Page 187 of The Incendiary

“Was it loved?”

Another nod. “Very much so.”

But he had sent me off to a frozen tundra. How could I believe him? “Promise me you didn’t leave it starving and abandoned in some Warrich cabin.”

“No, Aryella,” he softly assured me. “On my soul, I can promise you that.”

I recalled the look on Gavin’s face when he saw the scar on my bare stomach. It must have not been there when we were married, hence his alarm. Had he suspected it then?

“Did Gavin know?”

“No.” My uncle’s voice was grave. Apologetic, even. “Smyth didn’t know.”

The half of my heart that hadn’t died with him broke again in two. He had been a father. He never knew, and he never would know.

“Is our child alive now?” It was unlikely. I hoped anyway.

Simeon’s eyes darted to the side—behind me—and he froze. “It’s not your child anymore.”

My spine stiffened. I spun around to see what he saw, but there was no one there. “What does that mean? What are you⁠—”

“No more questions today,” he muttered as he rushed toward the door. “Be back here tomorrow morning, just after sunrise.”

“Simeon!” I grabbed Sussurro’s wind and slammed the door shut before he could escape. “You will tell me!” I half cried, half screamed as I lunged after him. “Or I will kill you. I swear to the gods, I⁠—”

“Kill me, and you will never know,” he answered, unfazed. “Keep threatening me, and you will never know.” His voice turned to a growl. “Fail to do as I say, Aryella, and you will never, ever know.” He yanked open the door, pausing only to add, “But continue giving me your time, and perhaps I’ll change my mind,”

Resignation and disappointment sunk my heart and hopes as he left the room.

I stood, arms dangling limply at my sides, mouth agape, staring at nothing while my sorrow ran down my cheeks in silent rivers. They just kept coming. Four hundred years of tears.

“I’m so sorry, Ary.” Shera stayed pressed against me, her torso tall enough to meet my hip and steady me. “Saying goodbye to a child you never got to know is…” She held a long pause. “I can’t imagine anything more difficult.”

“I think I need to lie down,” was all I managed in reply.

I dragged myself sullenly toward the exit but bumped into Elias on my way out. He caught me, hands on my shoulders. “I was just coming to get you. I—” He stopped abruptly after seeing my face, swollen with tears. “Hey, whoa, whoa, whoa. What happened?” After scanning the room for Simeon, he bent down to my eye level. “Where is he? What did he do?”

“I’m fine,” I muttered numbly, shifting to pass him. I didn’t feel inclined to give anyone my trust. Even if Elias was working hard to earn it back.

He peered at me with worried eyes. “Clearly, you’re not.”

“I’m fine,” I said through gritted teeth. “Let me go.”

When he didn’t budge, Shera growled. Elias glanced down at her, fear flashing in his eyes, but he refused to give in. “You’re crying, Aryella.”

“Yes, I am.” I jerked out of his hold. “Which means I’m not going to give you what you want right now, Eli, so I suggest you look elsewhere. We both know there are plenty of bodies willing to be in your bed.”

His brow shot high in shock. “Are you serious?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” I snapped despite knowing it wasn’t fair to resent him for what he’d done while he thought I was dead.

“I know exactly what you think of me.” His jaw tensed. “But do you really believe I would do that to you? Now?”

Instead of admitting that I didn’t know, I put up a wall. “Maybe you should.”

He searched my face until resolve settled on his. “No.”

“No?” I scoffed.