“May the gods keep you and hold you, Christine,” he says like he knows her and sets fire to the kindling.
We remain in silence until ash settles into the snow slush. Dawn is just a whisper away, and if I didn’t have a kingdom to watch out for and promises to keep, I would let the sun take me.
The three of us snap back to the iron entrance and stride through the gold and ebony foyer.
“I’ll leave you both to your rest,” Del says, offering me a bow before turning down the hall to the west wing.
I watch his broad back, his suit soiled and dress shoes muddied, as he walks away, shoving his fists into his pockets.
“What do you make of him?” I whisper to Second.
“He doesn’t belong here. I’m not sure what keeps him at Nerian’s side.”
“Agreed.”
Second and I snap to our suite of rooms, Night Kingdom guards stationed in the hall. I nod as I pass them, and they bow to me, faces mournful.
My people know what tonight meant to me. My trusted guards are privy to most everything about me.
Charlotte and Emmanuel jump when we walk through the doors.
“Did you burn her?” Charlotte asks, eyes like glaciers, brilliant blue shining through tears.
“We did,” Second answers, striding to the wash basin and wetting a cloth before bringing it to me.
I stare at the rag in his calloused hands, knowing exactly what it’s for.
Lifting my chin, I let Second wipe Christine’s blood from my mouth. He works the cloth down my throat, where I felt her life force flow, a serpent teasing my sanity as I let it snake alongmy skin in that dining room. Each dab and sweep of the rag threatens to crack the thin control I cling to.
Emmanuel stands in the corner, throwing his blade at the wall and summoning it back to himself over and over.
The consistent thud is comforting while I watch the knife carve his intended design.
The Night Kingdom crest etches into Goreon plaster.
“We will take this kingdom before it’s over,” I promise them.
“Yes, my queen,” they respond.
Second towers over me, his eyes finding mine. “You and I need to talk.”
And I know what it’s about.
I nod at him to follow me to my room, and we close ourselves in.
“What was your plan? To tell me there was a marriage proposal when we fucking got here?” he asks, tone harsh but lacking bite.
I groan, slinking onto the edge of the bed, my gown pooling around me. “I’ll do whatever is necessary to get us close enough to win.”
Second paces the room. “Bedding that foulness will never be a necessity. We’ll find another way.”
“I’ll do whatever it takes,” I snarl dishonestly, the rawness of my evening screaming at my edges. I would never sleep with Nerian.
Second stops pacing, and his kind eyes make sure to secure mine before he speaks. “You’ve built a kingdom that will fight for you.Wewill fight for you,” he says, gesturing to the closed door with Charlotte and Emmanuel behind it, my trusted guard beyond them. “For what is right. Don’teverforget that.”
I fall back on the bed. “I’d prefer to only risk myself until we’ve exhausted every option.” I wave a hand in the air. “You can always take over if I miss the mark.”
Second yanks me by the ankle, and I bolt upright to face down his finger in my face. “Remember who you are, Veya,” he commands. “We go before you do. In every life, godsdamnit.”
