Page 73 of A Blightress of Wrath
Hervoice cut through the shock first. “BaronRevichis alive?”
“Yes,”Saeanswered. “Andwe must save him.Thatis my real reason for being here.Iwill not return toFelgrenuntil he returns with us.”Sae’svoice quivered slightly and my body begged to go to her.Tohold her and let her cry in my arms as she’d done the night of her seventeenth birthday.
“Isit true?”MadameZoreyahasked, addressing theBarondirectly.
Asingle tear fell downBaronKarus’scheek, though she raised her chin high, just as her daughter tended to do. “Whatmy daughter says is true.”
Theraspy cough ofLadyLamoralcame next. “Howdo we know theBaronis telling the truth?Whatproof do you have?”
“It’strue,”Clairanniaanswered swiftly. “Iwas there, seventeen years ago on the daySaelynwas born.”Herlips pursed. “AndIconfirmed it.Ican feel their bond throughBaronKarus.Itis intact, which means he still lives, thoughIdo not know of his condition.”
“Heis well,” theBaroninterjected. “Throughour bond, he promises he is well.Andhe is waiting.”
Lanna’sfury echoed through the room. “You’vehidden this from the isle for seventeen years?”
“Idid not do it easily,Lanna.”
“Thenwhy?” she pleaded, rising from her seat. “Whydid you hide this for so long?Wecould have saved him by now,” her voice faltered. “Wecould have had him back.”
TheBaronshook her head, staring at her daughter. “Saelyndoes not know the whole truth yet, and she will be the first to hear it, not this gathering.”Sheturned back to the table. “Thiscouncil is adjourned.WithLadyLannarepresenting theSpire,Imove for it to reconvene at theBlightLinewhen theFourrepresented can be gathered to discuss the change in theDimming.”
“Agreed,” theMadamemurmured, followed shortly byLannaand theViceroy.
“Iwould hear your explanation before you go,BaronKarus.”LadyLamoralglared across the room, andIwondered at the icy tone she’d used.
TheBaronnodded once, continuing, “It’ssettled then.Weleave at dawn by way of portal to theBlightLine.Thevin,”—she turned her black eyes to me—“please escortSaelynto our rooms.Iwill be there shortly.”
Iuncrossed my arms, lifting myself from the wall, followingSaeout the door.Herhead was low, watching her own feet shuffle in those ridiculous shoes.Weentered the short hallway that led to the outer staircase around the spire, and without a word, she grabbed my hand in hers for balance, lifted a leg, and unstrapped one silver shoe before doing the same with the other.Barefoot, she swung them between us, never letting go of my fingers that wound through her own.
Thenight breeze wafted through the staircase, and the sky was littered with clusters of stars, though a shimmer of green power hid their true light.TheBaron’sshield would protect theSpireas long asSaelynwas in it.Throughthe glassy magic, a half moon shone down, casting a soft glow acrossSae’scheek.
Iknew becauseIstared.Ilet myself stare as we descended, wondering at this friend whose secretsIthoughtIknew.Iwould have swornIknew all ofSae—her hopes and dreams, her past, and what her future might become, butIdid not know how she warned of theBlightress’scoming.
Aswe neared the hall that led to our rooms,Ipanicked, my mind racing for any excuseIcould think of to keep our hands entwined—to keep her there with me where she was safe, and we could just be likethis.
Weleft the staircase, turning down our white stone hall lit in flickering copper sconces.Iopened my mouth to ask if she wanted to sneak down to the kitchens when she cut through our silence first.
“Thankyou.”Allanger from her gone, her gaze was instead of sadness, a woeful blue in her eyes when she looked up at me. “Thankyou for saving me.”
Mybrows furrowed andIfrowned, squeezing her hand. “Itwas you who saved me.Allof us.Ididn’t do anything.”
Aslight smile crossed her lips. “Butyou would have.Youwould have pulled me away to safety.”
“Yes.”
Itwas allIcould say, allIcould answer, my eyes dropping to her lips as they parted slightly on her mouth.
Shelifted her free hand, her fingers tracing my jaw, traveling up my cheek and tucking a curl behind my ear.Ather touch, her nearness, her scent of forest and sea, my heart thudded in a racing counter to every trainingI’dhad on staying calm in any situation.
Ihadn’t been prepared for this.Ihadn’t felt the want, the need and longing asIdid now to keep her here with me.Tosomehow keep her just like this, cupping my cheek, lifting her head, her eyes flickering from mine to my mouth rapidly, repeatedly.
Ilost any sense of who we were and what we’d discussed in her room, dancing on that day before she turned seventeen.I’dtold her then thatIcouldn’t lie.Icouldn’t pretendIdid not love her, pretendIdidn’t need her smile likeIneeded air in my lungs.I’dtried.I’dtried so hard to keep our friendship what it was, to give her the sameThevinshe needed, but she was so close to me in that hall.Icould feel her breath, warm and sweet over my mouth as she looked into my eyes in question.
Ihad no answer.Ihad no will other than to stand there, a man waiting for his love to love him back.
“Sae,”Iwhispered, but she ended anything elseI’dhave mumbled, pressing her lips lightly to mine as if asking whetherIwanted this, too.
Iswear the air sparked.Thesconces flared and the wind howled as she continued, my own lips moving with hers, her fingers tightening through mine, pulling my hand behind her to bring herself closer.
