Page 80 of The Crowned Queen

“He can’t compel you unless you’re in his presence,” Kai said, not quite meeting her eyes. “So as long as you stay as far away from him as possible it should have a minimal effect on you⁠—”

“Except he wove tracking runes into it. He’ll always be able to find me, and I’ll never be able to defend myself against him,” Araya interrupted, the words bitter on her tongue. “And the bond. You’re telling me I’ll never be able to feel Loren again. That’s not minimal to me.”

No one had anything they could say to that.

Araya swallowed hard, closing her eyes so she wouldn’t have to look at Kai’s guilt-stricken expression or face Serafina’s quiet pity. She would never be rid of him. Jaxon Shaw would haunt her for the rest of her life. Unless⁠—

“What if we killed him?” she asked, opening her eyes.

Kai blanched. “That’s not a good idea.”

“Why not?” Araya demanded. “You know what he is as well as I do. What he’s done⁠—”

“I’m not defending him.” Kai swallowed hard, his throat bobbing. “This is powerful magic. Even if you’re not the one that holds the blade, I have no idea if the backlash of the sor’vael rune shattering will kill you⁠—”

Loren’s breath caught, his chest going still against her back. “It won’t come to that,” he said firmly. “He will never get anywhere near you again. I promise.”

“You can’t promise that,” Araya protested, slipping free of his grip. She stood on shaking legs, turning to face him. “Anything could happen, Loren. And if he’s dead we could get the bond back⁠—”

Loren rose with her, his shadows curling against their legs.

“I’m not risking you on some foolhardy plan to kill one of the most-protected humans alive,” he said, his voice dangerously low. “Kai only managed to kill Garrick because he got lucky. Jaxon Shaw won’t make the same mistake.” He glanced at Kai. “We need to talk to Finn,” he said. “We can make a plan⁠—”

“And what about me?” Araya demanded.

Loren leaned forward, pressing his lips against her forehead in a gentle kiss.

“You,” he said quietly, “are going to stay here with Serafina and recover from having your ly’ithra rune removed.” He pulled back, one hand rising to brush the side of her face. “I’ll fill you in on what we discussed when I get back.”

“But—”

He was already moving. His shadows swept after him in a dark tide, peeling away from her ankles and sweeping Kai up in their wake. The human man stumbled, nearly tripping over his own feet in his haste to keep up as Loren strode from the cabin without another glance back.

Araya stood where he had left her, her pulse pounding like she’d just run all the stairs at the Aetherium. Part of her wanted to chase after him, to run him down and demand that he include her in these decisions he was making for the both of them. But her vision blurred around the edges, the floor shifting under her boots as the toll of everything she’d done here today crashed over her at once.

“Whoa—” Serafina’s arm wrapped around her waist, steadying her. “Let’s get you sitting down.”

Araya sank back into her seat, bracing her elbows on the table and dropping her head into her hands. The room spun around her, the roaring in her ears broken only by the sound of Serafina moving around behind her—tin clinking against stone, the hiss of hot water poured into a waiting cup.

“I hate how weak I am,” she whispered.

Serafina frowned. “You’re recovering from something that would have killed most fae I know.” She took the seat across from her, sliding the steaming cup across the table. “You’re not weak. You’re strong. But you still need to rest.”

Araya shook her head, staring down at the cup without reaching for it.

“It’s just mint and raspberry leaf,” Serafina said. “And a generous dollop of honey.” Her lips twitched, curling into a small smile. “You could use the strength.”

Araya took the cup, the warmth seeping into her shaking hands. “No valerian root?”

“Not even a pinch,” Serafina promised. “But I do want to know how you’re sleeping. You know⁠—”

“It’s the most important part of recovery,” Araya finished for her. She lifted the cup to her lips, taking a careful sip. “I’m sleeping fine.”

“Loren said⁠—”

“Loren doesn’t speak for me.” Araya set her cup down hard, hot tea splashing over her fingers. “You don’t have to sedate me just to make it easier for him to make all the decisions without me. He’s doing a fine job of that all on his own.”

Serafina slid a cloth across the table, watching quietly as Araya dried her fingers. “I suppose he is being a little overbearing.”