“Allow yourself a little happiness, especially during dark times.”
“It hasn’t been long since Bayne and I ended things,” I murmured.
Isla snorted, and I shot her a look.
“Things ended between you and Bayne long before you went through that gate,” she said. “It’s been, what? Almost a year since you fucked? You’ve had something like three conversations since then? Give yourself a break. We might not last another year. Let yourself live.”
Her elbow nudged my side, and I pulled my gaze back to her. What could I have possibly done to deserve a friend like her? Isla had been in love once, with someone she never spoke of. She’d taken lovers but had never truly fallen since.
My gaze drifted back to Kellan and Naomi, their movements slowing to a stop as the song reached its completion. His gaze connected with mine from across the tavern, a tenderness softening the darkness in his eyes. I held it, and the raucous sounds slipped back into that hazy dream. He raised a brow in quiet invitation, his chin dipping slightly, and my chest squeezed in temptation.
What would it be like to be held in those strong arms? To feel his hand at my lower back, holding me up, holding me close. To press my chest against his. To feel the scrape of his calluses against my palm in a moment of calm… not escaping the enemy, or transferring power… Justfeeling. To lose ourselves in a few moments of revelry and ease that accompanied the song.
Kellan’s lips parted, as if he imagined just that. There was no lust in his gaze, just a quiet longing that pulled on whatever connected us. He shifted, angling his body toward me as he began to lift his hand. Isla’s arm brushed against my side as she shook off her jacket. I pulled my gaze away and glanced back at my resilient, loyal friend, who traveled across the world with me to face enemies like none other. Who stood by me.
Kellan’s patient gaze was waiting for me when I turned back. I gave him a soft shake of my head, and his eyes cut to Isla. His lips tugged up before giving me a subtle nod.
“May I have this dance, milady?” I asked Isla, tugging my jacket off and holding my hand out.
Her amber eyes sparkled in the dim lantern light of the tavern. Her small fingers wrapped around my hand, and she hopped to her feet.
“Why, it would be my honor.” She curtsied and led us to the dance floor. We wound our way through the tight space of strangers, ignoring the stares of the Votruvians and lost ourselves in jubilant, silly sisterhood.
Rain slithereddown the ornate glass windows lining the crisp white hallway of Eghan House. Cinnamon and nutmeg pulled me to the dining room, waiting at the end of the hall where I knew Aeriden would be. I quickened my pace, passing roomafter room and pausing as my eyes caught a flash of blue in a small study.
My pulse quickened as I peered beyond the slightly cracked door, holding my breath as my eyes landed on Kellan’s sea blue coat draped over a burgundy velvet chair.
Soft flames flickered in the fireplace, and movement pulled my eyes to the corner, where Kellan crossed an ankle over his strong thigh, his leathers shifting. The scent of old books mingled with the cedar and leather that was Kellan, and something happened to me. My mouth parted as I watched his brows narrow while he bent over an open book, his elbow propped up on the other arm crossed over his chest.
His thumb grazed his tongue before he flicked the page and continued reading. A blazing heat erupted in my center, mingling with something softer, more tender at the sight of the pirate lord reading a book in his study.My gods.What was happening to me…
I blew a slow breath through my lips as quietly as possible and took a silent step back before rushing down the hall to the dining room.
Aeriden groaned as he inhaled the hot oats and bacon Mother Eghan had prepared for his breakfast. He nodded as I entered, offering me a steaming mug of a light-brown beverage. I resisted the urge to moan as the nutty, creamy vanilla mixture slid down my throat.
Mother Eghan and Naomi had done a remarkable job healing Aeriden’s leg. Though he remained weak, the infection had cleared, and there was no sign of the creatures’ poison.
“Vulcan said the crew is preparing to leave for the Arx. Stocking up on rubellines and other supplies. When do we leave?” he asked through mouthfuls as a gaggle of children scooted through the dining room. I caught the eye of the youngest girl in the back, her bright red hair reminding me toomuch of Morwyn. Memories rushed forward, slicing a wound never healed by time.
The little girl lingered by the door, and I let a little Obscura and Transcindiel power dance together above my palm, molding them in the shape of a dark, flying horse. The embers bordering my pupils sparked, and I smiled before winking at her. Her brown eyes went wide, and she pointed at me and smiled.
“Caíh!” she squealed, before running after her friends. “A horsey caíh!”
I smiled and turned back to Aeriden.
“We’re to meet at the docks in three hours,” I answered, sticking my finger in his cinnamon oats and licking it off.
He frowned and batted my hand away with his spoon.
“But if you want to stay and rest…”
He paused before taking a bite and raised his ebony brows at me. Gods, he looked so much like Papa.
“I’m not leaving you, Lyvia. I don’t care who you are.Lyviánala. Bonscaíh, or whatever the fuck Astraeus calls you.”
My brows furrowed.
“I don’t care what anyone says,” he continued through a mouthful of oats. “Nothing has really changed. You may not be my sister by blood, but you’re my sister by bond. The air oath may have died with Enya, but I’d swear the same to you today. And I know I’ve said it a million times already, but I’m sorry about Mount Telum. I didn’t understand… I didn’t know?—”
