Page 44 of A Blightress of Wrath
“Getup,”Karusdemanded. “Getdressed.”Sheturned fromPhilius’sbedside, stopping atRennin my arms.Shepulled the hair back fromRenn’sface, quickly fixing it into a long red braid down her back. “Wipeyour face and get something to eat.Ineed you at the back door of the kitchens in an hour.”Sheswept her gaze to me briefly, then turned to everyone in the room, includingLiaat the door. “Assoon as the others arrive, we head to theBlightand destroy it.Thisis our forest and no part of theBlightresswill remain here.”
Sheswept out of the room and all eyes locked on me.Ipulled a handkerchief from my vest pocket and handed it toRenn. “Ineed to speak toBaronKarus.Willyou be alright?”
Shenodded, wiping at her nose. “I’llbe doing what she says.”
Myeyes darted toPhiliuswho nodded, then toLia.
Shesaid, “Iwill do whatIcan to help,BaronRevich.”
Ibit back a reply.Iwould be outnumbered in this andKarusknew it.
“Excuseme,”Imurmured, letting go ofRennand exiting the room, following the hall into the kitchens.Karuswas there, filling a plate full of food from the communal tray.
“Whatare you doing?”Iasked, refraining from letting the anger seep through my words.
“Iam eating,BaronRevich,” she responded, setting her plate down at the small table and cutting into a slice of cold ham.
“Wedon’t need to do this right now.Let’sthink about it and what our options may be.”
“No,” she countered. “TheBlightresswill not sit and think about her next move.Sheis two steps ahead of us and will not expect this.Assoon as the others are here and fed, we leave.Wedestroy the rest of theBlightin this forest.Theymay not be trained inCosensianMagic, but you know we don’t need much.TheBlightwill be gone by morning.”
“You’drisk all of them?”Iran my hand through my hair, sliding into the chair next to her. “Whatif she sends an army of those beasts out from theBlightand attacks us all?”
“Shecould do that at any time.Andthe best way to stop her from such a threat is to destroy theBlightin this forest.”
Isat back in my chair, rubbing a hand over my mouth, watching my love, the mother of my child, as she speared a piece of ham she’d cut so carefully and brought it to her mouth.Herhand shook.Hereyes were dangerously close to letting those formed tears spill over, but her back was straight.Herchin high.
Inall the years ofBaronIhad on her,I’dnever had someone to make decisions with.I’dhad to make hard ones.I’dhad to sit and eat with the weight of what was heavy on my shoulders, butI’ddone it alone.
Igripped her wrist as she went to take another bite.Herbody froze while she decided if she’d take my help, if she’d accept that we did thisBaronshiptogether, made our choices for our people together.
Herblack eyes finally met mine and her lips quivered.
“Wedo this together,”Iwhispered, leaning in, holding her gaze as her tears finally spilled over her lashes, falling in long shiny trails to her chin where they dropped into a splash over her plate. “Youbreathe,Ibreathe.Youlive,Ilive.”
Shelet out a cry and nodded, attempting to focus her face back into a solid expression.
Shecouldn’t.AndIdidn’t want her to.
“It’stime,” she trembled, taking a stuttering breath.
“Iknow,”Imurmured, pulling on her wrist to bring her onto my lap.Iwrapped an arm around her waist and tucked her arm around my neck, cradling her head to lay on my shoulder.
Herweight fell onto my body, immediately comforting my soul asIheld her, welcoming more of her tears, gathering all of the pain she emitted through our bond and holding it there for her within my own chest, my own heart.
Karuswas my companion, my partner, my love, and thoughIknew loneliness,Iswore in those moments of time when she needed to fall apart, that my beloved never would.
Chapter23
Karus
Ofall thechoicesI’dmade, this was the oneIfeared the most.
Notattempting to destroy theBlightseven years ago withHeimlen.
Notfollowing theBlightressinto the dark tunnel of her making, not taking backViridis, not the trials.
This.
