Page 86 of Between Smoke and Shadow

“Wha—” I start, but Vale cuts me off.

“What did you do?” he demands, shoving me against the shelf. I struggle against him, staggering to my feet. His reaction shouldn’t sting, but it does.

“I didn’t do anything,” I snap.

“It was Larken,” Arnelian says, still gasping. “I don’t know if anyone else was involved, but it doesn’t matter. We need to go,now, before they get here.”

“Who?” Vale asks

“The Architect’s guards.” With that final declaration, Arnelian slumps against the door. There’s barely a pulse of silence.

“Use the map,” I say. “It’s your best shot, Vale. Your only shot.”

“Right into your trap, Rune?” he sneers.

“You’re dead if you don’t use it,” I say. “I’m going to buy you time. Do whatever you can to get out. Don’t look back until you’re in the tunnels.”

I shove Arnelian out of the way and crack open the door, only to stop when Vale grabs my wrist. I look back at him, at the line of light that falls across his face.

“You promise?” he asks. I’ve never seen him look so young, soscared.

“I promise,” I repeat. “Give me thirty seconds before you follow. I’ll lead them away.”

“You’ll never outrun them, Rune. They’ll catch you,” he says. His expression is caught somewhere between shock and horror.

“I know. That’s the plan.”

“That’s aterribleplan.” He tightens his hold.

“Thirty seconds,” I repeat. Pulling out of his grasp, I add, “Don’t you dare try to save me, Vale. You get out and you don’t look back.”

With that, I push into the hallway. There are too many things that can go wrong with what I’m planning, but this is the only way I can see Vale and the others getting out. We’ll all die if I don’t buy them time. Even if this doesn’t work, at least I can say I tried. At the end of it all, I would rather die good than live cruelly.

“Find me, Harrick,” I whisper.

And then, I run.

THIRTY

HARRICK

After Rune leaves to deliver the map, I walk the 182nd floor with Joran. I’d much rather be with mywife, whispering that word in her ear while I fuck her senseless. I’ve been consumed with thoughts of it, of having her under me, now that she’s officially mine. It’s more than that though, obviously. Soon, all of Savoa will see Rune for what she truly is—a queen—and all who hurt her will be forced to beg her for forgiveness.

I stop in front of one of the small storefronts. This floor has a variety of shops, selling everything from bouquets of flowers to basic weaponry. There are something like eleven jewelry stores, but Tora insisted only this one has rings fit for a queen. I’d smiled at that, and as soon as Rune left with my map, I headed here.

I scan the rows of glittering jewelry. Gems in all shapes and colors, bands of all widths. I select a simple ring for myself, handing it to the blushing cashier.

After asking for Joran’s opinion on a few for Rune, and getting lackluster responses, I browse the rings alone. Most options have green stones for the elite class or purple for the royals. There are several red rings, and a few of random colors.Dark bands with orange stones. Red bands with translucent stones that catch the light.

I stop at a thin-banded ring, black like mine. Rather than a red gem, as typically worn by members of the crown, this one has a delicate blue stone. It’s shaped in an oval, and it’s vibrant, shocking, alluring. The color reminds me of Rune’s eyes.

“This one,” I say to the cashier. Despite being several cycles my senior, she smiles coyly at me.

“Lady Viana is averylucky woman,” she says. She’s clearly fishing for information, trying to see if my betrothal is back in place.

I don’t respond. I have nothing to say to this woman—or anyone else—about Viana. An undercurrent of relief pulses through my body that soon, everyone will know the truth. Rune Ealde is my queen, not Viana Llroy, and Rune will be the one to raise Savoa from its ashes. I only have to beat Malek in one more battle. Though I don’t know how yet, I can feel it in the pulse of my magic. I am going to defeat my brother, no matter the cost.

Once I’ve settled both rings, Joran and I leave the shop and head for my quarters. I steal a final peek at the blue gemstone before tucking our rings into my coat pocket. I want to wear mine now, though not half as much as I want to see this ring on Rune’s finger.

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