Stepping toward him, I ignore the familiar sting in my leg. Years of Leanna’s training has done nothing if not prepared me to ignore the pain of breaking. As Riah can only mend bone, not flesh, there will be some small amount of damage left from the blow that she was unable to heal.
I won’t risk asking for Caden, not only is it completely unnecessary, but the general would want a detailed explanation as to what had happened. I let myself out of the ring, swiping my discarded leathers off the ground before the general plants his feet in front of me.
“Is everything all right?” I ask.
“Yes,” he says, “I just thought you might like to change and rest before you meet our guest.”
His lips quirk up at the edges as he takes me in and I’m sure I must be quite the sight, though he is kind enough not to tell me just how badly I need a bath. I’ve completely lost track of time and when I check the sky, the sun is just beginning its descent toward the horizon. It’s still early in the afternoon. The warm spring days of A’kori getting longer with each setting sun.
Neither Riah nor Toren say a word as they escort us back toward the palace. But when I look over my shoulder the commander offers me a shallow nod in recognition, his brow drawn down as he considers me more thoughtfully than ever before. I wonder what the male makes of our time spent sparring. Perhaps in vain, I hope it isn’t much.
Our companions break from our party when we enter the palace and the general leads me back to his room so that I can bathe and dress for the evening. It’s a feat in itself to conceal the first signs of the large bruise where Toren landed the blow. But Xeyvian seems more preoccupied than usual, and I have dressed in a deep blue silk gown before he has a chance to notice the mark.
He strokes my hair, looking out the window absentmindedly while I apply coal to my eyes.
“I would like to speak with your king,” I say. It’s perhaps not the thing to say to the male in the moment, and, judging by the look on his face, the request is unexpected.
“That can be arranged,” he says, failing to hide the curiosity roused by my request. “Though I intended to introduce you at the masque.”
“It can wait until then.” I latch on to the last night he offers me by his side.
It’s a selfish delay, and I have no right to waste another day of hislife knowing the likely outcome of my future. I tell myself that the party is only one day away and maybe the distraction it presents will help his spirits remain high as I lay my life at the feet of his sovereign.
“Have you decided to seduce him after all?” he asks with a teasing smile. “I’m sure you’d manage the task just fine if you chose to do so.”
I glare at the male playfully. “I would like to thank him for hosting me at the palace.” I pause before adding, “And I would like to ask him for permission to remain with you in A’kori.” The last is not a lie, and I hope that the declaration that Iwouldstay with him will soften him toward me when he finds out what I am.
It’s a curious look he levels at me. Perhaps it’s skepticism, perhaps apprehension. I’m not entirely sure.
“You intend to stay? For good?” he asks.
“I do.” I smile, and it’s a good thing that I’ve distanced the red lip paint from myself in that moment because the male sweeps me into his arms.
Resting his forehead against mine, he sighs his relief before delivering a kiss to my lips. It’s tender, not rushed or passion driven. It’s soft and sweet, a kiss for remembering a moment that will change the trajectory of our lives.
I brush my fingers down the length of his jaw. A single lifetime with this male will never be enough. I shove down thoughts of how he will watch me age, my own youth and beauty ravaged by time while he remains exactly as he is. Poisonous thoughts spilled into my ears by Siserie, but that doesn’t make them untrue.
His lips brush against my temple as he murmurs, “How did I ever make it this long without you?”
It isn’t really a question, and I can’t help the smile that tugs at my mouth, disguising all the cracks of my breaking heart, unable to imagine the pain of our inevitable parting. It will be death that parts us, wether by the hand of Vos, his king, or time, there will be an end to this. And that is only if he doesn’t learn to hate me first.
Hesitantly, he settles my feet back on the floor, allowing me to finish preparing myself for his guest.
The sky is painted in a thick watercolor of pinks and reds, the sun disappearing over the western sea when he takes my arm and ushers metoward the door.
“It’s time,mi’dair’a,”he says, “Our guest will be waiting.”
All the butterflies I’ve suppressed throughout the day begin to flutter wildly in my stomach. Maybe it’s only the mystery surrounding his friend or maybe it’s my plans for tomorrow, but there is a void in my gut that I cannot seem to fill.
I am unfamiliar with the small and intimate dining room I find myself in. It boasts tall panels of dark wood with an extravagantly large fireplace situated between the hip-to-ceiling leaded windows I have become accustomed to seeing in every room. The small table is set with humble settings, somewhat unexpected in the palace of the king. Certainly, a far cry from the golden halls I walked through the day I arrived.
I’ve hardly had a chance to inspect the room when the door creaks behind me, announcing Riesh, Awri, and a tall, slender female I’ve never seen before. I dip my head in greeting, finding it hard to maintain a smile when I note the absence of Kishek and the concern still heavy on the features of his mate.
I wish I could reassure her, but how can I? I hardly understand what is wrong with the male. Even if I did, I’m still entirely unsure how to receive the female after our last conversation.
“Nurai, thank you for coming.” Xeyvian smiles warmly at the stranger as he takes her hand in his own and bows his head against it.
It’s a strange greeting, one I haven’t witnessed before, and only serves to make my hesitation grow when he leads the stranger toward me.
