools with steam filling the space, and the expansive flora that leaves one feeling like they’re lost in the jungles of a warmer climate.
The crunch of the gravel beneath our feet is the only sound in this early hour, most residents of River’s End still slumbering.
“It is unexpected, and yes, strange.” That’s all I can manage to say. Exhaustion masks my whole body in a fog that makes me feel like I’m floating. I can’t wait to get back to my lodging, the small two room house that has become my escape and biggest comfort.
“You’re weary, aren’t you?” He shifts his wandering eyes to me and studies.
“Terribly so. I’m sorry, it’s been a long few weeks.”
“Why are you sorry, little warrior?” His brows hitch, the v closing in tight where they meet.
He’s too awake after everything he experienced last night and part of me wishes he was as tired as I am.
“My brain is foggy and slow. I just need some sleep.” I blink away the tiredness and hope that’s the end of his questions.
We walk a few more paces before his warm hand grasps mine, pulling me to a stop.
“Alora, if you’re that tired, then we must get you in bed. You’ve mentioned it enough times by now I assume your fatigue was almost a living thing. All this planning to unravel King Euron can wait until you’re rested.” He raises his damned brow at me again, sending ripples of annoyance down my spine.
The air feels too heavy and my clothes almost too tight, like a serpent squeezing.
Maybe it’s the demand from such a long day paired with an even lengthier journey, but I feel suddenly too trapped. I know he’s just making a suggestion, but it feels awfully like he’s telling me what to do.
I try to level out my breathing. To shove the building turmoil in my heart away. But it’s almost useless when venom begins to lace my words.
“Such a gentleman. I didn’t realize you cared so much for my well—being.”
My words sting by the way he loosens his grasp on my hand. His mouth flattens and lips pull tight.
“You don’t have to close me out. I see what you’re doing, Alora.”
The audacity of this man to try and have this conversation here.
“And what exactly is that? As far as I’m concerned, Kassiel, I’m exhausted and I can’t continue to play these mind games with you.”
He drops my hand completely and steps back. I watch as the hue of his eyes ignite and brighten into the piercing green.
He watches me and speaks lowly, “You had to be vulnerable for the first time in ages and you’re taking it out on me, I’m not mad at you for it. I just want you to rest before any of the hard conversations happen between us, which is where this conversation is leading us—there is more that needs to be said.”
Damnit, maybe I’m more transparent than I thought. But in this moment my heart skips a beat at his concern, and I’m more grateful that he can understand my temperament comes from my past, not because of him directly.
Begrudgingly I answer. “Thank you, Kassiel, for seeing me. I do apologize, truly.”
I grab his hand again and interlace our fingers. He stares down at where they’re locked and squeezes.
