I couldn’t go back to Lyrheim. I shouldn’t. And yet, fighting the insane urge to press the letter to my face to catch even the faintest hint of her scent, of her Light, I knew I would.
My gaze met Aramaz’s. I wondered what he was reading on my face, but he did not comment.
It was wise to go with him, wasn’t it? An easy way to dispel his and the Council’s suspicions. Who knew—perhaps this time things would be different. And if not, I would be prepared.
I offered the king my hand with a smile. “I will come back to Lyrheim with you, brother.”
CHAPTER
42
Noctis
Even after all those ages, Baradaz could still get behind my defenses and send me reeling. The comforting flame of her presence flared brighter than ever within me as I gently scooped her up to carry her indoors after she had succumbed to sleep. She grumbled softly as I tucked her into her bed. The satisfied little smile that played on her lips was so sweet I had to fight the urge to kiss her awake.
I was all too aware I had found no release tonight. A brief detour outside to bring myself to a quick, if unsatisfying, climax underneath the cold spray of the shower didn’t really help. Not after seeing her come undone for me in the moonlight, so beautiful it stole my breath. I could no longer hide the enormity of my longing for her to be mine. Yet she had stayed with me tonight. In the end, my slip-up might have been for the best.
I hesitated at my pallet in the main room. Then, with a deep breath, I returned to the bedroom. Rada made space for me immediately as I slid in beside her. Snuggling against her shapely body, mynose in her hair, was probably not the wisest idea given my state of arousal, but when had I ever been wise? A greedy part of me wanted to revel in every moment with her. I had been starving for her touch for far too long.
I awakened to her eyes on me, their bright silver hazy in the early-morning light. She ran her fingers along my cheek and jaw, the gesture sending shivers down my spine. Her full lips curved into a smile as she murmured, “Good morning.” And then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, she leaned in, her mouth whispering against mine in the gentlest of kisses—a kiss that still seared through me like lightning.
“Morning,” I croaked out. My gaze lingered on her as she rose from bed and fetched a blouse and a dark green skirt, her every movement graceful.
“We need to get ready if we want to leave for Dalath today,” she said. “I’ll take a quick shower, then we can have breakfast and pack the rest of our things.”
After she left, I moved as if in a trance, dressing slowly and setting the table. The fierce urge to grab her and carry her to safety had mysteriously faded. Now, all I wanted was to stay here with her. In our small sanctuary. Hidden from the world.
Would it mean resigning myself to a pathetic mortal existence? Yes. But somehow, even if I only got a few short years with her by my side, it did not seem pathetic at all.
Not that we had a choice in the matter. Deira would not rest until she had the power of the Adept in her grasp.
Rada didn’t notice my wistful mood. She bustled around thehouse, laughing at Nacin’s antics as he clearly showed us how much he resented his demotion from war horse to beast of burden. Her good humor remained unshaken, even when she had to lock Bane in the guest room, the cat howling in protest. The promise that the soldiers taking over would let him out later that day did little to calm him.
After a brief discussion, we took the Chaosdagger with us. Deira already knew our whereabouts, and the dagger was our most powerful weapon at the moment, its benefits far outweighing the risks.
Our ride to Dalath was an unexpected delight, the air fresh and clean, the heat of the day not yet upon us. Rada told me amusing stories about the villagers. I said little, content to bask in the warmth of her presence against my back.
Dalath was a charming village, its wooden houses clean and well-kept. My eyes caught the glow of a dozenlyrin-stones powering the mill, carrying the clear water of the river up into the air. Not rich, but its citizens had gained a modest prosperity during the years of peace—a peace now under threat.
Even from here, I felt it. The wild tug of Chaos magic. The sky over Milford Ridge was ominously dark on this otherwise sunny day. Rada noticed too. Worry flashed over her face each time she glanced at the sharp limestone cliffs.
“I hope Briseis is alright,” she murmured. “We planned to meet in the village today.” Ah, yes. One of her friends lived on the Ridge.
We garnered attention as we made our way to the bustling market square, leading Nacin behind us. People greeted Rada warmly and curiously eyed me. Some hid their interest better than others; a few outright asked if I would stay at her farm permanently. The first time it happened, she looked at me with a gleam in her eyes. “We will see,” she said. Then her hand closed around mine. I pressed back, not intending to let go.
“You are well known in the village,” I observed as we headed toward the mayor’s house.
Rada laughed. “Mayor Brim has asked me to join the village Council a few times.”
“That doesn’t surprise me. You exude natural authority.” I deftly swerved out of the path of a cart brimming with potatoes, a grin spreading across my face. “They probably enjoy being commanded by you as much as I do. Why did you decline?”
Rada paused in front of the grand wooden door, adorned with intricate carvings of gentle hills and bountiful fields, marking the entrance to the mayor’s house. “I wanted to be free of obligations for a while,” she said. “I would have given in this year, but…”
But then I had reentered her life, disrupting her peace.
“Listen,” she added after a moment of silence, a look of unease on her face as she smoothed down her skirt. “It might be best if I first speak with Brim alone. The farmer’s market is today, so the entire Council of Elders will be present.” She smiled wryly. “They can be difficult with strangers.”
I nodded in agreement, having no desire to confront a room full of prejudiced peasants. After Rada left, I tied Nacin’s reins to the nearest post and let my gaze wander over the busy market square once more. My eyes settled on the carving of the Sky Lord above the temple entrance, and I wondered briefly about my brother. Did he have any inkling of the unrest brewing in the realm? Or was he content to remain safely behind Lyrheim’s white walls, ignoring the wider world as he had so many times before?
