Mrs. Thornbrew’s eyes widened as she took in Dax’s leather boots, made for riding horses in balmy weather, not facing mountains of snow.
“You Protectorate lot sure have a thing about improper footwear.” She tsked. “Your cousin walked barefoot through the whole fortress when she first came here.”
Dax’s eyes shined mischievously. “Did she now? Do tell.”
“I was making a point,” I said firmly.
“She was trying to give Ry a heart attack, that’s what she was doing.” Mrs. Thornbrew laughed. “You must be famished–”
“Does the Commander know he’s here?” Nadya persisted.
Even Geryll gave her a small nudge, careful not to jostle her gauze-wrapped shoulder.
I swallowed my sigh. Nadya had bigger issues with trust than my own, but shining such an insistent, public light was not helping.
I licked my lips, trying to ignore the pulse yanking me back. “The Commander will be informed as soon as he arrives.”
Nadya grimaced. “But–”
“Informed of what?” The voice I’d been craving boomed through the atrium.
Suddenly, the gripping pressure vanished, replaced with warm relief that washed through me. I turned, heart in my throat, only to see Ryker standing in the doorway and commanding the entire fortress with one look.
Unflinching.
Steadfast.
Everything I needed right now.
The warriors thumped their fists over their hearts, metal clinks vibrating through the air.
I took a step toward him, as restrained as I could while my entire body begged to relax into him, tuck my head under his chin, bury my nose in his furs. Feel his hot breath across my forehead, strong arms circling me protectively.
His eyes sparked as he took three long strides and met me halfway, as if drawn by the same insatiable need.
We stopped a breath away, drinking each other in. My worried gaze raced over him as fast as his did.
Ryker still had flecks of ash clinging to his short blond hair and the creases of his leather armor, but looked unharmed, though his face betrayed the exhaustion of the last few days.
He’d been breaking his bones and running at impossible speeds right after an attack, after all.
A darkness seeped into the corners of his eyes, even as he smiled down at me.
“Are you alright?” I mouthed.
He nodded, hand rising to cup my shoulders. Thank the gods I had my back to everyone else, because my eyelids fluttered at the small contact, his warmth seeping into me.
Ryker was here.
He was safe.
“We need to talk,” I muttered, suddenly serious.
“I gathered.” His gaze slashed to Dax. “Glad to see you’re alive. Allie was worried.”
I heard the reproach in his raspy words as they rushed through the atrium and dissipated the tension.
The Commander was here and he accepted Dax’s presence, so everyone else accepted it just as easily.
