I stare into his eyes, losing myself in the delicate swirls of ice blue. The one part of him that seems fragile. “Yes,” I whisper.
Kel pulls me into him and captures my mouth. All the anger and wanting and pain that our mate bond has brought us surges between our lips. My hands tangle in his hair, and his hands grip me roughly around my waist, pulling me tighter and tighter. I kiss him with everything I am, the act a plea not to go and a surrender all at once.
Finally, he tears away. “My Rose,” he says, and then nothing else. He strides to the mirror, and it ripples, revealing the Autumn realmlands. With a shiver, his body shifts into that of the cursed Winter wolf. The beast charges into the mirror.
“You’ll come back,” I whisper to the wind. “Because I did.”
73
Rosalina
Itumbleintoasoft cloud of pillows and sheets. After staying up all night, a nap is certainly in order.
The curtains are shuttered closed, but the golden sun seeps in through the cracks. Though my body is exhausted and sore, I don’t know if I’ll be able to sleep. Not with an impending army on our doorstep.
My door creeps open, and the familiar clank of metal sounds as Ezryn steps in. I start to rise, but he says softly, “Don’t get up.”
I settle back to the pillows. He sits beside me, running a gentle gloved hand over my cheek.
“I hope I didn’t wake you,” he says.
“Not at all.”
His visor tilts down. “It’s hard to rest on the edge of battle. No matter how many wars I’ve fought, it never gets any easier.”
“Maybe we’ll rest easier together.” I tug on his arm. “Lay down with me.”
A breathy sigh reverberates from his helm. “I wish I could, Petal. But I came to say goodbye.”
“Goodbye?” I force my blurry eyes to focus. “You’re not leaving too, are you?”
“No, I’ll be back by sunset. There’s a scouting party riding out to spy on Quellos’s numbers and weapons. I’m going to accompany them.”
The thought of Ezryn leaving so soon after Kel causes a hollow pit to form in my stomach. “I’m sure Autumn has capable scouts.”
“I would prefer to see for myself.”
I sigh. “You can just say you don’t trust anyone else to do the job.”
He gives a little snort of amusement. “When I return, I’ll also assist in preparing the land around the wall for the attack.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
“You’ve already rescued the High Prince of Autumn,” Ezryn says. “You, Farron, and Dayton need to rest. No one fights in close combat like the Prince of Summer, and your mate will need all his strength to lead tomorrow. This is the best use of my power.”
I’m silent for a moment, musing on his words, before I put my hand over his. “Will you stay with me for just a little longer?”
He tilts his helm. I feel his hidden gaze on me like a caress. “Until you fall asleep.”
The bed sinks as he lays beside me, his body stiff. I curl over him, nestling my head into the crook of his shoulder and laying my leg over his. My finger swirls lazy patterns over the intricate designs on his chest plate.
“This can’t be comfier than the bed,” he murmurs, but his arm has wrapped around my body.
“It is,” I mumble. “I could stay here forever.”
His fingers drift through my hair. “If only.”
“If only,” I echo, trying not to let my eyes droop. If this is my last quiet moment with Ezryn before the battle, I want to cherish it for as long as I can.
