“Gaige and Raven are picking up the pieces. Everyone is pretty shaken up by Yazmin’s actions. No one suspected their Crown could do something like this. The remaining Council members will meet tomorrow in front of all Charmers, but for now, they said to rest.” Noc stared off into nothing for a moment before turning back to me. “Any permanent damage to your side?”
“Nope. Between Felicks’s saliva and the salve, I should be good to go. Maybe a faint scar.” I shrugged. At this point, a blemish along my ribs was the least of my worries.
He dropped his gaze. “Ah.”
“Noc, don’t start with that again.” I squeezed his hands tight. “Please, don’t pull away.”
“Twice now, Leena.”
“What?”
He looked up at me, pain riddling his gaze. “Twice we’ve been used as weapons against each other. First you, then me.”
A rock formed in my throat. “Yeah.” I didn’t know what to say. How to respond. I remembered what it had been like to command Onyx to kill him. I couldn’t imagine what it would’ve been like to actually see him do it. Noc, on the other hand… A cool shiver raced over my skin.
Noc shook his head. “If I lose you again…”
“You won’t.” I scooted closer to him.
“But I could.” He turned, cupping the side of my face with his hand. “People are after us, Leena. And they’ll use whatever they can to break us. I’d do anything to keep you safe.”
“Me too.” My voice was hushed.
“And that’s my point.” His fingers trailed over my jaw. “We’re each other’s greatest weakness. I’m the Frozen Prince of Wilheim. You openly defied Yazmin. Between her and Varek, we’re facing some powerful enemies.”
“Then we’ll fight them together, just like we always have.” I placed my hands on Noc’s chest and gripped his tunic. “Not just you and me, but Cruor and Hireath.” The truth of that statement settled deep in me. I didn’t know if I could convince the Charmers to go along with it, but I’d try. Both of these places were my home, and they both needed protecting. If we joined forces and stood together as one, then maybe we had a chance.
Noc stilled. “That’s a dangerous thing to say. I don’t know what Varek is planning, and I won’t jeopardize your people like that.”
“They’re not just my people, Noc. They’reourpeople.” I pressed my forehead to his and willed him to understand. “Our family is full of both Charmers and assassins. And they all need protecting. The Charmers know what Yazmin is capable of now, and we’ve always known about the threat Wilheim possessed. Joining forces, making a stand—it’s the right thing to do. It’s the only way we’ll survive. Together.”
For a moment, neither of us spoke. My words hung in the air around us. As much as I believed them to be true, if Noc didn’t agree, if half of my family refused to stand beside me… Finally, he pinned my chin between his fingers and forced me to meet his gaze. I saw nothing but love in his ice-blue eyes.
“Okay, Leena. I can’t promise it will be easy. There might be a war, and I know what that means to Charmers.”
“Beasts protect their own. It’s high time we did too.” I pressed my lips to his and wrapped my arms around his neck. He groaned, parting his lips for me. Our tongues met and my heart skipped a beat. His hand roamed down my side, pausing when he traced over the bandage across my ribs.
Gently, he pulled back. “Let’s get some sleep. Tomorrow, we can talk to the others about this.”
“Okay.” I shimmied beneath the sheets and waited as he stood, tossing his shirt and pants to the floor. He joined me in bed and wrapped me in his arms. I scooted my butt against him, and he chuckled.
“Leena?” he asked, breath skating over my ear.
“Yeah?”
“I love you.”
My whole body warmed. “I love you too. I’m so glad to have you back. Promise me you won’t disappear again.”
Angling his head down, he planted a gentle kiss on my shoulder. “I promise, Leena Edenfrell, I will never leave you again.”
And that was an oath I’d always hold him to.
* * *
Early morning light streamed through the windows and gently nudged me from sleep. If I had moved in the night, my body didn’t show it. Noc’s arm was still draped over me, and his other stretched beneath my head even though his fingers must’ve been pins and needles.
Rotating slowly so as not to disturb him, I faced him. My breathing slowed. I still hadn’t gotten the opportunity to appreciate his new appearance. With a light finger, I toyed with a lock of white hair. He opened his eyes, revealing those ice-blue irises that made my heart skip a beat. Magnificent.
