Page 51 of A Shattered Kingdom of Steel

“If you get yourself killed, I’ll come and kick your ass,” Cryssa adds, resting her head on Viridian’s shoulder. Her tone is humorous, but I can see the worry knitting her brows.

I smirk, though the expression—and my voice—lack my usual bravado. “I’d expect nothing less from my High Queen.”

Like water that’s been disrupted, Cryssa and Viridian’s image wavers before it fades away completely.

I’m left staring at myself in the mirror Asheros lowers. He hands it back to Savell, who was waiting with his hand outstretched. He gives me a sideways look before leaving the sitting room, mirror in hand, to make his way upstairs.

“So,” Asheros announces, turning to me. “We best enjoy our time here before we leave for Esvelon.”

“Well,” Orim sighs from the hall. “Then it’s a good thing breakfast is ready.”

After another wonderful meal crafted by Orim, Asheros, the others, and I gather in the sitting room.

Kheldryn has reclaimed her seat from earlier, lounging in one of the armchairs with her legs draped over the side. Gryska stands some distance behind her, leaning up against the wall by the fireplace with her arms crossed. Orim’s taken the other armchair, resting against the plush material, while Savell and Ronan assemble behind him, about a shoulder-length apart. Asheros and I take our places between the armchairs, opposite the fireplace, completing the semi-circle.

Though I press them to my body, my arms hang straight at my side. Asheros stands more casually, with one hand in his pocket.

“What reason do we have to travel to Esvelon?” Savell asks, looking at Asheros. “Our goal is within reach.”

“The goal remains the same,” Asheros says coolly, eyes sweeping the room. “What’s changing is merely the way in which we achieve that goal.”

“You want to prevent a war, correct?” I ask, demanding Savell’s attention. “You want to end the bloodshed before it begins?”

Tensing his jaw, Savell nods.

“I want the same thing,” I tell him, letting my resolve seep through my words. “Should war break out, the people I care about are at risk. I will do anything to protect them.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Savell says. “That you’ll betray us to protect them.”

Kheldryn clears her throat. “She won’t.”

Savell turns to her, brows raised. “How can you be sure?”

She meets my eyes, before flicking her gaze back to Savell. “Because I think she cares for one of us.”

Savell’s eyes widen. The tension falls from his jaw. He turns his attention to me and then Asheros.

“Regardless,” I interject, my cheeks hot, “our goals are aligned, Savell. I have no other support. It would go against my better interest to betray my allies.”

“She makes a good point,” Ronan adds.

“If she betrays us,” Gryska quips, balling her hand into a fist, “she’ll be sorry.”

Orim gives me a warm smile. “I think we can trust her.”

I flash him a smile in return.

Savell groans. “I don’t know. But it’s not my decision,” he says to Asheros. “It’s yours.”

“And I’ve already decided,” Asheros says, an air of authority washing over him. “We’re going to Esvelon, and we’re going to crush this war at its heart before it even has a chance to begin.”

Turning to him, I nod. His gaze meets mine, and I hold his stare, hoping that in my eyes he can see my gratitude.

Something tells me that he does, because he reaches out to me with his free hand and places a palm to my shoulder.

“Well,” Savell groans, “it would have been nice to have more time in the comforts of civilization before leaving again.”

“You can rest in all the comfort you want when this is over,” Kheldryn says, rising to her feet. Poking his chest when she passes by, she teases, “Maybe by then, you’ll have less to complain about.”

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