“I won’t leave you,” she cried, fierce through her tears. “Not now. Not after I thought—” Her breath broke. “I won’t let you face this day alone.”
Her sobs fell hot against his armor. She drew back then, striking his chest with trembling fists.
“You can’t leave me again, Viktor.”
Her voice rose.
“Viktor—you can't. You—”
She hit him once more, tears streaming, then clutched at him as if he’d disappear if she let him go.
“We are bound,” she cried, shaking. “Do you understand?Bound. You try to go from me again and I’ll follow you into death itself. I won’t be left behind.”
Her last words fell into a whisper, desperate and raw.
“I can’t lose you.”
He crumbled, head falling to her chest. His body shook, wracked by the weight of what he’d done, of what she said. Breath came hard, shallow.
His vow rose from his ruin. No defense left. No armor. Only truth.
“I won’t leave you, Amerei,” he choked out. “Not again. Not ever.”
He wept, shoulders shaking, hot tears streaking down to dampen her tunic, the sound of it ragged and raw against the hush of the forest.
She held him.
Dask, she held him.
The way she had in the bath. The way she had in their bed.
“Naleir, Tory.”
(I forgive you, Tory.)
She tightened her hold, unwilling to release him, his weight sinking against her as if he might break apart without her. At last, her hand slid from his back. Her fingers brushed his jaw, lips pressing to the tears on his cheek.
“We should keep moving,” she said softly. “Halyon by daybreak. Westport by noon.”
“We’re—”
“We’re going to Westport. To your father. To your home.”
She smiled then, the briefest curve of light through the heaviness—and it stole the breath from him. For a heartbeat he could only cling to her, overwhelmed, until she eased back, pulling away though her fingers lingered at his temple.
“But you must let Ruby carry you the rest of the way. You need your strength, High-Captain. Father prepares for war.”
He bowed his head, then kissed her.
“Yes, my queen.”
“Come.”
She took his hand and led him to the horses.
Her fingers grazed Obsidian’s black mane. She hesitated. Looked at Ruby.
Before Viktor could even settle into the saddle, she swung up behind him with sudden resolve. Her arms wrapped tight around his waist, her face brushing his back before she leaned close, lips grazing beneath his ear in a kiss that promised more than comfort.
