He cleared his throat. “I’m not entirely sure how long. Before the end of the moon cycle, probably, but Varax will let you know.”
“Alright.”
She wanted to touch him, to hug him goodbye, to press her face to his chest and listen to his heart. But he didn’t want those things, would never allow that closeness between them. So, she merely said, “Goodbye, Morgen,” and began the trek home.
Chapter
Twenty
I once heard that when Nyx and Thanatos were married, the priestess could actually see the threads of Fate tangled between them as she mixed their blood. A fable, I had always thought, until today.
—Ana, Priestess to the Usurper King, Arcadia
“Shh,Nya. Look, it’s gone, it’s gone…”
She was vaguely aware she was thrashing and crying when she woke up, that Morgen was murmuring in her ear, but his words didn’t make any sense. What was gone? And why was her skin so ice-cold when his was blazing warm?
She forced her eyes open, trying to make sense of it. The room was dim, the torches burning low, and she had no idea what time it was. It was nearly impossible to tell in the cave system. When she touched her cheeks, she flinched. Her tears had turned to shards of ice against her skin.
“Morgen?”
He was smoothing down her hair, tugging the blankets tight around her, as if to ward off the strange, frigid chill. “You’re alright.”
“What happened?”
He paused for too long. “You were dreaming.”
“About what? You saw my dream the other night, the one about Carus. Did you see this one?”
“I don’t…I don’t think so.”
She lifted her head. “What do you mean, you don’t think so?”
He took a deep breath. “I mean?—”
But he cut himself off as someone banged what sounded like metal against the stone just outside the room. She jolted, but Morgen shook his head and muttered, “It’s only Carus,” before slipping out of the bed and shrugging on a loose pair of pants.
Thankfully, she remembered she was completely naked before she accidentally flashed her newly realized brother, who was speaking in low tones to Morgen at the entryway. She heard Carus give a loud, exasperated sigh and mutter, “Of course I’m right. Just stay here.”
Once he was gone and Morgen turned back to face her, she asked, “What was that about?”
Morgen grimaced, shifting back and forth on his feet. “He’s going to have Imeria spread a rumor.”
“Oh. I assume about what we…”
“Yes.”
She cleared her throat. “Well, ah, that’s good, since I’d really like to avoid any more attempts on my life.”
He crossed back to the bed, his fingers brushing his neck over the exact spot where she’d drawn blood. “That’s not going to be an issue again.”
It took her a moment to realize exactly what he meant; that now, if someone tried to kill her, they would also be threatening his life. His soldiers might not trust her, but she was fairly certain most were loyal enough not to turn on him too.
“I suppose that’s good.”
He nodded, and she sat up, not realizing she had lost hold of the sheets until his eyes dipped down and darkened. She made to grab the sheets, but he stopped her, shaking his head.
“I should get dressed,” she whispered.
