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The real reason I would never escape was the Shadow King’s promise to execute Zorander if I ever disappeared. The king controlled me, by using my love for my oldest friend as a weapon against me.
As long as Zor was alive, the king knew he owned me—and my terrible magic.
In Solarys, we were all slaves.
Some of our collars just couldn’t be seen.
I knew exactly what Anaria felt right now for Ember. Because I’d been in her same position for a hundred years.
“Let’s figure out how your friend is getting messages out of this city, and I’ll keep looking for a way to save her.” A fool’s promise, but if I could give Anaria hope, one I was perfectly willing to make.
“Now get dressed and let me walk you home.” I buried my face in her hair, losing myself in her scent. “And we’ll figure out when we can be together again.”
49
ANARIA
The next morning, I woke long before Ember, who didn’t stir when Sophie arrived to open the drapes. I was sore after yesterday’s sword fighting lesson—deliciously so between my legs—my fingers stiff as I buttoned my gown.
I already missed Raziel.
A few hours apart and he was all I thought about.
How good he’d felt moving inside me. How deliciously his weight pinned me down, how gently his hands grasped my thighs as his tongue drove into my pussy. I took a shaky breath as Sophie started on my hair.
My chest ached with longing. This sense of…incompletenessthat never went away until I saw him again.
But I didn’t dare skip today’s audience, no matter how odious the king and his court would be.
The order I’d received an hour ago made my presence mandatory, the king’s threats of violence clear if I disobeyed.
He’d also mandated how I was to dress, but…my eyes drifted to the slip of silk he expected me to wear. In that, he would be disappointed.
I glanced longingly at the leathers folded on the night table, but wearing something like that to the king’s audience would be grounds for a beheading and Crux would be more than willing to do the deed.
After today’s torture session with the king was finished, I’d put them on and head to my lesson. I only had three more, and I chewed my lip, trying to figure out how to negotiate another week. Or two.
I’d moved better yesterday and when Raz had spotted me in the leathers, the look on his face…a delicious shiver went through me, leaving me breathless.
Yes, I’d definitely be wearing those again.
A repeat performance of last night was in order as well.
Last night had been like something out of a dream, making love deep in the forest. Raz had gone to the trouble to lay out a blanket, to prepare a special place for me—for us. I closed my eyes while Sophie arranged my hair. He’d wanted everything to be perfect…and it had been, with the trees rustling overhead, the stars shining in the midnight sky, the low rush of the water.
He’d done all of that, just for me.
I laid my hand over my belly, feeling the absence of the scar.
Raziel took away the bad in my life, and replaced it with something good.
Nobody had ever gone to such lengths for me before. My gaze drifted over to Ember, snoring slightly, looking as innocent as when she was five. My heart squeezed tight.
Nobody except Ember.
I checked Em for fever before leaving, but she was cool to the touch. Perhaps the tea had been too strong or her mortal body too exhausted. Maybe I couldn’t save my friend, but I would never give up on her.
If these past weeks had taught me anything—there was always hope.
