Page 69 of Claws of Death

“A gathering army can’t be that hard to spot from the air,” Herinor throws in. “If we can find them, we can intercept the wagons before they reach their destination.”

Recienne nods his agreement. “Better than site-hopping through the realm for sure. More efficient. The four of you can easily cover the Plithian Plains in a day or two.”

“Five,” I correct.

All eyes turn to me as I gather my resolve. “I’m a Crow, too. I can shift and fly.”

The blend of pride and fear in Myron’s expression sends a tingle down my spine, and I can sense the numbness in my shoulder ease just enough to remember the wound is still there. There, but gradually shrinking.

The gleam in Myron’s gaze as he studies me from his seat next to me tells me he felt it, too.

I’m not done, though. Yes, I’m ready to try my luck and shift again so I can help, but the Crows aren’t the only valuable assets in this unavoidable mission.

“We need to deliver a message to Andraya and Pouly,” I tell Clio.

Kaira understands first, dipping her chin as she nods her agreement.

“The rebels have a network of spies. If anyone can find out when exactly the transport is to happen, it’s them.”

Clio leaves the same night, a piece of paper clutched in one hand, a bundle of fruit cake in the other. “They might take the news better if I deliver them with sweets,” she says with a shrug before disappearing into thin air.

“Just like she does with me.” Tori shakes his head.

When I give him a questioning glance, he explains, “When she decided to fake her own death and go into hiding, she told me over chocolate cake.”

I need to do a double-take. “What?” I knew the history of their relationship was difficult, but—“What did she do?”

Tori drops back into the armchair he was getting up from, obviously settling in for a night of storytelling. The others retired to their rooms, leaving the common room to Tori and me when we prepared the note for the rebels. Clio joined us shortly after we crafted the short letter, a heavy bundle in her hand, and informed us that the kitchen had planned fruit cake for dessert. None of us wanted any sweets after we decided we had work to do.

Now, Clio is on her way to Andraya and Pouly. Since Tori was the one who dropped them off he shared the location of the rebel’s hideout with us so we know how to find them. The Crows are resting so they’ll be freshand ready to set out first thing tomorrow morning, and Kaira decided she might as well do the same since she’s dead set on taking on my training lessons during Clio’s absence.

That leaves Tori and me and the loaded silence.

“Clio and I were going to marry when she was announced the nextbride to the Crow King.” He grimaces. “Before you ask, that was during Carius the Cruel’s time, not Myron’s.”

“I wasn’t going to ask.” It’s the truth.

Tori smiles softly. “I know. I just want to spare you doubts. You have it difficult enough as it is.”

The consideration and kindness from this male has surprised me many times, but it’s this moment when I realize how deeply he understands the suffering Myron and I are going through.

“To escape her fate, Clio faked her own death and went into hiding for long, long decades. That was the time when she rejected me as a mate, even when we’d been ready to start our lives together.”

My heart breaks for him, the pain in his eyes chiseling a spiderweb of fissures.

“She firmly believed it was better for me to find someone else since I could never be with her the way we’d planned. We didn’t know how long she’d need to stay hidden, believed perhaps it would be forever. She thought she was saving me by setting me free when, in reality, she was breaking me. I’d have stayed hidden with her until the end of our days had she asked me to, had she said one single word.” He lowers his head, shoulders hunching like the weight of centuries is pressing down on him. “All sheever said was that she wanted me to be free to live my life and be happy.”

The look he gives me is enough to bring the toughest warrior to their knees, and I need to sit down in the chair across from him.

“She told me to find another female and start a new life so one of us could be happy.” A tear drips from his lashes, staining the dark brown of his pants right at the top of his thigh. “I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t abandon her. So, I stayed with her in my heart, holding onto the bond she was hoping would one day dissolve if she convinced both of us enough that we didn’t want it anymore. I clung to it with every fiber of my being; with every breath and every heartbeat, I held onto her. I’d never give up my mate. Never in a million lifetimes.”

The words rush from him like a confession, like he’s embarrassed to have disappointed her when she’d made up her mind. His shoulders shake in a quiet sob, and he takes a breath so deep I believe he might use up all the air left in the room.

“Don’t let Myron slip away, Ayna. He’s holding on to you the way I was holding on to Cliophera. If you don’t find a way, you will be the end of him.”

He means it with all his heart as he locks his wet eyes with mine. “Don’t let anyone take away your chance at happiness.”

Fighting for breath, I stare back at him, at the strong male crumbling at the mere memory of what they’ve gone through. But there is joy in the depths of his auburn irises. They had a happy ending.

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