“Twenty says she starts with his tongue,” Daegel said with a snort.
Rydian ignored them all, fastening his sword to his hip with deliberate, quiet movements. His shadows curled faintly around his wrists, restless, like they didn’t trust the stillness here any more than I did. Not after last night.
Amanti lingered near the doorway, watching us all prepare. Her expression was contemplative. I broke away from the others and went to her.
“Does Patamoi know?” I asked quietly.
“Know what?” she asked.
“That you are related to the heir of?—”
“Hush.” She leaned in, lowering her voice to nothing more than a breath. “No. And he won’t.”
A beat of silence passed between us. Secrets brimmed in her eyes. Much like in her nephew’s. But now wasn’t the time.
“I hate to leave you here,” I told her.
She touched my cheek. “I will be fine. And so will you.” Her gaze flicked to someone over my shoulder, her lipsquirking in the ghost of a smile. “And when I’m done here, we’ll talk about what’s between you and my nephew.”
My face heated, but she only patted my cheek knowingly.
“Go,” she insisted. “Keep them all in line.”
I nodded. I didn’t have words for the ache clawing up my throat. Nali must have seen it because she came over and squeezed my hands.
“We’ll take care of her,” Nali told me gently.
“There could be more among you like the Obsidian last night,” I warned her.
“We’ll be ready,” she assured me.
There was a glint in her beautiful eye that told me she was more capable than she seemed.
“I’m sorry I can’t do more for your friend,” she added. “But I have no doubt you’ll figure it out.”
I didn’t tell her I wasn’t nearly as sure of it as she was.
Keres stepped up quietly and pressed a small glass vial into Amanti’s palm. “Salve,” she said gruffly. “For your wings. Use it daily, or the threads will stiffen.”
Amanti huffed a soft laugh. “Bossy as ever.”
Keres merely glanced at Nali and said, “She’s a terrible patient.”
Nali laughed and took the salve. “Challenge accepted.” And then in a conspiratorial whisper, she added, “I’m a terrible nurse. But I am sure one of my companions would be happy to massage her daily.”
Amanti flushed at that, which almost made this whole situation worth it. Clearly ready to change the subject, she looked at Rydian and said, “A moment?”
He crossed to her without hesitation, shadows fading from his hands as he led her a few steps away. Whatever they said was too quiet to catch, but I saw the way her shoulders eased, the way his did not. When they stepped back, he bowed his head to her—a warrior’s goodbye.
Nali reached for my hand. “I’m glad to have seen you again,” she said. “And for what you did—for my people—I owe you more than thanks. You could’ve let the creature kill more of us. You didn’t.”
“I couldn’t.”
“You could have,” she said simply. “But you didn’t. I’ll remember that.” She hesitated, then added, “I’ll look after her. You have my word.”
“Thank you,” I said, grateful.
She hugged me and let me go quickly.
