Scuti saw too much; intuited too much.Did he know?There was no possible way he could know Iyana was his astalle, and yet his eerie dark eyes peeled Altair back layer by layer until he was sure he was gazing into the secret center of his heart where Iyana lived.
“Are you questioning my loyalty?”Altair growled.
“Not at all, cousin.You are Rigil’s creature, through and through.”
The shadows dropped from the alcove entrance, and Scuti left without another word.Altair breathed a sigh of relief.He had to be more cautious—make sure nobody was questioning his loyalties.
He’d see to his business in Athusia, then travel to Nyr to find Iyana.Getting past the wards would be difficult, but he’d figure something out.Iyana needed to know that Rigil was aware she was alive, that she was in danger, and that she’d be better off staying in Nyr behind the wards where it was safe.
Altair would promise never to bother her again as long as she stayed where Rigil didn’t have access to her.It would kill him to never see her, never touch her, but as long as she was alive, it would be worth it.He would talk to her this one last time, just to warn her, and then he’d leave her alone.
Chapter 17
Zane
Zanefloppeddownonthe bed he and Talon shared.
“I’m the emperor of nothing,” he lamented.
“My heart…” Talon began, but Zane cut him off.
“No, Talon, it’s true.Saram and Nita refuse to answer my requests for an audience, they don’t call me ‘Your Majesty,’ and all I’ve done this past week is fucking train.A star sits uponmygodsawful, garish throne.Mypeople are in danger, and I’m over here sitting on my ass hoping the king and queen will eventually give me some aid.”
Talon sat next to him on the bed, threading his fingers through his hair and gently massaging his scalp.Zane closed his eyes at the sensation, all the fight evacuating his body.
“So, what are you going to do about it?”
“I don’t know, Tal.”Zane sighed.“I guess I’ll just be persistent about it until they give in and talk to me.”
Talon’s deft fingers continued their perusal of his scalp, and Zane lost all ability to think.It was the most Tal had purposefully touched him in what felt like a lifetime.They slept in the same bed, but most of the time, they did so without touching.On a few mornings, Zane had woken up tangled in Talon’s arms, but it was rare, and Talon always removed himself as soon as he awoke.Zane soaked in the few moments he was allowed, trying not to move and pretending that everything was okay—that Talon would wake up with a smile on his face, and the haunted look in his eyes would be gone.He’d gaze upon Zane with love, the way he had before.They would take their time with each other, and then Zane would rule over Athusa with Talon by his side.
But then his love’s eyes would actually open, and the blue would be duller than Zane remembered.And Talon would wordlessly untangle his limbs from Zane’s and go into the bathing room.Sometimes Zane would hear him sobbing on the other side of the door.
So he laid on the bed silently while Talon played with his hair, and he tried not to move in fear of scaring the other man away.
“What if they don’t offer aid?”Talon finally asked quietly.
Zane’s eyes snapped open as he groaned.Nyr very well could refuse to help him.They could refuse to give the refugees shelter as well as the use of their army.
“We should go, then,” he said, springing up from the bed and beginning to pace—all thoughts of Talon’s fingers forgotten.
“Go?”Talon asked, frowning.
“Or I should go.You can stay here where it’s safe.”Zane began talking faster as an idea formed.“I’d travel faster if I went by myself, anyway.I could sneak into Athusia and get your parents out, but then I’m the only one capable of getting into the castle undetected.I know every inch of that place.It’d be so easy to get in, kill Rigil in his sleep, and retake my empire.”
Talon jumped up and stopped Zane’s pacing with a hand on his shoulder.“And then what, Zane?”he asked, anger lining each word.“You’d get yourself killed immediately.Murdering Rigil doesn’t automatically stop any other star within the castle from ending you.Andthat’s assuming you’d even be able to get that far without dying!”
“I’m willing to die for my empire.What kind of emperor would I be if I wouldn’t give myself for my people?”
“Well, I’m not.”
“I’m not asking you to, Talon!”Zane threw his hands in the air, exasperated.
“No, Zane.”Talon shook his head.“I’m not willing foryouto die for Athusa.I’m not willing to lose you for a maybe.For the merechanceof getting your empire back.”
Zane felt like he’d been doused with cold water.Talon’s grip on his shoulders tightened.
“If you left me,” Talon continued, his voice softer, “I wouldn’t survive it.You’re theonlything tethering me to life.If you left, I would be following you to the Everlands.”
