Page 170

“No.” The bed, then the floor, groaned as she stood. “Take care of yourself, Lilith,” he told her. “Ettan knows you need it after the last few days.”

Jarek stumbled into the hall, following the lilt of Aarin’s sleep. He found the correct room and headed straight for the bath. He turned on the faucet, stripped, and allowed himself to breathe alongside the sound of the running water before slipping in.

What are you doing? Everything about that interaction was wildly inappropriate for more reasons than he could list! I’m why she’s going through all of this. Me. My family. Our legacy. Valen’s God Eater had no right to be thinking of Keara’s successor in any way other than helping her restore her rightful status among the Pantheon, which was supposed to be his only focus for Erebria’s sake.

But it wasn’t his fault she was so gods damned attractive! And that he had no choice but to be in her vicinity with her sweet scent, soft skin, and alluring voice that plucked all the right cords in his chest to make him say words he would never—

Lords above, strike him now—that cursed speech!

Jarek sank further into the tub. She deserved every word, and he wanted to give it, but the flurry of heat that tore through his body wasn’t supposed to happen, nor was the look she gave him in return.

Steam clouded the cramped room and filled his lungs. Through the rippling water, he placed a timid hand over his chest, covering the ragged scar from Caine’s glaive. Its sister pulsed on his back.

It was never supposed to feel like this.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Lily trailed her hand over the container, chilled to perfection like the others. Croll placed his palm over the top, and with a hiss, something clicked inside. The lid cracked open. Lily lifted it, waving away the frosty mist.

Like the containers before, she and Croll went through the varying number of guns to double-check his and Novak’s count when they were packed. Forty phantoms and just as many grenades, twenty energy blades, and a handful of ghosted armor sets and shields were spread throughout four containers.

The lifetime on a ghosted weapon as well made as these would last years. She wouldn’t be surprised if they carried at least half a soul’s energy. The Rogians and Terins would still have their weapons and skills. If the general only needed a handful to keep the city in line, this and two Flares should be enough for Markoth to fight back.

“I need to close it.”

Lily lifted her gaze to Croll, and her ears pricked at the tapping of small feet as she backed away. Croll shut the box with a thud. A rush of the frozen air burned her cheeks.

“Wow! Can I see?”

Lily scowled at Ivy climbing into the driver’s seat. “You were told to stay inside.”

“I recall something similar,” Croll said, latching the lid with another press of his hand.

Ivy was an infant when Lily first met her eight years ago. Ava took her in after one of her clients abandoned the girl during their stay. She cared for and raised her, though without boundaries or manners, apparently.

Ivy attempted to crawl into the wagon until Lily blocked her by climbing out herself. The girl sighed in annoyance as Lily hopped down.

“I wanna see!”

“You can’t,” Lily said.

“Why not?”

“What’s inside is a secret, and if you see, then I have no choice but to lock you in one.” Lily shrugged. “Sorry.”

Ivy stamped her foot in a displeasured huff but made no more attempts to get in the carriage. “You need to come back. Mistress says so.”

Lily crossed her arms. Ivy was used to having free reign of the grounds, and while the weapons were inaccessible to her, Lily still thought it better Ivy stayed away for her safety, considering she had little impulse control. Lily had expressed this to their hostess and Ivy’s guardian earlier that day. Good to know Ava was still as dismissive as she used to be.

“After you,” Lily said, pointing to the exit.

Ivy stuck her tongue out at Lily, then turned and stomped out of the barn. Lily followed, picking up her rifle that was leaning on the opposite side of the carriage. Croll wasn’t far behind.

The trail from the manor to the barn curved around a field of tea trees. Ivy was skipping ahead, stopping every so often to pick up leaves or stones. Lily’s gaze drifted to the manor in the distance, then to the field next to them.

A gray body was stalking between the crooked branches.

Lily slowed, gripping the strap of her rifle over her shoulder. Her heart dipped low in her stomach.