Page 53 of The Incendiary

Shera’s laughter echoed in my mind. “I would hope your commander can handle himself. But sure.”

I wanted to object, but this wasn’t Fera from Brinnea’s responsibility.

“Good luck and good night, Commander,” I mumbled, and headed toward the fortress while thinking of ways to earn Elias Winterton’s trust.

By the time I returned, I was tired enough to put off my shower until morning. Instead, I changed for bed, crawled inside Gavin’s black sweater, and melted into the warm fabric.

I focused on the faint scents of cedar and leather to ensure that it was thoughts of Gavin Smyth that lulled my mind and body into rest, not Elias Winterton.

FIFTEEN

GAVIN SMYTH

I’m here at the Barracks doing this for me. That’s what I keep telling myself. I know it’s true.

But at night, when I’m lying in bed wearing your sweater and the rest of the world falls away, I admit to myself that I also really want to make you proud.

—UNSENT CORRESPONDENCE FROM QUEEN ARYELLA I TO THE BUTCHER OF NYRIDA

13th of Helios, 402 Years Ago

I wiped sweat from my forehead. Working the forge shirtless was reckless, but it was hot as hell today. The only relief from the damp, oppressive heat of Brinnea in midsummer was the cool, misty breeze off the ocean. But my blacksmith’s shop had small windows and a blazing fire within. On hot days, it was nearly unbearable.

For most people, birthdays were filled with joy, treats, and gifts. Isaac and Eden had always done their best to make birthdays special for me. But truthfully, I hated this day. It was the day a poor, abandoned twenty-three-year-old woman died bringing the bastard son she never asked for into the world.

I didn’t know who my father was. I didn’t care to find out. I wouldn’t mourn a man who abandoned his child and its mother. But for the long life my mother never got to live because of me, I mourned a great deal. That truth cast a grim pall over the day every year. By noon, I was always long past wishing it was over.

“Your lack of concern over being burned to a crisp by your own forge is concerning.”

I smiled and laughed, my chest warming in a way the oppressive heat could never manage.

And just like that, my birthday wasn’t so grim anymore.

Heart racing, I set my hammer down, turned, and basked in the remarkable gift of simply looking at her. Her existence felt like a slip in some divine plan. As if while the gods were attempting to achieve perfection, the heavens opened and accidentally let her loose. I was the lucky asshole whose arms she happened to land in.

She was glowing, even though sweat dampened her brow and plastered silver-blond strands loose from her braid to her forehead. And those golden-green eyes were shining, even as she blew out a tired breath and let the strap of a cumbersome leather bag fall off her shoulder onto the ground, where it made a light clanging sound.

She eagerly shrugged her hooded cloak, tossed it on the back of a corner chair, and faced me, hands on her hips. She scanned me head to toe with a sly little grin.

“Why are you still standing all the way over there?” I asked, folding my arms across my bare, filthy chest.

Her lip twitched, fighting a smile. “I don’t want to interrupt your work. I’ll wait.”

I chuckled. “I won’t get anything done with you here, Ella.”

Her cheeks blushed. “Well, I can le⁠—”

“Do not finish that sentence,” I growled playfully. “Come here.”

Her sweet smile blooming, she launched herself into my arms with an excited squeak. I caught her, firmly gripping her ass—for support, of course—and resting my forehead against hers.

“Happy Birthday,” she whispered. I was drenched in sweat, but she didn’t seem to care. “I missed you.”

“Thank you. I missed you, too,” I answered back. What an understatement. I eyed her coyly. “Though it’s only been five days, Ella. Getting a little greedy, are you?”

Her laugh lightened the damp air. “You’re one to talk.”

True. I knew she wanted to see me, but my obsession with seeing her was much more powerful. I made a habit of sneaking into the castle as much as possible. Sometimes I used what few extra coins I had to pay one of the farmers transporting crops up to the castle to let me take the load. Other times I knocked a guard unconscious like I had the first time. I was never caught, and I never did it in the same place twice.