“Fuck,” I rasp as Jace continues his tirade of curses.
Flying out of the log, I land on the forest floor and try to breathe. The sun bathes me in its warmth, but I still feel so fucking cold.
My wife is stronger than I ever gave her credit for. She’s stronger than anyone I know.
Whereas we all hide from the pain of death, shutting people out in fear of losing them later, Arienna embraces it. She loves regardless. She loves fully and freely. Wasps only live a few weeks, yet that doesn’t stop her from giving them all that she has.
My world will not break her.
It can’t.
Because Arienna does not fear death.
She acknowledges it. She embraces it. She sees it as part of life.
And life –thatshe loves in all its forms.
Flying back to Kholar, I’m desperate to find my wife so I can apologise and beg her to take me back.
Forty-Six
At the Battle of Black Sun, King Morningstar was nearly quartered by the Jokeni.
And it still felt better than this.
- King Richard
“Arienna’s daily update,” Jace says as he kicks his feet up on my desk. It’s been two days since Hyatt dropped off our grandkids. I haven’t slept or eaten at all. A map of the city is spread out in front of me again, and I’m slowly colouring it in. I’m no longer looking where I think she might be. I’ve simply reverted to kicking in every fucking door.
“She’s alive, well, eating, and not as sad.”
My pen stills as my head jerks up. Is she healing because she’s found someone else? Or is being alone still better than being with me?
Lunging over the desk, I grab him by the collar. “Enough with your fucking games, Jace. Tell me where she is.”
Leaning forwards, he kisses me on the lips. “I do love it when you’re rough.”
I shove him away hard enough to make him trip over his chair. As he topples to the ground with it, I fly up to the ceiling.Pulling out a knife, I hold it to my arm. I’m the only thing he cares about. “Tell me where she is.”
His eyes narrow as he stares up at me. “What are you –”
I cut the knife deep into my skin, my jaw clenching from the pain.
“Fuck, Richard. She’s fine.”
I slide the blade across me again, same place, cutting deeper. My blood pours down on Jace. I lose the feeling in my fingers. “Tell me where she is.”
“Richard.”
I slice my arm again. A cold sweet pours off me. My wings flap in a rhythm that has me dropping every few beats.
Jace slowly rises to his feet, his hands raised. I cut my arm without hesitation. The knife digs deep into bone, then gets stuck. Releasing it, I pull out another one as he shoots up towards me, his wings flapping much harder than mine.
I point the blade against my chest.
He stops instantly, still too far away from me.
“Where is she?” I ask, pushing the tip past the skin over my heart.
