Catching his breath, Seth returned his gaze to me. “Aethra,” he said calmly. “Will you marry me?”
I never thought anyone would say those words to me, let alone with such love bursting beneath them. I nodded and laughed. “Now? I mean, yes, but . . .
He chuckled, caressing my face. “Not the enthusiastic response I was hoping for.” He swallowed. “Sorry, that just sort of . . . came out.”
Brushing his hair behind his ear, I traced his cheekbone with my thumb. “If we survive this? Yes.”
Grinning, he kissed me and laid beside me. He ran a hand across my stomach. “We probably shouldn’t stay here.”
“I thought we had all the time in the world?” I rolled over, laying on his chest. “Just a little longer.”
Closing my eyes, feeling his fingers carefully trace my back, I allowed myself to dream.
To dream of the house and its garden of flowers. The lake, sparkling beneath the sun. Two kids running around, laughing.
And the door swung open, spilling light across my face, as my love stepped from its embrace.
37
Seth
Blood heirs who contested a sitting ruler for the throne had one week to make good on their challenge. I’d challenged Eris to single combat on the seventh day—toppling her from Ma’at’s throne required sufficient dramatic flair.
Even with such an important task looming over me, leaving Aethra was difficult. I brushed the hair from her face and stroked her cheek. She mumbled something, still in a deep sleep. Typical princess.
I’d said my goodbyes last night, in case this happened. Aethra had made me swear to wake her up. Our tryst in the garden had reopened her wounds, and I couldn’t bring myself to disturb her.
Nothing would keep me from returning to her.Nothing.
I’d promised never again to leave her.
Though I wanted nothing more than for her to stay here until the danger passed, I wouldn’t control her anymore. That was how I lost her.
Aethra would help ensure Cerys’ safety with the others.
And I would face Erisalone.
I planted a soft kiss on Aethra’s head and snuck out of bed. Dressing quietly, I glanced at her sleeping form, wondering if we’d ever get the chance to sleep in one day, untroubled by all this.
Slipping out the door, I gently closed it behind me and padded down the stairs. Dawn had only just arrived, leaving the safe house drenched in shadow.
Eleos leaned on the wall beside the door. “She won’t fight fairly,” he warned.
“No, of course not,” I agreed, stuffing a knife into my bracer. Noticing a spear leaning on the wall beside him, I tilted my head curiously.
“Here. You should take this.” He kicked the spear off the wall and handed it to me.
Running a hand down the haft, I studied its details: the wings wrapping the base of the blade belonged to the royal house my mother descended from, and the onyx and rubies represented the House of Hades. Even before I found the inscription bearing my name, I knew the weapon had been crafted for me.
“Ma’at must have meant to give it to you,” Eleos said. “Aethra stole it from the treasury.”
A breathy laugh escaped me. I turned to him with a smile, but it quickly washed away. Dark circles underlined his eyes, and his bangs hung over his face.
“Don’t,” he said, “ask me if I’m alright. I will be when this is over.”
“Stop reading my mind,” I retorted. “I thought it wasn’t polite?”
“Hm.” Eleos’ expression softened. “You’ll shoulder the same burden, Seth. The same fate.”
