Page 107 of A Shattered Kingdom of Steel

My jaw tightens. “I’m sure your nephew could use your support more than my mother, in as you say, these ‘uncertain’ times.”

“My nephew and his mate are more than capable,” he says, pride coloring his tone. “Still, Viridian knows that all he needs to do is ask, and I will humbly assist.”

“Right.” My voice comes out clipped. “Well, I must be off. It’s been a pleasure.”

Tanyl smiles at me again, his expression warm. Too warm. “The pleasure is mine, Lymseia. It is always wonderful to see you.”

I give him a stiff nod, and then brush past him down the hall. I wait until I’m about to round the corner to turn back. Tanyl continues forward at a calm, leisurely pace, as if everything’s fine and dandy.

Still, I can’t shake the dread that’s wrapped an icy fist around my throat. The very air I breathe feels tainted somehow.

Dark.

Wrong.

When I realize what it reminds me of, I nearly stagger, bracing my hand against the wall for support.

Gods above. That wrong feeling. It’s just like…

Lyndhaven.

The air here feels like Lyndhaven in the time before the crepulnai attacked.

Gods, that would mean…

That would mean Tanyl, not Myrdin, is responsible for Vorr’s death. That he was the male Arella saw that night.

Urgency powers my steps, my feet carrying me forward as if my life depends on it. I advance farther, until I arrive at my destination. The drive to act has my abdomen wound tight, with a need to address the threat at hand.

But when I reach the library, and I find my father and Asheros sitting by the hearth, the tension coiling in my shoulders fades. Leaning forward, Father holds a book against his lap. Asheros’s face is lit up with a carefree, boyish brightness that gives him a downright magnetizing quality.

He’s absolutely breathtaking.

I lean against the doorframe, unabashedly staring.

It may be selfish and irresponsible of me, but, for once, I let myself enjoy this moment.

The threat can wait.

Because this—this joy, this temporary peace—is something I’ll never get back. If there’s a chance Nemos will take our lives, this is a memory I’ll bring with me into the next world.

Whatever it is Father and Asheros are going on about, there’s a lull in their conversation, and they turn their heads to me.

Immediately, Asheros stands and crosses the room to me. His smile is infectious, and he looks at me as if I’m the highlight of his day.

I will never, ever get enough of him.

“How was it?” he asks, brows furrowing. “After I left?”

“It was how I expected,” I tell him, not wanting to diminish the light in his eyes. I keep my encounter with Tanyl to myself for now, not wanting to explain it to him in front of my father. And maybe, to keep that smile on his face for just a bit longer.

“Ah.” Asheros leans his head back in understanding. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be,” I say, taking his hands in mine. “It can’t be helped.”

He presses his lips together, seemingly unconvinced.

“Truly,” I assure him. “I’d rather you didn’t waste your energy worrying about it.”

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