I blow out a puff of air. “It’s a Warrior tradition. It was Crimson’s weapon in the battle that killed her. It’s customary for Warriors to have a weapon with them as well as the blood of family and their enemy, as part of the ceremony.”
Her brows knot together as she works over the information. “But it’s your family knife. Doesn’t it mean more to you?”
“It doesn’t matter. And I’m grateful to be able to give Crimson that gift.”
“Of course. I’m sorry.” She rests her hand on her cheek before she shifts, turning onto her other side and curling her body in against mine.
Only in my dreams had I imagined how at ease, how perfect we’d be like this. With nothing between us. No weak barrier orlayers of fabric, no shields or mental strain protecting against our powers. Just a boy enjoying a girl as she curls against him.
But no matter how comfortable or how right this might feel, there’s no hiding the magic that she still has. It might not be what she had before. It might not even be the same power as before, but it’s there. She still has power, and those shadows say so.
The clock is ticking, and with that, I run my hand over her hip and pull her just a little closer into me.
Exhaustion comes too quickly, like a stealthy thief, ready to steal this peace with her. We’re both tired, weary to our souls, but even if she’s not correct with the how and the why, Fenix will come. There will be no peace in our future, and I want to carve out as much for us as I can.
thirty-four
. . .
Ever
Agentle heat warms me, and I want to lean into it and glow in the comfort that surrounds me. Warmth surrounds me, and the faint scent of citrus and salt.
My lips pick up into a smile as my eyes flutter open, and I understand where the heat is radiating from.
Ten.
He’s wrapped his arm around me, securing me to him, pulling me against him as if to protect me from the edge of the bed. It’s a small cot, not ideal for two, but that didn’t seem to matter last night. I sigh as a stretch creeps over my legs and up my torso, begging me to ease some of the muscles in my body.
It feels right. Such a simple moment. A normal moment. Waking up next to the boy you love. Safe, without a care in the world. For a moment, I can forget about everything else and just bask in the sheer joy and tranquillity of this. Of us.
“Good morning.” Ten’s voice is deep, rough with sleep, and sounds beautifully tempting.
“Morning.”
“Did you sleep well?” His eyes are still closed, but there’s a tiny hint of a smile at the corner of his lips, which I choose to acknowledge with my own.
“Yes.” It’s the truth, and after our time together, I never want to be apart from him again. “If I could choose real beds with mattresses to be the only places we sleep going forward, I would happily.” The confines of my cells were never as bad as the cave.
“I’d agree, with one stipulation.” He opens his eyes to look at me. “You’re next to me. Every time. No more separations. Deal?” He kisses my nose.
“That is a deal I would love to make, Ten.”
“I feel there’s a but coming.”
“Just…” I don’t want to make promises when there’s so much at stake—so many unknowns. It’s easy to think of those things while we’re here, but we both know there’s a storm to face. “I won’t make a promise that I can’t keep. I won’t lie to you. And who knows what’s coming?” The memory of the black smoke, curling from my hands, and telling everyone my magic might not be as gone as I had thought, springs to mind. The stuttering visions that started that feeling of madness, too. Does it mean my magic is there, just dormant, or changed? Am I like I was before my Transference—is this a new awakening? So many questions.
“No. I’ve only just got you back. You’re safe, and you’ll stay that way. And if that means I don’t let go of your hand, that I have to fight everyone in the Court, then so be it. It cannot be worse than what we’ve already been through.”
My eyes glisten with the emotion of what his words conjure. “I love you, Aten Ciro. I want you by my side for whatever we face, but this isn’t your battle.”
“Stop it.” He pushes me onto my back and leans over me, sweeping his thumb over my cheek. I track his eyes, so familiar, so comforting, as they watch me. “I love you, too, Ever Hart.There isn’t a fight I wouldn’t win to protect you. But this isn’t just your fight, not if you’re right about the Usher. This is everyone’s fight. Including Aslendrix herself.”
I lean up and capture his lips with mine, freely kissing him now, when before there would have only been hope of a whisper, an anticipation.
The kiss tastes just as good as all of that. Hot, passionate, and filled with the longing that used to tease us—but now I know what it feels like.
His mouth opens to mine, and his body presses me back into the bed, his weight a shield to the world and there to protect me.
