Page 56 of Their War

He took a drink. “I know. I’m not very good at delegating, though.”

I laughed again. “That’s an understatement.” He smiled at my amusement and teasing. I pushed on. “Seriously, though, I’m here. All you need do is ask. Whatever you need, I’ll always come through for you.”

That earned me a true smile, his hand coming down on my shoulder and his green eyes sparkling. “I know, brother.”

Covering his hand with my own, I let the moment linger between us before finishing up my drink. “I should probably get some rest myself. I have a feeling Rhowyn will be out for a while. You should do the same.”

He sighed. “I will.” But he didn’t. He moved to the chair in front of the hearth, watching the flames dance as his brain worked out all the moving pieces in his head. Shaking my head, I ambled to my room. It seemed some things would never change.

Chapter Thirty Two: Rhowyn

Slowly, my consciousness was dragged from the depths of where it was shoved as my mind tried to recall how I had ended up in bed. I didn’t remember going to bed on my own, which meant someone had put me here, most likely because I couldn’t make it on my own. If that was true, then that meant I had passed out. Again. Ugh! This whole passing out thing was becoming too much of a habit for my liking. It left me too vulnerable, and now was not the time to show any weaknesses. At least, that was the feeling I was getting.

Memories rushed back to me as I cracked my eyes open, taking in the dimly lit room. We had made a rescue attempt on Master Jude, my grandfather. A small smile graced my face at that reminder of having family, someone who cared about me in that way, and our success on the mission we had set out on. I remembered getting pushed from Brannoc and the others as he whisked them away, stranding Arryn and I. Oh, and the stranger. He was the reason we had cut it so closely. My overwhelming need to ensure we rescued him. I still didn’t know who he was, or why I had been overcome with the need to risk everything for him. I inhaled sharply as my mind recalled that I had turned to shadows like Brannoc, dragging us all back to his place before passing out. I didn’t know exactly how I’d done it, just that at the time, I had been desperate.

“You’re awake,” a deep grumble sounded out beside me. Turning my head, I caught sight of a haggard-looking Callum, sitting in a chair at my bedside.

“We’ve got to stop meeting like this,” I joked, half-heartedly, trying to ease the concern I could see etched deeply into his skin.

His eyes flashed with anger. Good, that was better than the fear I could see there. “If you’d stop doing stupid shit, then we wouldn’t have to keep watching over your bedside.” His voice deepened into a low rumble, setting off a hum deep inside me. Something about that temper, that tone he used with me, made me want to push back until he snapped. I wanted to see him unraveled before me, soaking in the passion I knew was there, barely constrained behind the mask of anger he wore.

“I was just thinking the same thing.” I laughed, a self- deprecating tone tinged the sound of it. “However, I kind of have the feeling that we’re just getting started here.”

He sighed, running his hands over his face and digging his fingers into his hair. “I want to argue, but I know you’re right.”

Instantly, I was concerned at the capitulating note, so not like the angry man I knew who raged against everything and everyone. Pushing up to a sitting position, I leaned over to place a hand on his cheek, drawing his attention back to me. “What is it?” I asked softly, the words barely penetrating the silence around us.

His eyes met mine, and the emotion I saw there would have made me fall to my knees if I hadn’t already been sitting. The desperation and fear, everything he was feeling on display for me now. My own eyes watered at the thought of what he must be going through. “I don’t know if I can do this, Rhowyn. I’ve already lost everything once before. If I lose it again, I won’t survive it,” he admitted to me.

“Shh…” I tried to console him, scooting closer. “I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.”

“You can’t promise that. There’s no guarantee that we’ll all make it out of this. It’s not a game. If we lose, everything will be lost.”

“Callum…” My voice choked off as I desperately searched for the right words to say here. “If we don’t do this, then who will? Who can?” He shook his head, letting it droop down again. When he didn’t respond, I continued, “Avalonia chose us. It’s our duty to see this through, to do everything we can to save everyone. The Queen needs to be stopped one way or another.”

He growled, “I know this, Rhowyn, but why me? Why us? Why you?” His voice dropped off on the last part.

Placing my hands on both sides of his face, I pulled his gaze to mine. “I don’t know the answer to that. All I do know is that we’re in this together. You and me. Whatever happens, we’ll do it together, or we’ll die trying. I’m not going anywhere, and I’m not backing down. It’s not in my nature to turn and run. And you know what? It’s not in your nature either. It’s why you stayed, why you put up with Titania for as long as you did.” I gave him a moment to consider my words, to feel their veracity. “It’s okay to be reluctant, to not want to push through this, to want to give up and just run away. Hell, if we didn’t at least consider it, we’d be insane. But the truth is, we’re both fighters. We don’t know the meaning of surrender.”

He leaned his forehead against mine, his eyes closing with my words. “You’re right.”

“I’ll promise you this, when you can’t see a way through this mess, I’ll be your eyes. And when I don’t think I can get back up, you’ll carry me out of the maelstrom. Because together, we can do this. Together, we will bring this bitch down.” I moved in to kiss his temple, his cheek, his nose, and finally, I let my lips graze against his. Somewhere along the way, I’d come to realize just how much I needed him, his grouchy and disagreeable nature pushing me further than I thought I could go, opening my eyes to just what I was capable of. I needed his passion, his fire to light my way. I needed him.

I let my mouth linger on his, just barely touching him, not needing to deepen the kiss. This wasn’t sexual, but a way to show him just how much I meant the words I had spoken, to console him in his moment of weakness. It was a way to demonstrate that what we had was more than a quick release from the stresses we were dealing with. It was a bond that was deep within me, within us.

As I waited for him to soak up the sincerity of my vows, my mind drifted to that bond, that tether between us. I knew when my words had sunk in because the bond between us started glowing a vibrant reddish-gold, almost blinding in intensity. A crack reverberated through my chest, and I gasped, the shock of it hitting me, but as soon as it started, it was over.

“Are you okay?” Callum demanded, searching me all over.

“I’m fine.” I waved him off, though his hands skimmed me over just to be sure. A part of me was surprised, but there was no pain, no discomfort, just a fullness that hadn’t been there before.

“What was that?” he demanded, ready to battle against the source of my discomfort, proving again how devoted he was to me, to us.

“I have no idea. It didn’t hurt, though,” I answered honestly, puzzled now that the sensation had passed.

“Are you sure?” He kept looking at me, tilting his head like a puppy.

I laughed softly. “I’m sure.” I leaned in and kissed him briefly. “Come on, I’m sure the others are just as worried. If I had to guess, Arryn’s already making plans while the others brood and worry.”

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