Still warm on his side of the bed.
Gabriel walked slowly to her.
“Give him a bit to wear himself out,” he said, “then send me after him. I can’t promise I’ll convince him to turn around. But I’ll try, Amerei. If that’s what you command.”
If that’s what you command…
The only thing more painful than watching Viktor leave would be forcing him to stay. Right now, she didn’t want to have that much power. That belonged to someone else. Someone whose heart wasn’t breaking.
She lifted her eyes to Gabriel.
Before she could think better of it, she reached up and pulled that big elf down.
His arms clumsily wrapped around her. Her head pressed tightly against his shoulder—her arms clinging, his scruffy, wavy hair brushing her cheek.
“Why is he doing this, Gabriel?” she whispered, her voice breaking into a sob.
Gabriel shifted, trying his best to make space between them.
“You’ve got to trust me on this, Amerei…”
His voice faltered, but he held on.
“He’s not runningfromyou. He’s runningtohis home. The only one he’s ever known.”
She wept.
“We’re supposed to be each other’s home.”
“You are,” he said gently. “You truly are.”
He laughed under his breath.
“Dask, that man loves you. I never dreamt he’d marry anyone. Wasn’t in his way ‘til you.”
He tried to pull back enough to see her face, but she just held him tighter.
“Look,” he urged, voice steady.
“He’s got three living kin in all the world: you, his father, and The Midnight. He doesn’t know if his father’s safe. But he knows you are. Here in Fyreglade. With me and Storne and all the other soldiers.”
He drew in a deep breath.
“His mind’s telling him to fix what’s broken.”
He shook his head against her shoulder.
“Maybe when the road wears him down, he’ll come to his senses and turn back. But just in case he doesn’t—send me after him. I’m a Ruakite too, you know. Just not the ‘chosen’ kind.”
Amerei couldn’t help but smile.
Somehow, through the fog of grief, her mind drifted to the Ivory Pillars.
The day Gabriel and Evander had practiced loosing fiery arrows.
Evander had struggled to keep the flame in line—but Gabriel never faltered.
And as she held him now, her heart lightened.
