Page 91 of The Flame and the Forsaken

She wrapped herself around him, their flesh and souls becoming one, born anew of something far more terrifying and fulfilling than the armor she’d worn for so much of her life.

Mariel watched the sun set behind him and finally let go.

After, he held her until dusk became darkness.

When it was time to go back, he returned to the cove and came back with the letter. He tore it into pieces, glancing back at Mariel before walking the remnants to the sea, where he scattered them.

“All you need to know is in here,” he said, tapping his chest.

Mariel’s words splintered. “All right.”

“We can be whoever we want to be, Mariel. But being ourselves works just as well.”

“If you ever...” Her mouth pursed.

“I won’t. I swear to you.” He took her hand in his and kissed it. “Ifyouever...”

“I won’t.” It was her turn to kiss his hand.

“We’ll go in the back way.” He grinned. “Quicker path to our bedchamber.”

Hand in hand,they returned to the keep. With the night coming alive and the warm sand sifting between his toes, Erran had never known such peace. Such resolve.Mariel and me. My wife.

When she asked again why he hadn’t given the letter to Yesenia, there was no accusation interspersing the question. She was simply curious.

“I ken I didn’t write it for her at all,” he said, after some thought. “I wrote it for you.”

“Aye?”

He snapped her close to kiss her. Her contented titter lit up his entire soul. “Just didn’t know it at the time.”

“And the speech? Why would you do such a thing?”

“Are you having a go at my woeful public speaking?”

Mariel laughed. “You know what I’m asking.”

Erran shrugged. “I didn’t know how to talk to you, and it seemed like another way to try.”

She drew her mouth into a scowl. “By saying all that in front of Guardians and all?”

“And why shouldn’t they all hear about how a man loves his wife?” Erran pulsed his squeeze on her hand.

“So it hadnothingto do with this campaign to make everyone forget what happened last time you were here?”

“I’d as soon forget it all myself,” Erran said, half under his breath. He filled his lungs with comforting sea air. “I didn’t think about it when I was doing it. Others can take my words however they wish. They were only meant for one person.”

As they neared the tall reeds separating land from shore, Mariel slowed. “Erran, do you really think the two of us... knowing what you know about me, how I came to be your wife... Do you truly suppose there’s a future for us? An honest one?”

“I could ask you the same,” he replied. “After all that’s been done to you and yours by me and mine.”

“I still don’t know what to do about that.” Mariel pulled to a stop. She released his hand and gazed at the brush. “You’re not your father. I know it. I don’t see you like that. But he’s my family now too. And how can I look my people in the eyes again, having joined myself to our subjugators without actually changing anything?”

Erran had been thinking about this very thing, ever since she’d told him the whole story. She might never see her father as he did, which was understandable. Rylahn was not an evil man. He was a businessman, sometimes ruthless and likely thoughtless. Yet if this were true, it should not trouble him to give back what shouldn’t have been his to begin with. And Erran wasn’t confident his father would do such a thing, even after hearing all Mariel and her people had been through.

“Do you trust me to figure it out?”

Mariel cast her eyes to the side in thought. After a sigh, she nodded. “I trust you to try.”

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