I frowned. “You’ll send them away, won’t you?”
“They might want to leave, Amaia,” Alaryk replied, his eyes sharpening. “Have you thought about that? Brune is hiding away in Ethrisha’s dwelling. Why be there when he can go home? I cannot control the opinions of my people, nor would I want to. Ican only make the decisions that will keep people safe—Brune included.”
“Hence the guard for me,” I added, his answer bringing about a slice of sadness. Brune had become a close friend. Maybe not as close as Syris and I had become, but a good friend nonetheless. And he might be sent away, for something he didn’t even do.
Maybe it’s best,came the unwanted thought.Considering what our true purpose was here.
My stomach roiled. Guilt swarmed me as I met Alaryk’s gaze.
“You’re right,” I said.
His eyes narrowed.
I changed the subject before he pressed. “Are you leaving somewhere? With Myzalla and Dresnar?”
“I said I wouldn’t, didn’t I?” he murmured. “I told you I was staying in the Arsadia, and I meant it. Gevanth, from Elysom, is leaving. Myzalla is accompanying him.” Right, she’d told me that last night. “I was going to see them both off.”
“Oh,” I said, the knowledge that he was keeping such a small promise to me warming my chest while also deepening my guilt. “All right.”
He released my chin.
“Stay out of trouble,” he told me.
Then he was gone, and I was left skimming my fingers over his bite, trying to fight my smile and failing.
Chapter 29
AMAIA
Alaryk didn’t return to his dwelling until after I’d already washed off the day and was tucked into the lounge area, the fire in the hearth already lit. I had already gobbled up my dinner at the hatchery—Syris having made her stew again—but was picking at a tray of food I’d found rummaging through Alaryk’s own stores. A soft, pillowy loaf of seeded bread, dried meats, and cured cheeses.
That was how he found me when he came trudging through the door. I tried to ignore the way my heart leaped at the sight of him.
His eyes were assessing when they met mine. I drew my knees up to my chest, popping another morsel of dried meat into my mouth as I regarded him, wondering who would break the silence first.
And how.
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want him to come straight over so we could finish what we’d started in the hatchery earlier. No one was here to interrupt us. No one would hear my moans and gasps.
Alaryk undressed, shrugging off his vest. His tunic droppedto the ground as he approached me, displaying his broad, bare chest, the glint of metal through his nipples. I swallowed hard as his hands began untying his laces. Anticipation rose, making my nails curl into my palms.
When he reached me, his laces were undone, the tip of his cock head peeking out from the waistline of his leather trews, but he didn’t move to push them down. Instead, he stayed standing above me in the lounge, and his thumb came to my lips, rubbing against the soft flesh.
My tongue darted out, and I heard his sharp intake of breath when I nipped gently at the calloused flesh, my eyes never leaving his. A silent invitation.
But strangely, he didn’t initiate anything beyond that.
Ever so quietly, he told me, “My council and I have decided it’s best for Brune and Nevin to be sent back to Dakkar. Before Ryak’s execution in two days.”
I pulled away.
I processed that new information, though a large part of me wasn’t surprised by it. Not in the slightest.
“And what about me?”
“Your place here was never in question,” Alaryk replied. “They’ll leave tomorrow morning.”
My brow furrowed. My shoulders slumped. “So soon.”
