We lapsed into a moment of silence as his gaze met mine. I took this opportunity to reach out emotionally—down that bond that rested between our souls. I gently touched the anxiety welling up inside of him with my determination and certainty; therewasn’tan ounce of doubt in me at that moment.
Something changed in his gaze then. It was as though I could see as he finally grasped just how sure ofthisI was, and that this trulywasn’tan impulsive or rash decision on my part.
He let out a shaky breath then, wrapping his arms around my waist and laying his head in my lap. My wings wrapped around our forms and my hands brushed through his hair in calming strokes as he meekly said, “I can’t lose anybody else, Avi.”
“I know, Byn. I know,” I murmured.
I knew Ididn’thave tosaymore than that. He could feel the hope radiating from me—the hope thatwe’dretrieve Ezra, and the hope thatI’dget to talk to my brother in a calm manner. Monarch to monarch, twin to twin, brother to sister.
Buried beneath all of that, a small part of me was excited to see my homelands again. To be in the same city, the same castleI’dgrown up in.
I breathed deeply.This isn’t about me, I reminded myself.
Quinn had still been having vague feelings through what she was certain was her bond with Ezra. None of us dared to doubt her—we allwantedto believe her, anyways.
It was easier that way.
Byn and I stayed like that, finding comfort in each other’s close company for a while before night had fully taken hold of the sky and I insisted he help me pack. His worrywasn’tfully gone, but it had been soothed,almost asthough my confidence and hope had been a balm to his turbulent emotions.
Roughly twohours later—which was past the meet up time, but thankfullywasn’tmentioned—theValwain, along withMatea, stood on the outskirts ofCairnyl, along the border of Wittuck Woods. We had all talked and laughed the whole walk here, but now, the somberness had set in. It hung like a mist in the air, settling solely around our little group.
Rayven stood with Chess and Quinn ten feet away,likely talkingstrategy and swapping last minute tips. Teagan had stayed behind with Margo, and Matea and Laurence stood closer to thetrees,their heads bowed and voices hushed as they spoke. Then, there was me and my husband.
He was still dressed in his formalwear—pants that hugged just the right places and a silk button-up shirt. He seemed to have lost his overcoat along the way, during thestress and planning of the day.
“You haven’t even left yet, and your mind is already wandering to places I can’t reach,” Byn said, slipping a finger under my chin and tilting my face up towardshis.
Sometimes, I didn’t mind the height difference so much.
“You’re always on my mind,” I reassured him, smiling cheekily.
He rolled his eyes playfully at my attempt at humor, but hecouldn’tstop the small smile that crept its way onto his full lips.
Unable to help myself, I fisted my hands into hisshirtand I pulled him down to my level. Our lips met half a heartbeat later, the desperation and needrulingover everything else.
He nipped at my bottom lip, but the moment was interrupted when somebody cleared their throat.
Loudly.
“They need to get going, Byn,” Quinnsaid,her arms crossed over her chest. My cheeks flushed bright red, but Byndidn’ttake his eyesfromme.
Instead, he cupped the side of my face and kissed me all over again.
This one wassofter,more meaningful. I could feel as he reached toward my emotions with his—love on love, warmth on warmth, adoration on adoration.
Stars, this is all I want in life.
All too soon, he broke away and stood straight, his arm still around me as he addressed the other twowhowere about todepartwith me.
“Drayven, I know thisgoes without saying, but this is a stealth mission. Get in and get out without drawing too much attention, got it?”
I watched as Rayven nodded. “Got it.”
Byn turned to Matea next. The softness he had held in his face for Rayven hardened, turning much more serious.
“Matea. Wehaven’tknownyouvery long, so this mission is an act of trust in you on our part. Donotfail us, or me,” he said sternly.
“I won’t failAviva, my king,” she said confidently, somehow managing not to cower beneath the power of his gaze.
