Break.
It was well past midnight, probably not long from dawn, and the word battered against my brain. I climbed out from under Rilen’s arm and found a robe.
No idea whose it actually was, but it worked.
Feeling almost ghostly, I drifted to the balcony. In the far east, the first hints of sunrise were just starting to grace the night.
Break.
It sounded almost like chanting, the word repeating against my mind.
I studied the landscape ahead of me. Darkness dotted by a few lamps and lanterns in windows. Street lamps were glowing in the public squares, and I could see a few people hurrying home or to their jobs down the streets.
I looked at the Spine.
It thrummed, seeming almost to bulge.
Break!
I grabbed hold of the railing and was barely able to keep from vomiting. The whole world seemed distant to me, and I wanted to go back inside and pretend I didn’t understand.
“Kimber?”
I turned, and all three of my men were standing there. Roran had posed the question.
I took a deep breath. “The tremor last night was the last of them. There’s another one coming, and it’s time to break the Spine.”
With a nod, Dorian sent the twins running back into the rooms. He stepped forward and took my elbow to pull me back into the living room.
“The twins will go with you. I’ll stay behind to control the chaos with the rest of the temple.”
“I want you with me, too.”
“Don’t be stupid, Kimber. I shouldn’t even give you them. S’Kir is about to fall into chaos.”
“Dorian, I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“You’ve trusted the magic this far. Just keep going. These idiots are going to need all the help they can get.”
I tilted my head. “Is that how you feel about the people of S’Kir.”
He grinned. “No, that’s how I feel about part of the council. Two arrogant assholes in particular, who need to be knocked down several notches. I have to trail them.”
“Why not let them screw up?”
“Because you can’t disrobe a member of the dais, Kimber. You can only resign or die to be removed. You know they won’t step down. Letting them die is more work than it’s worth.”
I laughed. “I was wondering if you were still a bastard after getting me in bed.”
“Of course, I am. I’ve been a bastard all my life. Just because I fucked you doesn’t mean I change who I am. I’m just now the lucky, cranky asshole you share a bed with.”
“Stop scaring her.” Rilen walked out of the bedroom, dressed in formal robes.
Roran was right behind him, carrying my formal dress and robes as well. “You don’t have to immediately go back to being a dick.”
Following a rude gesture, Dorian left the room.
Rilen and Roran set to helping me dress.
