"What?"
Her head tilts at me, "did you mean it when you said you'd let her out of here alive?"
“If she does what she's supposed to — then I'll honor what I said." Her mouth turns down into a frown, unsure of my answer, and I can see her trying to work out if I’m being honest.
"Just whatever you do — remember that you wouldn't want others to hold you responsible for the sins of your parents."
My teeth grind together, and I dip my chin, "you're so sure she's innocent?"
"No, but Iwasforced to spend an unconscionable amount of time with her. Part of that time, she tended to overshare.” Millie reaches over and pats my chest, giving me a soft smile, “just… keep that in mind, Ror."
When Eveera finally decided to return from her trip to the outer lands, she slipped wordlessly through the passageway into the room. She paid me no attention initially, choosing to drag herself into the bathroom before any greetings could be exchanged.
The steam from the shower drifts its way into the room, and I slide out from underneath the covers. I scoop up the pile ofmuddy leathers she shucked off into my arms and set them out for the staff to launder.
"You didn't have to do that."
I turn sharply at her raspy voice and see her leaning up against the doorway, her towel wrapped tightly around her body. "Just laundry — nothing monumental." She nods and pads over to the wardrobe, while I slip back into bed. As I settle in, my eyes flick over to her at the exact moment her towel drops. I drop an arm over my face, trying to bury the groan rumbling in my throat. “Oh my gods…”
She tosses back her side of the blankets, and I move my poor excuse of a blindfold. Eveera is clad in her black nightgown, the material clinging to her damp skin, highlighting every curve and angle of her body. Needing a distraction, I clear my throat, “a-hem, are we going to discuss—"
"You're lingering stares? We probably should; they're becoming a bit obsessive." She interrupts, flopping over onto her right side, and putting out the lamp next to her.
I reach over and put mine out as well. I've been twitchy for the past few days — feeling on edge with this renewed distance. The time she’s spent out in the outer lands, Wielding with Vada and doing… whatever it is she's doing out there, has replaced the wall I thought we had finally broken down.
"Eveera."
"Mmm?"
I flip over onto my side and reach for her bicep, pushing her onto her back. "You told me to trust that you know what you were doing as queen," her breath hitches, and I can feel the seal growing colder as she starts to ice me out, "but I toldyounot to let me suffer your absence any longer. I've not overstepped with your escapades despite my clear aversion to you going out alone—"
"I am not alone, I'm with Vada…"
"Stopinterrupting me." Her lips clamp shut, and I bring my thumb and pointer finger up to grip her chin, keeping her attention on me. "You may want to do this all alone, and I do not doubt that youcando this all alone. But you don't have to. Include me and I—"
Eveera scoffs, pulling her chin out of my hold, "oh? Like you included me in your little rendezvous with the princess hostage?" A wicked look drifts into her eye, and she rolls over again, pushing herself up onto her elbow. "What? Did you think that because I was out, trying to control this new… development in my Wield that I wouldn't know about your activities here at court?"
"I only went to her to find out her father's edge. I'm your counterpart here in this court — I figured I would have to make myself useful while you were out. Can't let them think I'm simply a puppet now, can I?"
"And did you? Find out exactly what makes her dear old father tick?"
She’s goading me, and I can only muster a hum in reply. I swallow down the bite in my words and redirect the conversation back to her, "I see tonight you didn't try to fry our brains — does that mean you finally figured things out?"
Her eyes narrow, and she lies back down, keeping her focus on the canopy above us. "It was more productive than previous attempts."
I nod, "I gathered some valuable information."
We sit there for a moment before both of us breathe out, "we'll see if it works." I stretch my fingers across the bedding, searching for hers. I graze the tops of them, and our hands lace together, sleep pulling us quickly under.
I've no idea how either of our plans is going to work, but I do know that if she doesn't find a way to let me in again quickly…that both of them will fail and all of our fates will be sealed while death patiently waits for us.
Eveera
"I thought we were done coming here." Axel's scent overwhelms my senses as he drops down onto the cold ground beside me.
I let out a strangled laugh and drag my finger along the dirt in circles. "I'm about to do exactly what my parents did."
"I know." He breathes, his palm covering the top of my hand, stopping the incessant circles.
