Page 101 of The Duke and the Disciple

It was another hour before he moved from the chair.

Aesylt waiteduntil she was curled in her bed before reading the letter. She wavered between excitement and dread. Nyssa had given no sign one way or another what to expect, just smug satisfaction.

The letter had gone soft after spending the day within her cleavage, but it unfolded easily enough, and the ink was unblurred. She considered waiting for Rahn but realized the contents would determine whether she told him about it at all. He still didn’t know about the Barynov letter. No one did.

Except Pieter.

Aesylt closed her eyes, pulled a deep breath, and focused her eyes on Nik’s familiar scrawl.

Dearest Aesylt,

I was surprised your brother agreed to let me send a letter. I still don’t know where you are, but I know you must be safer than you would be here. I know he’s reading every word, but nothing herein should be a surprise for him.

I spoke with Val. He asked for you first, then for me. He got half of what he wanted anyway. But his family wouldn’t leave us alone, so there was no chance to ask all you and I both want to know. You’ll be relieved to hear they finally allowed a vedhma to properly heal him. He’s even been out and about in the village. Always with a full escort, of course.

By now you must know Marek is gone. The Barynovs claim ignorance to his whereabouts, but in my bones I feel they’ve been planning this from the start. A third of the village has turned on the Wynters, the other two-thirds ready to strike them down for going against their leader. Many believe this will all subside soon and everything will return to normal, but it won’t. I’d stake my life on it. The Barynovs will not give up until they’ve won... or lost everything. Your brother will see Marek punished, or die trying.

Wherever you are, no matter how frustrated you must be, you are safe. Trust that your brother wouldn’t keep you from your own home if it wasn’t necessary. Marek is out there, looking for you. What he would do if he found you is beyond my imagining.

So much would have been different had you just married Valerian from the start. His family might still have been grasping for power, but Val would have aligned with the Wynters. I won’t be surprised if your brother strikes that from the letter, but I had to say it. Our vedhmas always say the look back is so much more satisfying than the look forward, and coming from a family of history keepers, I have to agree.

I know you’re frustrated. I can feel it from here, as though you are right beside me! But I write, of my accord and my love for you, to tell you that your brother is doing his best. He’s trying to protect you from a terrible fate and to keep the village from full-on war. We’ve already lost too much.

Wherever you are, Aesylt, please don’t do anything foolish. Stay safe.

My hope is that if you hear the words from me, you’ll know they’re worth heeding.

I hope to see you sooner than later, though I would rather never see you again if it put you in danger.

Volemthe,

Nikky

She readthe letter a second time. Then a third. The line her eyes kept traveling back to wasso much would have been different had you just married Valerian from the start.He had a point. The Barynovs may have settled for a seat at the table before, but now they wanted it all.

The door to the tower room opened.

“Squish? You in here?”

She balled the letter in her fist, searching for a suitable place to put it. Grunting, she leaned over the bed and slid it between the mattress and the wood frame.

“I can hear you.”

She sat up in bed, straightening her hair and gown. “I was just about to nod off.”

“Won’t be far behind you there,” Rahn said lightly. The sound of him shedding clothes made her long for a foray into the celestial realm, but her heart wasn’t in it. She still didn’t know how they’d transitioned back in the Wintergarden or why she’d winked there and back after the hunting incident.

“Eventful day for you then?” she called, watching his silhouette through the curtain.

“Not really. You?”

“No, not especially.”

Rahn appeared in his night shirt with a tired grin. “Your cheeks are flushed.”

“Are they?” Aesylt’s hands flew to her face.

“A touch.” He nodded for her to move over, and she realized he was joining her—again. Like it were the most natural thing in the world. “You get your dress all sorted for tomorrow?”

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