I nodded in agreement as I pulled a few of the other tools to the surface, explaining the purposes of each.
Thank you, again,” Rae said the words softly as she looked up at me. “I can’t tell you how much it means to me to have a chance to get Orela out.”
“You won’t have a large window of time to get her out,” I admitted. “Not with the Guild’s current plans.”
“And yet . . .” she drawled, eyes twinkling mischievously. “You haven’t told me the Guild’s plans.”
I laughed. “And I don’t plan to. Not fully anyway.”
“Why?” She pouted as she crossed her arms over her chest, looking at me. “Iamyour starbound.”
I huffed before replying, “Which is exactly why I won’t be telling youeverything. I want you safe and out of danger.”
“So whatwillyou tell me?” she asked.
“On the seventh day, you must stay inside of this apartment. It’s the only space in all of Solis that will be spared. Anyone inside this apartment will be evacuated by the Guild. You, your family, your friends, and the last few members of the Remnant.”
“How will the Remnant know to come here?” she questioned.
“I will make sure you get in contact with Iver. He will coordinate the rest. But this is important, Raelyna. Everyonemustbe inside this apartment before Solis falls, otherwise I can’t make any promises.”
“Why me?” She bit her lower lip as she asked the question. “Why go out of your way to save us?”
I sighed as I looked down at her. “Those gathered here will be spared because of their faith. The Remnant have never turned away from the Eternal. And you . . .” I gestured to thegolden markings on her arm. “Your faith in the Eternal has saved you as well. But also, Raelyna, you are my starbound. I would do anything for you.”
She nodded as she looked at me, her eyes focused.
“Just remember what I said,” my voice carried a serious note. “Don’t get Orela out of the temples until the sixth day.”
“I know, I know,” she sassed as she looked at me. “I remember the plans very clearly. I’m to gather everyone here, in my apartment, as it’s the only location where you can guarantee our safety.”
“If Lucanus finds out that Orela is missing,” I stated, “this will be the first place he chooses to look. You must get her out withoutanyonenoticing.”
“You know . . .” Her voice was a teasing drawl, sea-glass hazel eyes sparkling up at me. “It’salmostas if you’re worried about me. But that can’t be right, can it? The infamous Shade of the Aurelian Guild, one of the most elite spies in Aurelia . . . worried about me?” Her lip formed a teasing pout as she watched me, and a low growl rumbled in my chest.
“It’s notas ifI’m worried for you,” I retorted, confirming she caught every word. “Iamworried for you. There is not even the slightest part of me that wants you going off into danger, even if it’s to free your sister.”
“I’ll be fine,” she stated confidently, and I narrowed my eyes a fraction at her statement. “I promise.”
I traced over every inch of her face, counting each freckle as I memorized them one by one, before my gaze slid down her form, landing on the starbound mark, glimmering in gold on her bronzed skin.
Raelyna’s hand reached out, her delicate fingers wrapping around my left wrist as she brought my own mark up, studying the lines. Her fingers traced over eachline on the three connected triangles, every muscle in my body restraining itself, before she looked up at me nervously.
“Now that I know . . . about the starbound mark, I mean.” Her voice was unsure as she looked at me with a slight worry in her eyes. “What does that mean . . . for me? For us? After you know . . . everything happens.”
I smiled softly at her, taking a step closer to her as I tugged her between my legs, tilting her chin up so that she was holding my gaze. “It means whatever you want it to mean, starlight.”
She bit her lip softly, and I groaned at the action, blood pulsing through me at the subtle gestures she made. “I-I don’t know what I want it to mean,” she admitted. “It’s so new . . . and there’s so much going on, with everything about to happen, and?—”
“You don’t have to decide right now,” I interrupted. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Her eyes narrowed, a tiny furrow appearing between her brow as she looked at me. “You do realize you’re essentially going off towartomorrow, right?”
“Like I said.” I shot her a quick smile as I held her gaze. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“I just . . .” She sighed, picking at the hem of my shirt as she decided on her next words. “A starbound mark is a gift—one that I used to think more legend than reality up until the other day—but it’s not entirely a choice. It’s something that just appears one day.” She hesitated as she looked up at me. “I just . . . I guess I don’t want you to feel like you have no other choice. Like you’restuckwith me, just because we have a starbound mark—because the Eternal has decided we are meant for each other.”
I huffed a laugh as I stared at the female in my arms. “Stuck with you?” I asked, tightening my grip around her, refusing to let her escape me even if she wanted to. “I’m notstuckwith you,” I stated, my tone firm. “I mean it, Raelyna. It has taken everyounce of control in my body not to claim you right here, right now. To not press you up against this wall and devour you. You have consumed my thoughts, my mind, and my dreams since the moment I met you.”
