I lower my head once more. “That’s how I feel.”
He lifts my chin with his finger, forcing my gaze to find his.
“Hey,” he says, sharply. “You are safe right now. We are safe, and that’s all that matters.” Silas kisses my forehead before settling onto the bed next to me. “You with me is all that matters.”
I rest my head against his broad shoulder. “Apparently, my running off to save everyone gave you three all kinds of ideas in Daramveer.”
He huffs a soft laugh, his body finally relaxing against mine. “Maines found out that Carobon was trying to be resurrected. Something I now know you could have told us, but didn’t.” He nudges me. “If you weren’t so impatient and keen to keep secrets, you’d have known all of this before you snuck out toward your death wish.”
I grimace, trying to keep the memories from drowning me in this moment.
“Any other secrets you’d like to tell me about?”
I shake my head, the lie making it painful to look at him, and I swear he knows I’m lying.
“Don’t keep things from me, Briar.” Silas’s voice is deep as he pleads with me. “Please.”
I lean forward, planting a soft kiss upon his lips.
He flashes a worried smile. “You know, Carobon doesn’t want you dead anytime soon, Briar. He wants another chance to prove his strength against Kalix and all Shadow Wielders.” He sits straight up, turning his body toward mine as he continues, “He wants another chance for the Lumor Wielders to rule over all. I have strong suspicions that he fully possesses Rohhit, and that they are heading to Eddris. They are going to raise an army, just like what happened all those years ago during the Great Battle.”
“We knew this would happen,” I say.
He pauses, grabbing my hand before continuing. “We’re going to endure another epic war. We must fight him, but we can’t allow Kalix to take complete control of your body. We’ve got to figure out how to harness the Great Wiitch’s strength without putting you in jeopardy.” Silas stares deep into my eyes. “I can’t lose you again.”
“You won’t,” I whisper, trying to convince myself as much as him.
He glances down at my hands, noticing the black lines that remain, and his eyes meet mine. “Those aren’t going to fade this time, are they?”
“No.” I flex my hands. “I think they are here to stay.”
I’ll tell him the promise I made Kalix in the water another day.
“You stayed on the dock. You placed yourself in danger to hold off Carobon. Why didn’t you come with us?” I ask, accusation in my tone, along with concern and frustration.
He breaks eye contact, like the question makes his thoughts travel somewhere dark—somewhere he doesn’t want to go. “I knew he would kill us if we all let our guards down to shift. And, I knew you left something behind that meant more to you than anything.” I tilt my head, waiting for him to continue. “The letters. I thought maybe I could grab them for you.”
My mouth slightly parts in shock. “You risked your life for that?”
He gazes into my eyes, revealing something I've never seen from him before—something tender and vulnerable. “I’d risk my life—repeatedly—for the things you hold dear, Briar.”
My heart soars, and neither of us speaks for a moment, just letting the silence of the cabin surround us in a comforting embrace.
My mind reels for those poor people in Eddris facing the destruction heading their way. Silas continues, “Oak’s father is going to keep us updated on the moves they are making, since Brinkym is our only connection to the mainland at this point.”
I nod, speechless in this moment.
We have no real plans, no armies, and no supporters—especially with me as queen. Everyone ran from me, fearing me because of the stunt I pulled. I let my father get to me, and regret hangs heavily on my shoulders. Not only will I have to rebuild Daramveer, but if we don’t stop this, we will need to rebuild the entire realm. I feel like I might be sick again, and I breathe sharply through my nose, trying to keep it at bay.
“It’s going to be okay.” Silas kisses my forehead, brushing a strand of hair from my pale face. “We will figure this out. Together.” His kisses shift from my forehead to my mouth, and I can’t help but feel uncertain about trusting his words entirely. It’s hard not to feel hopeless in this moment, and I know he understands.
“You promise?”
He responds, gazing into my eyes as he says, “I promise.”
“Where are Maines and Oak?” I ask, changing the subject.
Silas chuckles. “They are on the deck. Oak has really taken a liking to the ship life—he’s practically the captain now. However, Captain Darcy seems to think otherwise.”
