Page 19 of Lethal Souls

“I love you so much. And I’m so freaking proud of you,” she says through a wet gasp. “Just…promise to stay in touch. Always. Okay? I’ll carry this mirror with me everywhere. I’ll never miss a call or whatever we’re supposed to call these connections.”

I bubble out a laugh and open my eyes again. My tears fall as she swipes at her face then blows me an air kiss.

“I have to go. Talk soon?” she asks.

“Yeah,” I breathe. “Talk soon. I love you.”

With one more air kiss, the connection ends and I close my mirror, staring at the doors until my vision blurs again.

I can’t help feeling like that call has changed our friendship. Not intentionally, of course, but life will be different now that I’m marrying Caz.

My priorities will change.

My role as lady monarch will bring on more responsibilities.

And what if we want to start a family?

I’ll be doing all of this with my best friend on the other side of the universe, and I never imagined that. I never imagined her not being in my life and me not being in hers through our most significant life events.

I swallow to ward off the thickness accumulating in my throat, but eventually the emotion becomes too overwhelming.

So instead, I lie on the bed, bury my face in the pillows, and release bittersweet tears.

TWELVE

CAZ

Devlin Benton is a piece of work.

No, let me rephrase. He’s an annoying asshole.

After the events at Armistice Night, I contacted his transmitter and told him to come to the Blackwater Tavern so we could have a formal discussion.

The good news is that he did show up. The bad news is he arrived with a whole damn fleet.

Talking to him is like pulling teeth. I ask him what his plans are for Ripple Hills, and he counters it with words like, “As if I’d give the enemy my plans!” or “You can go fuck yourself.”

That last one seems to be his favorite saying.

It takes me nearly three days to get him to cooperate, and that’s only because I give him two bags of rubies. Rubies talk, and while I have his ear, we finally negotiate a deal.

He’ll come to Blackwater twice a week for guidance and training. I’ll teach him most of what I know (not all because I don’t trust the little shit), and we’ll try to make this alliance work in the process.

Neither of us trust each other, so I don’t know how long this wave of peace will last, but at least we’re getting somewhere. And for now, The Council will get off my back about mentoring him.

It’s nearing midnight when I wrap up on the reports for the ruby mining. Conan and the Whisper Grovians have done a great job and have made impeccable allies.

Life could be so much simpler if the Rippies were the same, but I know they won’t mine our caves, and even if they wanted to, I wouldn’t let them because they’d steal every bloody gem.

In my study, I stack my papers and tuck them into a folder before checking my transmitter, hoping to see a message or contact from one of Hassha’s people, but there’s nothing.

I sigh.

Willow is right. It’s been way too long since we’ve heard back from them about Warren.

I hate to think it, but something must be wrong.

I stand and search my pockets for a bloom. I find the pack, but it’s empty, so I leave the office and head to my chamber.

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