Page 51 of A Blightress of Wrath
“What?”Iasked, finishing the plait and tying it back with a strip of ribbon.
“I’vejust never seen you in pants.”
Iglanced down, wondering if my choice in nightclothes made him uncomfortable. “Idon’t like sleeping in a nightgown anymore.Myskirts get all tangled up in my legs.”
Hefollowed me to the basin and took the jar of mouth pasteIhanded him. “Moreevidence of how much you move around when you sleep.”
Iscowled his way before splashing my face with water and finding a fresh towel to dry my skin.Hescooped up the minty paste and began brushing at his teeth with his fingers.
“SorryIdon’t have another brush.”Ishrugged, starting on my teeth as well.
Hefinished and spit into the basin, watching it drain into the small hole at the bottom.Hewiped at his own face and said, “It’sfine that you wear pants.Mostwomen outside ofFelgrenwear them.”
Ispit my own paste into the basin, cocking my head. “Duringthe day?”
Henodded, turning to leave. “It’seasier to fight an enemy when you have free movement of your legs.”
Ithought about that for a moment while extinguishing the flame from the sconces on the bathroom wall.Thevinwas already in the bed, lying flat on his back, hands once again behind his head as he stared up at my painted ceiling.Idimmed the fire to a low crackling with a white wisp of my magic and slipped under the covers, far away to the other side.
“Happybirthday,Sae,” he murmured softly.
IfI’dbeen a braver person,I’dhave reached for his hand again.Iwanted to touch him.Iwanted to curl up onto his chest and feel what it was like to be held by the best friendIloved.Instead,Itilted my head to catch a glimpse of his features in the soft light.Hiseyes were closed, andIcould just make out the long, light lashes, the upturned curl of his lips, and the sharp line where his jaw turned, meeting the base of his ear.Icould study his face all night and never tire, which was ridiculous and had me chiding myself all over again.
“Thankyou,”Iwhispered back, turning away from him completely and curling my legs to my stomach.Iclosed my eyes, determined to prove myself to him, to my mother, to the world, and retrieve my father from the clutches of the woman who had broken everything.
Chapter27
Thevin
Sleepcame quicklyas an easy sort of slumber—some of the better sleepI’dhad since returning toFelgren.
I’dlied about whyIdidn’t want to sleep next to her.Hertossing and turning never bothered me when we were just childhood friends, andI’dslept in far worse circumstances.
Ididn’t want that tug on my heartIknew would come whenIwoke up to see her there beside me, curled up in a ball, her wild hair almost entirely freed from the braid she’d forced it into the night before.
Ilooked away quickly whenIwoke and pressed my palms to my eyes, forcing myself to calm down from the urge to pull her to me and wake her with light kisses.
Thosewere out of the question.
Far, far out of any question, and dammit,Ineeded to pull myself together.
She’dhad a long night learning her father was somehow still alive and that her mother wanted to save him.Icouldn’t fathom why, seventeen years after his supposed death,BaronKarushad chosen now to admit he lived.Thisknowledge would change things.IftheWieldwrynsknew aboutBaronRevich’ssurvival, new tactics would need to be implemented when theDimmingcame to pass.
Iallowed myself one last longing glance at the best friendIwas hopelessly in love with and slid silently out of her bed.
ThoughIwas tall and strong,Iwas also trained for silent steps, a shadow who could slip in and out of a space without so much as a shift in the air.WhiletheWieldwrynswere soldiers trained in magic, theRunnerswere used as a covert group of soldiers with no magic abilities whatsoever.TheFourused us to get their army behind enemy lines and pull them out again when the tides turned.
It’dbeen that way for over a decade.BaronKaruswas just one of theFouron the isle.Sheplayed her part in training soldiers sent to hold back the line ofBlighttrees,Blightbeasts, and…Iran my hands through my hair, looking back atSae.ThegirlIhad laughed with while riding lumens grew into woman right before me, and it had taken all of a year to even notice.
I’dbeen involved with a few women in the past few years, but any pursuits of someone to share my bed had faded away at the end of last summer whenIhad admitted to myself that there was only one personIwanted to wake up next to.
Isilently slid into the washing room, cursing my lack of magic in the dark.Forwhatever reason, theFortresssported very few windows—Sae’sroom included—and from glancing at the clock on her mantle, it was dawn.
Imanaged to splash water on my face, brushing at my teeth and spitting the taste of sleep from my mouth.Ineeded to get back into my parents’ rooms this morning and pack my few things, change my clothes, and?—
“Whyare you up so early?”
Sae’squestion in a yawn startled me.SomeRunnerIwas.She’dsomehow gotten out of bed and all the way to the washing room without me hearing.
