Talon squeezed the glass in his hand until it shattered. He barely reacted to the shards that pierced his palm. Blood quickly mixed with the alcohol and his fresh wounds burned like he’d dipped them in fire.
He didn’t care. Tomorrow would be so much worse. There was plenty more fire to be had if Eimear’s predictions were to be believed.
Twenty-two. How dismal.
Talon reclined back, letting his hand splay out on the cushion beside him. He didn’t care that blood rolled through hisfingers, staining the fabric. It wasn’t as though it would matter long anyway.
His mind drifted. Pleasant darkness opened its arms, beckoning him closer. Soon it would be an abyss he’d never wake from. Talon wondered if the forgotten gods would welcome them at shining gates that led to a blissful eternity, or turn them away for not even remembering their names.
A loud knock yanked Talon back to consciousness, chasing those peaceful shadows back into the crevices of his mind. He inwardly cursed, no longer caring what might happen. If Vairik was at their doorstep, the male could wait a few hours. That’s all Talon wanted, just a few more hours to himself where he could sink into oblivion.
What would death feel like in the end? Would he feel the life fade from his body, or was it more akin to falling asleep? He supposed it depended on how the final blow landed. Anything to the neck, or he—
Another knock, this time louder. Harder. Talon sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose with his uninjured hand. He sat forward and pulled out the largest of the glass pieces, letting them clatter to the floor before rising. He didn’t bother with a shirt. He honestly didn’t care. He would open the door and tell whoever stood on the other side they could piss off till morning.
Talon yanked the door open and did a double take. Adrenaline surged through him, momentarily clearing his blurry vision. He gaped, heart jolting at the mere scent of the female before him.
Raevina.
Raevina was here, standing at his door. She’d come in the wake of—no. No, Raevina wasn’t like that. She wasn’t a simpering female. If she was here, there was a problem.
“What happened?” He wasn’t sure he wanted to know. Were the gods truly not going to grant him a single night of solace before the world ended?
Raevina just stood there with a scowl on her face. Both arms were at her sides, one hand wrapped around a small object he couldn’t identify. Heat rose to his face when he realized he wasn’t wearing a shirt. Raevina had no problem looking him over.
“Are you going to invite me in or have me stand here all night like an idiot?”
Talon staggered back, pulling the door open wider, unable to form words. Raevina strode inside and he closed the door, turning the lock. She eyed him, but both knew it wasn’t to keep her contained. Not that he could contain Raevina even if he wanted to. Talon briefly wondered if it would be fun to try.
He watched the gorgeous female cross the extravagant space until she stood before the fireplace. Only glowing embers remained within, casting a soft glow over the back half of the room. Candles flickered everywhere else, dancing from the slight gusts created by their movement.
“It’s tidier than I expected,” she commented, staring at his folded tunic on the chair. Talon was far, far too intoxicated to have a conversation right now. He crossed the room and picked up his shirt before pulling the loose material over his head. Raevina scoffed. “I’ve seen you in far less.”
She’d seen him in nothing at all. But he’d had his wits about him then. He’d been able to show restraint. If she pressed her body to his now, he’d say damn the consequences and take whatever she was willing to offer.
They stood in tense silence. He didn’t trust his own voice. Raevina wasn’t what he’d call a patient female. She’d get to the point soon. Perhaps she was here to discuss somethingregarding the battle. Maybe she, too, was affected by the prospect of death.
Seconds shifted to minutes and Raevina just remained where she was, staring into the embers. Talon could feel her magic sparking through the air even if he couldn’t see it. She looked so … lost. So unlike the Raevina he’d grown to admire.
Talon stepped closer, pausing just out of arm’s reach. He was acutely aware of everything in her presence. His bare feet. His lack of a weapon. The way she basically wore an arsenal and hadn’t yet showered. Not that she didn’t smell divine.
Raevina’s eyes flickered to his feet. He hated that part of his pant leg had ridden up, revealing the brutal scarring. Something in her eyes softened. Talon clenched his jaw.
“Are those from me?” she whispered.
Talon furrowed his brow. “No. They’re old injuries.” Is that why she was here? Did she think she’d injured him in the library? He’d noticed her staring, but hadn’t imagined—
Her hand flexed slightly. “From who?”
Talon shrugged, not in the mood to play her games tonight. “Maybe they’re not from anyone.”
“I’m not a fool. Someone from Fiadh did that to you. I want a name.”
“Why? Plan to hunt them down?” She didn’t respond, but he saw a flame surge within the embers. Raevina’s jaw worked. His heart softened. She was here, clearly concerned for his well-being, even if she had difficulty showing it. “It happened in Ruadhán during an ambush outside the royal city. They were after Arianna.”
“So they’re dead.” Her shoulders relaxed a fraction.
“They’re dead,” he confirmed.
