AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Tracing the back of his hand with the tips of my fingers, I finally looked up and met his concerned gaze. “Is it strange that I miss our companions and want to go join the Resistance in this fight, but that I also…” I shook my head. “I’m going to miss this place.”
He squeezed my knee gently. “Your family is here, Florin. Of course you’ll miss it.”
“I’ll miss them, yes, but that’s not what I mean. If Nica and Wey were here and Theon was whole, I don’t know that I’d ever want to leave.” I licked my lips. “Being here with the two of you, the three of us together… safe and free… it’s better than I ever could have dreamed.”
Braz nodded, looking down at our hands. “It’s been wonderful.”
“But we have to go back.”
With another nod, he turned his hand over so that our fingers laced together. “We do. This fight is as much ours as anyone’s, and I want to be a part of it. I wouldn’t have Nica and Wey go into a battle this size without me, but I understand. Living in this hut with the two of you has been the happiest time of my life.”
“Do you think someday…” I trailed off, not knowing exactly how to phrase what I wanted to say. That I wanted him and I to be more than what we were. That I wanted the five of us together and in a place like this where we could live in peace.
“Yes,” Braz said, taking both my hands in his much larger ones.
I chuckled a little, raising up on my knees on the seat. Leaning forward, I rested my forehead against his. The thing was, I knew he loved me, and I hoped he knew I felt the same.
He released my hands, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me to him. I buried my face in the crook of his neck and let myself go lax, supported fully by Braz’s firm chest and the strong arms holding me tightly.
Turning his head, his lips brushed over my horn and trailed down to the side of my head. “We will. When you’re ready, I’ll be here. I’m not going anywhere. You and Theon are my entire world, and someday, we’ll have peace like this always.”
I leaned back enough to kiss him on the cheek, so grateful he understood me. That he paid enough attention to know what I needed. We sat that way for a long time, with me practically lying on top of Braz while he held me tight enough to chase my fears away. Eventually, I found myself drifting to sleep. The last thing I remembered was Braz standing up, keeping me tucked close to his body, and carrying me back toward the bed we shared with Theon.
* * *
It had been harderto say goodbye to Romulus than I’d expected, but he’d hugged me tight, wished us well, and sent a small troop to escort us back to the Resistance camp. Jedrek was leading the troop, of course. He and the eight fae warriors with us were currently somewhere in the trees beyond the path Braz, Theon, and I were walking.
With my magic now at my disposal, I could sense them, but if I didn’t concentrate, I couldn’t determine their exact positions. It was a strange experience being outside Safire with my magic for the first time. The world felt full of new sensations and things to explore as my magic reached out into our surroundings, searching for danger and finding only a forest brought to life. My awe of it hadn’t dimmed even as the day wore on.
Theon had been quiet all day. Which wasn’t exactly abnormal, but there was an edge to his silence. Neither Braz nor I had tried to coax more than a few words from him. All of us were heavy with our own thoughts today—worry for the fight to come and the anticipation of seeing our friends again. That part had to be weighing heavily on Theon. It was no secret that Nica wasn’t happy with Theon choosing to leave. He’d said as much in his letters to Braz. Braz had very carefully tried to share Theon’s point of view with Nica. His fear and his love and all the reasons he’d felt like he’d had to leave that night.
After reading the letters Nica sent back, I wasn’t sure it had worked, but I hoped he wouldn’t be too hard on Theon. All of us were still sorting through the traumas we’d suffered at the hands of House Natas and the aftermath. Seeing Nica nearly burned alive and then Theon’s distress when he’d realized what he’d done had haunted me all these long months. I knew it weighed on Braz, too.
The letters helped. He hadn’t written directly to me—only Wey had, once—but knowing he’d mended and was back in fighting shape made the image of the last time I’d seen him less horrifying.
I took a deep breath, pulling in a lungful of clean forest air. The letter Wey had sent me had been simple.
Florin,
It’s only because I know you’ve killed to keep him safe that I’ll forgive you for this one day. I’m not sure Nica ever will.
You did what he needed. What you thought was best. I haven’t been able to write to you myself until now, but I want your oath that you’ll stand ready to protect him again. To do whatever needs to be done, and that when he’s ready, you’ll bring him back.
Weylyn
I senthim back two simple words—I promise.
Wey and I hadn’t always understood each other, but I knew we did now. We made the hard decisions. He’d killed Samir when Theon couldn’t, saving our sweet boy from the same fate. I’d taken Theon’s hand and led him to the fae when not one of our other companions could, or would.
Braz and Nica loved Theon with an intensity to rival that of the sun and would protect him with their last breaths. Wey and I… we’d burn down the whole of the world, or destroy ourselves, if that was what he needed. There was a darkness in us the others didn’t possess, and for that, I was so, so grateful. Theon deserved all the light and goodness in the world.
Jedrek materialized out of the forest a hundred paces in front of us.
“There’s a small clearing off the path ahead. We’ll make camp there for the night.”
“Okay,” I answered.
“My men and I will form an outer perimeter and set up guard shifts. The three of you can rest with ease.”
