Page 101 of Embers of Ruin

“You are shaking. No more.”

I look down. My fingers are indeed trembling. “That’s excitement.”

“NO. No, Lyra. That’s exhaustion, bordering on burnout.”

“Perhaps I'm excited to be exhausted.”

Thorin studies me. “She is fine. Again.”

Onyx’s jaw tightens. “She needs a break, Your Majesty,” he grits out. “If she keeps at it like this, she will burn out. And she won’t be useful to you at all if she’s dead, will she?”

His gaze never leaves Thorin's. “She needs a break.”

The training yard falls silent as every eye shifts between them. Onyx has just contradicted the King in front of the Shadow Guard, and judging by the look on Mazelle's face, that isn’t something anyone here has witnessed before.

“Does she?” Thorin tilts his head, quiet confidence settling over his features. He already knows the answer.

The shadows at Thorin's feet surge without warning, spiraling around me in slow, deliberate coils. They veil me from the rest of the training yard, leaving only Thorin and Onyx able to see me.

“Since when,” he says quietly, “do you presume to know what she needs, Captain?”

“Thor—”

“Your Majesty.” The correction is quiet as it slices between the men.

Thorin doesn’t look at me. His attention never leaves Onyx.

“You do not ever presume to tell me what muya mivanti needs...” His voice is measured, each word deliberate. “Or what she wants.”

Onyx goes perfectly still. Not a single muscle moves and it looks like he’s frozen in time. It’s as if the words struck him square in the chest.

Beside him, Mazelle inhales sharply, her brows shooting upward before she quickly schools her expression. She doesn't understand the words, but she understands enough to know something has just changed.

The rest of the yard remains frozen in confused silence.

Thorin tilts his head. “Do you understand me, Captain?”

The title lands like the edge of a drawn blade.

“I have permitted this for far too long.” His eyes never leave Onyx’s. “Contradict me on this matter again, and I will not be so lenient, no matter our history.”

For a long moment, Onyx doesn't answer. His jaw works once. “...Yes, Your Majesty.”

Onyx bows with practiced precision before turning on his heel. He takes three steps before he stops. Without looking back, he says quietly, “your problem has always been believing you can bear any cost... so long as the kingdom survives.”

Then Onyx walks away without another word.

I look at Thorin, my mouth slightly open after witnessing their exchange. Things have been tense between them for a while now, but it feels as though something is finally coming to a head. For a heartbeat, Thorin looks... tired. Then the mask returns.

Any cost.

What cost?

CHAPTER 23

Idon’t sleep.

This is becoming a habit, which is deeply unfortunate because I have always enjoyed sleeping. Sleeping is peaceful. Sleeping requires no conversation. Sleeping does not involve kings, locked doors inside my mind, or men with shadows who look at me like they have already chosen where I belong.