“They do.”
She stared at him.
“They do concern you, as much as you wish to deny it. You came to Nazar not simply to foil my plans, but to protect them because you are their queen.”
She hadalwaysbeen their queen.
Her brow furrowed as she let his statement sink in. Sighing, Dyna wiped the soaked hair from her face. “Cassiel, have you ever thought perhaps you should align yourself with the Lords instead of attacking them? Do not follow Kahssiel’s footsteps. We must find another way to make peace with Raziel.”
Cassiel’s first instinct was to declare he would never allow Raziel to keep his life, but she had said“we”.
Two letters more valuable to him than gold.
“If to rule means a constant battle against your people, perhaps you should pass the crown on to another,” Dyna continued.
“To whom?” He shook his head. “Who could possibly take the crown and not use it to strike me down? There is no other I can trust to rule in my stead without fearing they would condemn us both. Like it or not, I will always be a threat to them … as you will always be my only weakness.”
Dyna looked at him in a way that made his chest ache. Her features softened with another sigh, and she laid her head on her arms. “What fate the Gods have given us. They must find this all rather amusing.”
“They are certainly laughing at my foolery.”
A small smile played on her lips. “I think I hear it.”
They fell quiet as she simply looked at him, a river of crimson hair cascading over her cheeks. He drank her in, admiring everything about her and the deep emerald eyes glimmering with flecks of gold. They seemed to absorb what was left of him.
“I missed this,” Cassiel admitted. “Talking to you.” Their sparring match somehow cleared the muddled air between them, at least a portion of it. “Shall we go for a flight?”
It was the wrong thing to ask by the guarded expression crossing her face. He was reminded of the way she had recoiled away from him last night. This was as close as he could get without frightening her. But touching her in any way that made her feel confined was out of the question.
“I understand.” Cassiel stood, stretching out his wings. “Perhaps another time.”
He turned to go, because he needed some space to feel what he couldn’t feel in front of her. But a violent rumble echoed over the land, shaking the earth. They froze.
“What was that?” Dyna whispered, slowly standing.
Cassiel motioned for her to quiet as he studied the forested hills. The rumble came again, and the hair stood on end on the back of his neck.
“We must leave. Now.”
CHAPTER 61
Lucenna
Lucenna’s taut fingers turned white from how tight she gripped her crystal orb. She was no longer listening to Lucien as he rambled on about all the reasons why she couldn’t contact Everest. Lightning flashed overhead, and it may have been partially due to her. The wind picked up, blowing her white hair around her face as she glowered at the view beyond the cliffside.
Exhaling a sharp breath, Lucien linked his hands together on his desk. “Lucenna, I know this is not what you want, but you know how imperative your survival is to the future of Magos. It’s not safe.”
She paced along the edge of the cliff, feeling her frustration climb. “I will be careful and only speak to him, Lucien. Everest would never betray us. I must tell him the truth.”
“No,” his tone hardened. “You don’t.”
“What are you not telling me?”
“Lucenna, come quick!” Keena flitted to her. “Dyna and Cassiel are fighting, and I think it’s serious.”
“What?” She glanced over her shoulder to see Dyna and Cassiel sparring in the woods. But the Valkyrie were standing guard. Good, they probably needed to work things out this way.
“Keena, they’re fine. Go keep watch if you’re worried.” Lucenna swatted a hand, and the fairy flew away with a huff. She glared at her brother. “I need to know what you are keeping from me, Lucien, becauseyou have been alluding to the subject since I left. Does Everest know I joined the Liberation?”
