So once again, I stay silent.
The great Prince of the Mordorin, brought low by the fear of his own wife’s wrath.
No teeth then. No words. But I must make her see.
I let the glamor rise, magic sliding across my skin like water. My features shift, melt, settle into the face of the man she stumbled upon in the forest. The human she mistook for a poacher. The one cloaked in a shimmer she couldn’t name.
When Daedalus fades, a shaky breath ripples through my chest.
I’m nervous.
My lips part. Her name trembles on the edge of my tongue, dry and clumsy. I hesitate.
She turns, slowly, her gaze moving toward me.
But just before her eyes can settle on my new face a cry splits the night.
At first, I don’t believe the words.
Then the wind stirs. The air snaps to life.
“Rook! Ithranor!”
Chapter 26
Daed
Even under the blanket of midnight, the golden sails of the Ithranor ships are unmistakable.
They’d caught up so quickly. No sign of them through the day, not even a shadow at dusk.
But of course there wasn’t.
They control the wind, carving through the waves like lightning, unseen until it’s too late.
My glamor dissolves before Amara can see it. She takes a step forward, brushing past me, her eyes locked on the enemy ships drawing closer with every gust.
Before she can take another step, I reach out and wrap my fingers around her wrist, pulling her back firmly.
“Wife,” I say. “Go to the cabin. Lock the door.”
Her head snaps toward me. “No. I will not cower and hide before them. Not after what they did to me.”
“I’m not asking you to cower,” I say, sharper now, impatience threading through my tone as I glance toward the ships again. “I’m asking you to protect our daughter while I hack these bastards to pieces.”
She jerks her wrist from my grip. I exhale through my nose, equal parts ire and desire. Of course she won’t make this easy.
“She has Ashen for that,” Amara bites out. Her eyes flash, green burning bright. “If what I did to Anethesis wasn’t enough of a warning, then I’ll give them all a matching lesson. They won’t touch our child.”
I tilt back my head, squaring my shoulders as I take in the full force of her fury. Proud. Noble.
And a fucking pain in my ass.
“They’re not here for our child, wife,” I say, voice dropping to a growl. “They’re here for you.”
Her eyes widen, but she barely has time to react before I scoop her into my arms in one smooth motion.
She thrashes, hissing and snarling like a wild thing caught in a trap.
