“I know,” Theira agreed softly.
Varius crushed his mouth to hers, and she met him in kind. This kiss was, in its way, as fierce as their first, but this time it was tinged with desperation. Longing, even though she was still right in front of him.
Love, at least from him.
And whatever she felt for him, for this, he didn’t want to rush, to behave as if they had to say everything that mattered as soon as possible. He wanted them to have all the time in the world to feel whatever they felt, to explore this beautiful, unlikely thing they’d found together.
When they finally broke for air, Varius lowered his forehead to hers and breathed deeply. “We’ll have more,” he swore to her.
This was his favorite smile of hers: a little soft.
And all wicked.
His heart soared.
“Good,” Theira said. “I do so hate to lay plans that I never get to employ. Let’s go stop a war, shall we?”
Plans for him, or plans for battle?
Varius resolved they’d both live long enough for him to find out.
And if it wasn’t the former, he’d just have to work a little harder to convince her he was worth keeping around.
But first, the fastest way to a sorceress’ heart was slaughtering the enemies she didn’t care to deal with herself.
“Do you have a plan?” he asked. Teased, almost.
Theira smiled, one he hadn’t seen in a long time. Fierce, yes. But a little wild.
And maybe a little nervous.
Thatwas new.
“Trust me,” the Sorceress Transcendent said, “to handle my side.”
Varius’ heart lurched. Even now that they were on the same side, she wasn’t going to share this with him? Hiding from him still?
He searched her gaze. And took a breath.
He did trust her. So if she wasn’t telling him everything, there was a reason.
“Then I’ll handle mine,” Varius said, and couldn’t quite parse the emotion that flickered through her eyes—relief, but something else, too. “Let’s go.”
Chapter 5
Theirarodeontopof one of the golems as they marched the army to the Aurelian Empire.
They trod a tunnel through what Theira had come to think of as “her” forest. It would recover, and she would help, but part of her still ached at the sight.
Another part of her, though, burned.
Yes, her golem army—theirgolem army—would leave a mark.
Let them try to stop her now.
She was ready.
She’dbeenready.
