Erik gives a heavy sigh. “It wouldn’t look real otherwise.”
“The child would have died too. Another casualty of Malak’s rage.” I give a heavy exhale. “There’s a part of me that hopes maybe it’s alive somewhere. A Blacksmith child who escaped all this and lives in peace and safety. Somewhere.”
I wonder if any such place exists. I shake it off and once again focus on the path ahead. “We need more information about why the fae are here and why they want Milena dead, but the sooner we leave, the better. My only goal before I go is making sure my family is safe.”
“You won’t ask Gallium and Tamra to come with you?” Erik is studying me again. “Your brother is a strong fighter and Thaden could be an asset. Tamra’s healing power could prove essential.”
All of that is true. Having my family at my side would greatly increase my odds of succeeding against a Blacksmith of Milena’s power and skill. Especially since Thaden’s scales protect him from the effect of Blacksmith power, but…
“My sister needs time to heal. Asking her to come with me will only enflame the tension between us. Thaden knows these lands. It’s my hope he can take her somewhere safe. As for my brother, I can’t expose him to this fight. His heart is too good. I don’t want him near this kind of darkness.”
Erik doesn’t argue. “I understand.”
I swallow hard. “I want to give them the chance to live in peace. I will do whatever I need to do to make that happen. If I survive the fight ahead of me, then maybe I can join them and heal the rift between us.”
Now, a growl hums deep in Erik’s throat. “Youwillsurvive this, Asha. I will make sure of it.”
I want to believe him, but already, the darkness is pushing in at the edges of my mind.
As if Erik senses it, he pulls me into his arms.
I bury my doubts in his kiss and welcome the heat in his hands as he leads me back to the bathroom, where the water is still running and still perfectly warm.
For the next hour, he takes his time washing me and I take my time washing him, and for that short time, I can believe that we will never break again.
Chapter25
We’ve barely emerged from the bathroom, wrapped in clean towels, when Erik tenses and points at the door.
“Incoming,” he murmurs, quickly tucking the cloth around his waist and freeing up his hands. “Five of them. All men, judging by the heaviness of their tread.”
“The men take care of housekeeping,” I say, relaxing a little, although my focus flies to my toolbox, where it has remained safely by the bed.
A moment later, a polite knock sounds at the door.
With a glance at Erik, I quickly pull the spare cloths from beneath the doorway—the ones that Erik had stuffed there to stifle sound—and step back from it.
“Enter!”
The door opens and the same five men who prepared the room file inside. The first one is carrying a plate of food. The next two are wheeling some sort of cart filled with linens, while the final two are pushing a larger cart covered in a black sheet so I can’t see its contents.
The appearance of food makes my stomach growl. I’m starving. But I angle myself back toward my toolbox, intending to remain near it while they’re here.
The first man, who has dark-green hair, greets me while the other four bow their heads briefly.
“Blacksmith Silverspun,” the green-haired man says. “My name is Jerome. We’ve come to clean your room.”
He deposits the plate of food onto the little table beside the wall. The plate is filled with what could be fruit, although I don’t recognize any of it.
As the other men set about changing the sheets and wiping down surfaces, Jerome continues, speaking politely. “Queen Karasi has extended an invitation for you to dine with her tonight.” He glances at Erik. “I’m sure she would have extended the invitation to your guest if she had known he was awake.”
“I’ll need something to wear,” I say, eyeing Jerome as he scoops up the broken pieces of my armor—which Gliss had deposited beneath the table—and retrieves Erik’s pants.
Webothneed clothing.
But I have other questions first. “How much time has passed since I first came to this room?”
“You’ve been here for two days.”
