He rests an arm against the stone and sighs through his gritted teeth.
I rise onto my toes, sliding my hand down the edge of his jaw until my palm presses lightly around his throat. "This is the part where you say that I'm right," I whisper, my lips brushing his.
Rorin growls in response and cups the back of my head roughly, planting a firm kiss to my forehead. He grabs onto my hand and drags me from the room. Millie and Bennett are waiting outside the doors for us, and he clasps Bennett’s shoulder, “I’m sorry.”
The remainder of our group met out in the woods lining the castle grounds, Armond waiting anxiously to Void each of us to the borders.
My Wield brims uncomfortably beneath my skin as the reality of being face-to-face with Eiser grows closer. Rorin looks even worse than I feel; his stare is hollow and trained on the ground while he paces back and forth. The last to join us are Pruella and Millie. The princess's face is lined with worry, her nail beds are worn down and chewed, and I can see her fighting back the urge to chew the entire nail off.
"Is this everyone, your Majesty?"
I do a cursory glance of the group, naming them off in my head before nodding at my man. Armond raises his arm and motions for Max to grab on, the two of them giving me one last look before Voiding out.
It takes time for him to Wield back and forth — but he works fast, moving from Max to Bennett, and then to Millicent and me, leaving Rorin and the princess to go last.
We’d decided on our way out here that they'll be Voided a few feet farther from the meeting point, leaving the princess concealed until I'm ready to have her brought forward.
I feel Rorin's shoulder brush against mine, dropping his mouth down to my ear. "Don't stab me for asking, but… you're sure this is going to work?" My eyes flick up to him, his expression pensive as he stares over at Pruella, fidgeting next to Millie.
"I'm not accepting the option where it doesn't, remember?" I set my palm against his throat, rubbing my thumb against his pulse. “It will work,princeling."His eyes roll at the nickname, and briefly, he rests his forehead against mine. "Armond will bring you two last, and then when it's time, I'll send for you."
He nods grimly and tips my chin up to him, pressing his lips firmly against mine. My fingers flex around the nape of his neck, bringing him closer to deepen the kiss.
"If this goes wrong… if they even try—"
"It won't."
"A-hem." Armond clears his throat, motioning for me to hurry.
The two of us break apart, and I move over to my guard, taking hold of his forearm. I give Rorin a long look before I’m magicked away."I'll be fine. Wait for my signal."
Millicent mirrors my stance on the left side of Armond, his magic deftly wrapping around the three of us. For a dizzying second, I feel weightless, and then the Void spits us out harshly on the other side.
Max and Bennett rush over to stabilize us while Armond Wields back to Rorin and the princess.
"You alright?" Bennett asks, brow tight with concern.
"Mmhm." I hum.
"Good. Because you have about two seconds before—" The sound of sticks cracking hits our ears, and the four of us lift our heads to face the noise.
Through the evening fog, we watch as the two kings emerge, Baelor's face already painted with a slimy grin."Show time."I breathe down the seal, hoping it reaches Rorin. From the corner of my eye, I see Max and Bennett straightening, their hands wrapping around the hilts of their swords.
"Well, I suppose congratulations are in order." Baelor sneers, and I grit my teeth together, "on your recent nuptials, of course. Though I'm sure you didn't request to meet with the two of us just to hear our congratulations in person."
My eyes narrow at them, and I take a step forward. "No, we came for something of actual merit."
"We?I only see one of you."
I ignore the jab, narrowing my eyes at the two of them. "I don’t want to waste my time, so I’ll get straight to the point. King Baelor, your pursuit of Allora must stop."
The king's smile tightens, "your Majesty, if that is the thing ofmerityou came for— you'll be sorely disappointed. I have big plans for Allora." He grabs onto the top of Eiser's shoulder, "wehave big plans."
"I'm sure you do, but I’m afraid I won't be disappointed. Because you're going to agree to what I'm offering."
"Go ahead then, prove me wrong."
I push back against the urge to answer the challenge in his voice. "You cease your pursuit of Allora and abandon your occupation in Evendell—" the want to interrupt is plain in his beady eyes, but I keep going, "otherwise I'll be gaining another bauble in my collection." The king's head tilts, confused, and I reach for Rorin.
