Noah pushed Skye aside as he moved toward Austin, sword rising. The guards responded in kind. Behind them, Taran, Keir and Finn did the same.
Noah took another step, rage twisting his features into something Skye had never seen before. Something that frightened her, because she knew he’d die here if she let him.
“Stop, Noah.” She hurried to place herself between them, putting her hand on his sword arm and felt the tremor running through it, the coiled violence barely restrained beneath his skin. “This isn’t about you and me anymore. This is about Emily.”
His eyes, wild and desperate, searched hers for some sign she didn’t mean it. She forced herself not to look away.
Finally, she turned around to face Austin. “You’ll have my full compliance with your bargain for their freedom. All of them, including a protective escort to the portal before sunset tonight.”
As Noah’s anguished protest echoed off the stone walls, Taran handed his sword to Finn and brazenly shoved his waythrough the startled guards to whisper something to Noah and put a restraining grip on his sword arm.
Skye glanced nervously at the guards who were now on full alert, waiting for Austin’s signal.
She looked back at Austin, waiting for his response, desperation rising as he studied her, obviously searching for deception.
“I’ll have your solemn word that you’ll give me not only your compliance, but your support in everything I want and do, from here forward,” he said smoothly.
“No, Skye!” Noah strained against Taran’s grip.“No!”
She refused to look at him. Could not look at him and still do what needed doing. “You have it.Conditionedon their safe passage through the portal.” She paused, steadying her voice. “Keir, too.”
Austin’s expression darkened. “Your father will not allow that. Keir is a traitor. He must be punished.”
“His punishment is banishment. Through the portal with the others. That is a nonnegotiable part of our bargain.”
“No, Skye.” Keir’s voice came rough from behind the guards. “My place is with you.”
She turned to him and felt the sting of tears she could no longer suppress. This man who had watched over her since childhood, who had been more father to her than The Keeper ever chose to be. “You’ve given your life to me, Keir. And I cherish every moment. But now I’m giving it back to you. Go. Find your freedom. Find some happiness.”
“So be it,” Austin conceded with a careless wave. “Though if it were up to me, I’d have his head right here and now, for his betrayal.”
“One more thing.” Skye fought to keep her voice level as her composure threatened to fail. “I want to say goodbye to Paige and the children.” She allowed herself one glance at Noah. “Toall of them. And I must personally see their entire party step through the portal. After that I will surrender to your wishes. You have my vow. And I’ll have yours, here in front of your men, that you will keep every part of your word.”
With what strength she had left, she forced herself to ignore Noah’s desperate protests against her bargain, against Taran’s restraints, but couldn’t keep them from tearing a deep chasm inside her.
Austin considered her for several long seconds. “You have my word that I’lltryto get them to the portal. But I can’t guarantee safe access. The tunnel has become extremely unstable. There have been some recent collapses. I’m not certain it can even be cleared by tonight. And I will not allow you to enter such a dangerous place.”
“Then it appears we do not have a bargain. It’s tonight or not at all.” She let the words shimmer between them like a blade. “My compliance with your and my father’s plans is conditioned on Noah and his family making it safely through the portal.Andmy witnessing it.”
Austin’s jaw worked. The silence stretched long enough that Skye feared he would take his chances and turn his guards loose.
“It might be possible to clear the tunnel enough to reach the portal,” he said carefully, “but I have no control over new collapses. They must take that risk on their own. I cannot allow you to accompany them inside.”
Skye met his gaze with the cold authority she’d watched The Keeper wield her entire life. She hated it. Resented it. Despised his use of it. But she understood its power, and she reached for it now, shaping it into armor she desperately needed. “Do you want a willing wife who supports you and helps you build your empire, as my father expects? Or do you prefer to spend the rest of your days dealing with a combative captive for a bride?”
Austin snorted, a grudging half-laugh that held neither warmth nor humor. “Your father warned me you’d be difficult to tame. I look forward to accomplishing that.” He straightened and something shifted in his bearing, a decision made, a gamble accepted. “We are agreed, then. We’ll see them to the portal together. And we’ll return to the Citadel to start our new lifetogether.”
“No!” Noah’s agonized shout rang off the cold stone as he strained against Taran’s steel grip. “All or none!”
Skye had to look away from Noah’s tortured face, and Taran’s, drawn tight by his physical effort and his own anguish.
“That includes Skye,” Noah bellowed again. “All or none! I will not leave without her!”
Austin shrugged. “Then you will not leave. Not alive, anyway.”
With what felt like the last of her strength, Skye turned to Noah, closing the small space between them. Each step cost her more than the last. When there was no more than a breath between them, she looked up into his face, into eyes that held the wreckage of everything she’d just destroyed.
“You must allow this.” She eased back enough to press her palms against his chest, feeling his heart hammer beneath her fingers, wild and fractured. “We both know there can be no happiness for us at Emily’s expense. Promise me, here, now, that you will accept this. That you will not try to oppose it.”
