Page 31 of The Last of the Dark Lords

The sweet, even breathing next to me was also soft.

I squinted, trying to re-engage my vision past the bedspread. That’s when I saw him. Cyrus. He lay there, his chest exposed, his pale skin in contrast to the colorful bedspread. The obsidian circlet still sat on his head even in sleep, and his face was...peaceful. Maybe for the first time since I met him. The lines in his face had softened, the furrow in his brow had smoothed away.

And Ifeltat peace. The knots in my shoulders had loosened, and the ball of tension that had lived in my chest for days now had released. I breathed in the cool air of the bedroom.

It was a bedroom. Whose bedroom was it? I pulled myself to sitting. The room was lush, but not ostentatiously so. Cyrus and I lay in a four poster bed, painstakingly carved with complex and beautiful designs. The stone walls were covered in bright tapestries. There was a cushioned armchair in the same fabricas the bedspread, and against one wall was a simple wooden desk and chair. An enormous mahogany armoire loomed over everything, and a fire burned low in the fireplace.

"Do you like it?"

I turned to see Cyrus now awake, flipped on his side, his eyes open, questioning. His tone was quiet and tentative, as if he was worried I might reject him.

"I do. It's very foreign to me. We don't build from stone in Greatfalls.”

"I hope it's foreign in an enticing way." He smiled, and it was as though someone had punched me in the chest. How did this man’s smile have such an effect on me? So much had changed in the last week. He was no longer the symbol of evil and aggression to me. Now he was a man, and in the short time I’d been with him, he’d demonstrated a deep level of compassion for his people. Even if he could still be absolutely infuriating.

I lowered myself back down to be close to him, keeping a little distance between us. I didn’t touch him. I wasn’t sure if he wanted that. Hell, I wasn’t sureIwanted that.

"It’s very intriguing. Is this your room?"

"Yes. I don’t sleep much, so most of my time here is spent working at the desk, or reading.” Confusion flashed across his face. “I can’t remember the last time I slept so well.”

I nodded, not saying anything. I was uncharacteristically refreshed, revitalized in a way that was whole and complete.

"Should we...get someone?” I scanned the empty room.

Cyrus chuckled, a low warm sound. Warmth rushed to my face, and the tips of my ears grew hot as well. It was honestly annoying how easily he could make me react.

"I've already been awake once already,” he answered. “Manod said that we should take it easy, but wearefully healed. All of the people at the cabins are fine.”

Cyrus stretched and yawned, his hand coming to his head as he did so. It brushed against the black circlet, and he froze for the smallest of moments. Then, after making some internal decision, he pulled it off his head, and reached over to rest it on the nearby desk.

Shocks of nervousness ran down my body, bringing me back to my purpose here. He trusted me enough to take off the Crown of Seeing in my presence. I pushed down the guilt that sprang up as he continued speaking.

“The retinue is settled into the palace here at Ashfuror, including your friend Jelenna. In fact, she put away your luggage in the dresser and armoire."

My mind immediately flashed to the dagger, the artifact from Grandmother. Had Jelenna put that in there as well? Would she expect me to use it today? I forced myself to pull my gaze away from the carved patterns of the obsidian circlet.

With the two of us here together, a split opened in my understanding of Cyrus between the man I’d seen risk his life for his people, and the tyrant I’d been sent to sabotage. I owed Grandmother and the people of Greatfalls this, to remove the source of their oppressor's power. But a small part of me wanted to leave my promise behind. And all of me wanted Cyrus to touch me.

"Where did you go?" Cyrus reached out and put his hand to my face, and I was jolted back into my body at the feeling of it. His palm was soft and warm. I instinctively pushed my cheek against it.

"Nowhere," I said. "Just thinking about all that's happened in the last week."

"It was quite the journey.”

"A week ago I was Commander of the Archers of Greatfalls. And now I'm...about to marry the Dark Lord of Ashfuror."

Cyrus rolled his eyes. "I really don't love that title."

"It's what we always called you. Before I understood how you were."

He squinted at me. “And how am I?”

“I…I’m not sure. I don’t know everything. But you are strong, and committed to your people. I didn’t expect that.” I swallowed. My mouth was dry, but I continued anyway. “And handsome.”

Cyrus brushed my hair away from my face, tucking it behind my ear. It was astounding to me that the great enemy of Greatfalls could be so gentle. He was stubborn as hell, sure, but right now he was like a kitten. The same man who had stood next to me and saved his people from a raging wildfire.

"Can I kiss you, Skye?"

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