Still, Zev hasn’t said a single word to me the entire meeting.
“The Volcan army has made land,” Tairna says, pointing to a spot on the map unfurled across her table. I shift closer, angling to see the map better, and my elbow bumps into Zev’s.
“Sorry,” I mutter. He ignores me.
Tairna’s dark eyes flit between us, her lips twisting like she wants to lecture her son. At least, I hope that’s what her expression means.
With a muted sigh, she returns her attention to the map. “Their forces will split into two and head here”—she traces a line cutting across the map to Arbinj—“and here”—another line to Tundrayn. “Our men from these camps will join them. Together, that’ll be enough to take over both palaces.” She glances around the table. “We execute the monarchs publicly. Then, we’ll need to move quickly to cement Mayah’s rule.”
I brace my arms against the table. “You can’t kill my father.”
Tairna’s expression morphs into pity. “Mayah, we’ve discussed this … if we wantyouto lead, then—”
I wave an impatient hand. “That’s not what I mean.Iwant to kill him.” The words taste like blood on my tongue. My heart pounds—not from fear, but from the white-hot clarity of knowing I mean it.
The deaths of the Tundrayni warriors still haunt me—but they had been innocent.
Zev turns sharply toward me. He opens his mouth, then clamps it shut, muscles twitching. Silence stretches, but the rage inside me is deafening. Father’s wrathful face, lit by lightning, is burned behind my eyelids. I hear the echo of every storm he ever summoned to break me—the one he summoned to kill my mother.
Tairna studies me, then slowly nods. “All right. We’ll capture him alive. Rycken, send a missive to the other camps about themovements. Lyzza, work with Tumaas to ensure we are well-armed.”
With the meeting adjourned, everyone rises to leave.
“Wait, Vayru,” Tairna calls. I don’t linger this time, the door handle cool beneath my palm. “Mayah. You stay, too.”
Anxiety churns in my stomach as I trudge back to the table. Zev doesn’t look at me.
Tairna opens a drawer and retrieves a key. Her eyes glisten as she looks at Zev and says, “Give me your hands, Vayru.” Her voice is soft. Tender. The way a mother’s should be.
For a moment, he doesn’t move. Then slowly, he reaches his hands across the table. I hold my breath as Tairna unlocks one cuff, then the other. When both shackles land on the table, Zev takes a deep, shuddering breath, eyes clenching shut as his power flows through him, unburdened. His skin is inflamed where the cuffs sat, and my fingers itch to heal him.
I keep my hands in my lap.
“I thought,” Zev rasps. “I thought that—”
Tairna shoots him a watery smile. “She changed her mind. She told me this morning. As long as you can control your temper, Vayru, they’ll stay off.”
My heart misses a beat. “Sura?” I whisper, eyes wide.
Tairna nods. “She was the staunchest advocate for keeping Vayru suppressed. Which is understandable.” Her eyes cut to Zev in apology. “I didn’t want her to feel unsafe. But she found me this morning and told me she was ready.”
My heart swells with so much affection, I fear it might burst. I don’t deserve Sura and her unconditional friendship. A tear slips down my cheek, and I wipe it away quickly before they see.
When my eyes find Zev, he’s watching me, his expression unreadable. I gesture to his wrists. “I’m glad for you. I’m sure you’ve missed your powers.”
He doesn’t say anything. My stomach plummets. Tides, he’s not going to respond. I almost rise, ready to flee the room when he clears his throat.
“Thanks.”
“Are you sure it’s fine?” Sura asks me for the tenth time as we walk to my room.
“Yes!” I insist for the tenth time, tugging her along. Tumaas asked for privacy tonight—neither of us want to linger on why, orwho—and I told Sura she could sleep in my room. I’m there alone anyway.
She runs into my back as I freeze in the doorframe.
Not alone tonight, apparently.
Zev stands in the middle of the room, toweling off his damp hair.
