Page 65 of The Blood Crown

“He’s a fighter—must run in the family,” Seth said with a small smile, “It’s good to see you again, Ari,” he murmured against her hair, shifting as he glanced toward the railing.

Ven stood above them, a small smile crinkling the corners of his eyes as he watched their reunion.

Seth released her, swiftly climbing the stairs to reach Ven and clasping his forearm with a murmured exchange. Ven’s eyes flicked down to her.

She turned back to Asher, dutifully ignoring the flare of heat trailing fingertips up her spine from Ven's gaze as she embraced her brother once more.

Chapter 32

It was a strange feeling—to walk into her brother’s chambers and see them . . .livedin.

Bitterness coated her mouth at the realization that time had continued for everyone else while she and Ven and Karro had been fighting their way back here. She swallowed it back at seeing the expectant look on Asher’s face as she stepped further into his room.

His chambers were appointed to his taste, reminding her a little of his rooms at the Capitol. A bed, a bare desk, oiled weapons strewn across the table in front of the fire—as if that’s how he preferred to spend his evenings here.

Tidy, if not a little sparse. Though she had to believe that was by choice and not because he’d been denied any comforts.

“So you’ve settled in?” she asked.

Asher crossed his arms over his chest, following her gaze through the room. “It was . . . a bit of a shock at first.” He smiled faintly.

It was easy enough to remember how she’d felt waking up in this place, surrounded by the Blood Folk. She hated that he hadto experience that, as well. She hated that she hadn’t been here for him . . .

“Give me a little credit, Ari,” he chided, giving her a nudge, making her realize she must have said the thought aloud.

“This place is . . .” she trailed off, taking in his room once more. She swallowed hard, trying to find the words. Not an apology necessarily, but at least an explanation.

She’d come to love it here, but it was so different from everything they’d ever known. So rough, and raw, and beautiful.

But it hadn’t been Asher’s choice to come here. Just as it hadn’t been her choice initially, either.

“Wonderful,” Asher supplied, grinning at her look of surprise.

And relief flooded her chest at the words.

He stepped toward the window overlooking the Shades, eyes scanning the mountain range beyond the fortress. “When I woke up, Seth told me what happened—or at least the parts he knew. Embra filled in the rest while she fussed over me.” He turned toward her, rolling his eyes, and she could only give a strangled laugh in response. “A mother hen, that one—making sure I didn’t overdo anything while I recovered.”

The relief nearly overtook her, tears lining her eyes that he didn’t hate it here—that he didn’t hateherfor sending him here.

But now that she looked at him—reallylooked at him, she could see the easy way he carried himself. The relaxed posture. His smile.

He was comfortable here.

“Once I was on the mend, Seth began to train with me on the Ledge to help me rebuild my strength,” he added.

She smiled at that. If Asher’s introduction to the Blood Folk—to the Wraiths—had to be any of them, she was glad it was Seth. He was the least . . . abrasive.

“Nira is . . .” Asher raised his copper brows, sucking in a sharp breath.

“Utterly terrifying?” she supplied.

He barked out a laugh, the sound dredging up homesickness she didn’t realize was still buried deep inside her until this moment.

“I had hoped after a while it would wear off,” he grumbled.

“Nope,” she chuckled, her voice still quiet with disbelief that he was here—with her. She cleared her throat, the smile returning to her face as she added, “Still scary. Still not sure if she’ll decide to kill me one day.”

Asher’s eyes went distant for a moment, staring out at the Shades. A somber tone falling over the two of them as they took in the grandeur of the midnight-colored peaks, the pines stretching endlessly across the mountains, now coated in silvered snow.

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