“I told you not to be late, the—” His footsteps became urgent. “Cordelia, what’s wrong?”
“What did you do to her?”
“What didIdo to her? Are you fucking serious right now? She’s having trouble breathing, do something.”
Aegir was instantly on his knees. He placed his palm on my breastbone, his powers coursing through me.
“Hey, it’s all right. Look at me,” he said, each word coming out softer than fluffy cotton. “Follow my breathing. In”—he took a deep inhale through his nose—“and out…and again…”
Once my breathing situation was under control, Aegir cupped and studied my face.
“Go. We’ll head inside soon.” Amani nodded and left us.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
I nodded.
“Does this happen to you often?”
Another nod. “But only when I feel trapped or overwhelmed.”
“I can see that you are not trapped. So what is it that overwhelms you? Is it the meeting?” I did not have to reply. “Well, I want you to know that from this point on, you do not have to carry whatever it is that overwhelms you, or evenwhelmsyou, by yourself. I do not only wish to share my soul and my body with you, I want to share everything there is in between. Tell me, what is it that scares you about the meeting?”
“I gathered that the people waiting on the other side of that door are important to you and they came here for me…and for my people. It will be about war and strategies and decisions. Aegir, I—I do not have any sort of political knowledge other than what I can remember from my childhood. It’s not a subject that was taught at the orphanage. What input could I possibly offer?”
“You are theirqueen. That alone is already enough.”
“Am I? What’s a queen without her people?”
“That’s why we’re all gathered here, to change that. Cordelia, when Eldric told me that a Briartide heir was amongst the people you found on Mistgeil Island, the surprising news brought with it a little kernel of hope. But, Boreas, when you told me who you were, it brought an avalanche of hope. You made the impossible possible. Youarehope. You are their salvation.”
He cupped my face and I held his outstretched arms, wrapping my fingers around the insides of his elbows. “That’s what truly frightens me, Aegir. You say that I am hope, but what if I fail? It would not only mean letting my people down but also that my mother would have died for nothing. That Galen would have died for nothing.”
“The death of your mother and Galen was already for something—hell, it was for everything. They spared the lives of your people, my people, and they also spared your life,mylife. You cannot say that their deaths were for nothing. Have faith in yourself—take a little from mine and carry it with you.”
“How will I know what to say?”
“You’ll know. How many times do I have to tell you not to underestimate yourself?”
“You put too much trust in me.”
“As I should.” Aegir offered me a close view of his supple palm, and he stood. “Now, will you take my hand and walk with me? I’ll be sitting next to you the whole time, and I’m certain you’ll do great, but know that you only have to say one word—just one—and we’re out of that room, no questions asked.”
I found myself smiling, placing my palm on top of his.
Aegir gave me a sly smirk. “You look absolutely mind-blowing by the way.”
I stood up, putting pressure on my toes and pressing my mouth on his. He immediately parted his lips for me, kissing metenderly. One of his hands went to my nape, the other cupped the left side of my face. A sensation of warmth wrapped tightly around me, just as tight as my arms hugged around his waist. I pulled him near.
“Tastes like someone’s been naughty with hesh,” he teased. I gave him a cheeky smile and bit on my lower lip.
His grip tightened and he leaned in for another kiss, but I winced when he pressed his arm against my back.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, letting go of me as if I would break if he didn’t.
I looked at him from beneath batting lashes and chewed on my lips before turning myself around. My hand went to my nape, and I moved away the few locks of persistent hair that dangled along my inked back. The gesture allowed me to get a glimpse of his piercing gaze. His throat worked.
Aegir drew near to my back.
