Elyssa gave her a determined smile. “You bet. We have some ass kicking to do.”
Farren gave them a friendly wave, but his focus was on the crystal in his hand. Amira looked uncertain like she too remembered she would have to go back to the palace soon.
“I’ll be back in a minute,” Eyden said before he met Lora’s gaze, burning with that same determination he’d seen in El’s eyes. Taking her hand, he forced his power to drift them away, to the last place he wanted Lora to be, before he could change his mind and never let her go.
* * *
When Eyden’s feet hit the wooden floor of his apartment, he leaned against his kitchen table, already feeling Lora’s absence like a heavy stone on his heart. He knew she was relatively safe as long as Karwyn needed her for the ritual, but he also knew enough to suspect Karwyn could find ways to punish her in the meantime. The bruises on her neck said as much. Eyden’s hand curled around the edge of the kitchen table.
A hand on his shoulder made him turn his head, his grip on the wooden surface loosening. Eyden locked eyes with his sister, her gaze filled with sympathy.
“Did the impulse to rip my head off pass, or are you still mad at me?” Eyden asked, hoping for the first option. Being on bad terms with Elyssa was its own torture.
Elyssa crossed her arms as she made a show of thinking it over. “When do I ever not want to rip your head off?”
Dread made his heart drop. Then she laughed, punching him in the shoulder.
“I’m kidding. Well, sort of. You do need a good kick sometimes, but I’m not mad at you.”
“You’re not?” Eyden didn’t want to embark on this mission with a cleft between them.
“I know why you did everything you did. And it’s no excuse.” He made to interrupt her, but Elyssa held up a hand. “There’s no excuse, but Idounderstand. Sometimes you put me up on a pedestal as if I deserve to live more than you, as if your actions don’t matter as long as I’m safe. I think it’s what I love and hate about you the most. I can’t say that I’m not thankful to you for taking care of me. I can’t say that I’ve never blurred the lines for the people I love.”
Elyssa’s willingness to jump into any danger for the people she loved, for the cause she believed in, made him prouder than anything. But it also scared him shitless.
“The gambling is an issue, though,” Elyssa added, pointing a finger at him. “Don’t think I’ve forgotten. I know it stems from your willingness to risk it all for my safety, but you have to recognise it’s a goddamn problem.”
“I do. Trust me, I do,” Eyden replied. “Once this is all over, you can yell at me all you want every time I so much as look at a poker game.”
Elyssa flashed her teeth as she grinned. “Oh, I’ll do more than just yell. And if you keep anything from me again, if you decide that you need to bend your goddamn morals for me, you’ll get to experience my full wrath.”
Holding up his hands, he said, “I won’t, promise. I only kept it from you because I was ashamed.” There weren’t many lines he’d crossed and regretted, but that was one he’d wanted to take back.
Elyssa’s grin faded, her hazel and gold eyes turning serious. She was still wearing the contact lenses that made her eyes brighter, almost fae. It was a strange sight to him. “I wish you would have told me sooner. I can see now it’s eating you alive.” Her fierce eyes softened. “The past is the past. I forgive you, but you need to do the same. Forgive yourself, and let me in. Next time, tell mebeforeyou cross any unforgivable lines.”
Forgive himself.The concept seemed impossible. He could hardly remember what it felt like to not carry this constant guilt with him, yet a smidge of the weight lifted off his shoulders. “You’re right. With the risks we’re taking, the lines we’re blurring, we need to hold each other accountable.”
Elyssa’s expression relaxed. “There isn’t much I wouldn’t do for you. For Farren. Even for the rebel camp, excluding Jaspen.” She almost spit out his name.
Eyden’s gaze travelled over her head to the couch where Amira was deep in conversation with Farren. “Does that category include Amira now?” He’d noted their closeness.
Following his gaze, she admitted, “I trust her.”
“Be careful, El, okay?”
“Always am,” Elyssa replied, smiling wide.
Eyden couldn’t help but laugh, drawing Amira and Farren’s attention. He noticed the way Elyssa’s eyes shifted to the princess. Amira smiled back at her shyly, and the glimmer in Elyssa’s eyes told him everything.
Amira had definitely made it into El’s heart, and now there wasn’t much her sister wouldn’t do for her. He hoped the princess felt the same, that she could be trusted. Their inner circle of trusted allies had grown bigger than Eyden had ever thought possible. But with it, the risk of betrayal had grown too.
Chapter55
Elyssa
Elyssa kept close to Amira, her hand almost brushing the princess’ as they neared the temple in Parae. It was around three bells in the morning. The night air ruffled Elyssa’s curls that she’d pulled back, as usual. Although she couldn’t hear her brother’s steps, Elyssa knew he was right behind them. So was Farren.
Her skin prickled with anticipation at the thought of completing this first step in their plan. Amira pointed to the east side of the round temple in front of them. Tarnan didn’t know all the details about the artefact’s whereabouts, but he’d told them about a secret door on that side.
