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She thought of Serene, who fought silently in the shadows for her people.
Imara, who might never walk unaided again, but still thought selflessly of others.
Desfan, who persevered no matter what fate threw at him.
Dirk, who had died for a chance at peace with Mortise.
Too many people had sacrificed too much to bring them to this point. She couldn’t throw all of that away because of her own need for revenge.
Justice would come to Grandeur—she would make sure of it—but tearing him apart now would do nothing, except maybe throw her into a fight she couldn’t win.
Still, she knew her limits. She couldn’t trust herself in the same room with him.
She looked up, and as soon as she saw the sea, she knew. “We should go to Dorma.”
Bennick’s brow furrowed. “What?”
“Dorma,” she repeated. “Serene was invited by the Hassans, and they’ll be leaving for home tomorrow. We could go with them. I’m sure Desfan will appreciate our efforts to get to know his people better—whether here, or on Dorma.” And he’d already said he was willing to help her in any way he could. She knew he would let her go, if that’s what she needed.
And she needed to get away from Grandeur.
When Bennick remained quiet, her confidence faltered. “Do you think it’s a bad idea?” she asked.
Bennick’s face gentled. He reached out, twining his fingers around hers. “I think it’s an excellent idea. Frankly, I don’t think I’m capable of holding back you, Venn,andVera from attacking Grandeur again.”
“I’m sorry,” she repeated.
With his free hand, he skimmed his knuckles across the curve of her cheek. Her breath caught as it always did when he touched her, and tingles broke out over her skin. When his hand fell, his eyes settled on hers. “He will pay for what he’s done. I swear it.”
She believed him. Completely. She showed that by leaning forward and pressing her lips to his.
The kiss was gentle. Sweet. An expression of deep love and unending gratitude. Bennick returned the same, but it wasn’t long before their kiss firmed. Escalated.
He shifted on his chair, drawing closer to her as he tilted his head and changed the angle of the kiss. His hands moved, too. One curled around her waist and the other delved into her hair, which was loose today, thank the fates.
Her scalp tingled from the contact with his fingers. Strange, how such a small and simple touch could have such an overwhelming impact on the rest of her body.
Her palms landed on his chest, and she could feel his heart beating against the heel of her hand. The rapid tempo matched her own, and their breaths mingled—growing sharper. His tongue brushed her lips, and heat flashed through her.
Her hands glided over his shoulders and up the strong column of his neck, until her palms found the sharp bristles that covered his hard jaw. She framed his face with her hands, keeping him close as she continued to explore his mouth. His hand fisted in her hair, tugging pleasantly. She let out a short gasp, and then his lips reclaimed hers.
She never wanted this moment to end. She wanted to lean into his warmth and strength. Curl into him—lose herself in him.
She didn’t know what their future could be—not with the oaths they’d both sworn—but, fates, she wanted this forever. She wantedhim.
His fingers dug into her side and his mouth eased away from hers, breaking off their kiss. “We need to stop,” he rasped.
Never.She didn’t think she actually managed to say the word. It sounded more like a groan.
Bennick’s forehead tipped to rest against hers, both of them struggling to catch their breath. “Venn, Vera, Bridget—they’re just in the other room.”
“They know about us,” Clare argued.
“Bridget might not.”
Clare drew back so she could shoot him a look.
He chuckled. Color was high on his cheeks, and his blue eyes shone in the light of the setting sun. “All right, she’s probably guessed. But we can’t afford to let anyone else know, so we need to be cautious.”
