Dark waves crash into Kazh’s boat. I lift my bow.
Inhale.
Exhale.
One tear slips down my cheek.You’ll be missed.
Let go.
The arrow whizzes through the air and lands true despite the wind and the rain. The purple-and-blue tongues of the flame devour Kazh’s pyre.
I lower my bow and watch as the monks push the boat off the shore. It lolls in the water, and waves quickly push it deeper into the sea.
I am frozen in place, following the burning pyre. Even after it disappears behind tall waves, I don’t move. I have no clue howlong I stand there, watching. I only snap out of it when someone clears their throat.
Dazed, I turn to find Noire. Ezkai Emil and Ezkai Bjorn are at my sides, holding the umbrella above me. Jax, Bloom, and Fern stand right behind Noire. The rest have left.
“General,” Noire says. “I regret to interrupt your moment of grief, but we have a briefing with Spy Unit scheduled.”
I nod. “Thank you.”
I glance at Jax. I need a moment with him. Alone.
“Go ahead. I’ll be right behind you,” I say to Noire and the rest. “Jax, stay with me for a minute.”
Ezkai Bjorn and Ezkai Emil are hesitant to leave me, but I give them no choice. They hand the umbrella to Jax as he approaches.
We stand under it for a while in silence as I watch them walk back towards the carriages waiting for us. Once they have disappeared, I turn to face Jax.
There are so many things I need to say. I don’t even know where to start.
I clear my throat. “I’m sorry, Jax. For what I said…back at the dragon feeding grounds.”
His eyes widen as if he’s stunned to hear me apologize.
I scoff and slap his chest with the back of my palm. “Don’t look at me as if I have grown a second head.”
“Oh, don’t let me stop you from continuing whatever you started.”
“I’m not going to repeat myself. You heard me the first time. But…I didn’t mean it. What I said. Do you understand? I didn’t mean it.”
A cheeky smirk tugs on the corner of his mouth.
His reaction melts away all the worries.
I didn’t ruin us.
Thank fuck, I didn’t ruin us.
“I’m sorry, too,” he says.
I frown. “What for?”
“Back in the forest, I had failed you as your friend, and as your Blood Sentineal. Back at the monastery, Elder Arcon asked me what I would do if the dragon rejected you. I promised him I’d ensure you wouldn’t break. That I would do anything in my power to prevent that. And yet…the moment you pushed me away, I forgot my vows and promises and left. I shouldn’t have.”
My throat is suddenly thick. I can’t speak.
Jax pushes a wild strand of hair away from my face and gently cups my cheek. “I promised you I’d always be there. That I wasn’t going anywhere. And I failed you. I left because I couldn’t bear the rejection.”
