Page 77 of Caress of Fire
“War?” This had been the biggest fear all along. “Is the entire kingdom really lost to the Knat-Kanassis then?”
“Yes.” That single word, merciless and sharp. “Lord Anion has at least one ally that we know of, but with Henron gone, his sources have gone silent. There could be as many as three kingdoms gone to the madness already.”
Marielle fell silent at Fedryc’s words. Her eyes latched onto his beautiful, sharply cut features. His silver eyes were a façade of strength and control but she knew better than to trust that. Behind her, people started whispering. Fedryc hadn’t bothered to hide what he’d had to say. Because it didn’t matter. Not anymore.
“But without Nyra, you can’t possibly win.” Marielle pulled on her fingertip and pain answered, as reliable as ever. She understood now. “You want to buy us time.”
She breathed hard through her mouth as spots of darkness bloomed in her vision.
“Silva won’t abandon her mother.” Marielle shook her head. “Did you talk to her?”
“She won’t talk to me.” Fedryc shook his head, regret clear on his face. “You will have to speak with her. Make her understand.”
“What about the rest of them?” Marielle indicated the people in the medical room with a wide gesture. “What about you?”
“My place is here. I am High Lord of Aalstad.” Fedryc answered her with a tired look, and sadness shone briefly in his eyes. His hand closed on her shoulder and his thumb ran the length of her collarbone. “I will stay and fight with my men, as is my duty.”
Marielle shook her head. She couldn’t believe it. After all they had been through, he wanted to send her away?
“What about my duty? I can’t leave you. I certainly can’t leave them.” She once again made a wide gesture to include the sick people in the room, then looked down at her brother, still sleeping, unconcerned by what was going on. “And I will never leave him.”
Fedryc straightened and his eyes grew cold and harsh. His mouth curved in a cruel line and he pulled his hand away from her shoulder. “I already gave the order. You will go to Katanie with Silva, and that’s an order. The rest of the people will follow shortly after you.”
He stared at her, waiting for her answer. She didn’t make him wait long.
“No.” Marielle lifted her chin slightly but kept her voice low. “I won’t obey. I’m not leaving you, I’m not leaving anyone. I’m your Draekarra. You said this house is as much mine as it is yours.”
“It’s too dangerous.” Fedryc bit out his words, not caring about the people around them who looked up with wide eyes. “They can’t get their hands on you. Save yourself and save our child.”
Marielle stared at him, the cruel reality of what he was saying sinking in gradually. “I can’t accept that.” She shook her head. Fear gripped her ribs, compressed her heart, and her breathing came hard and shallow. “I can’t live without you. You can’t go. We can fight the Knat-Kanassis from Katanie. Just come with us.”
His hands closed around her shoulders but she resisted the pull of Fedryc’s body. Accepting his embrace would mean she accepted what he said, what he wanted her to do. And she couldn’t. Dying would be easier than what he asked.
“If I don’t fight, the Knat-Kanassis will invade. They will take over Aalstad and the richest kingdom this side of the continent will be theirs.” Fedryc looked away, over her head, his thoughts lost in the violence to come. Lost in his grief for Nyra. “No human, no mixed-blood will be left alive. The Knat-Kanassis will have a stronghold on this continent, on this planet. A Blood War will be waged on this Earth, and millions, hundreds of millions, might die. One life is not worth it.”
“To you, your life isn’t worth it. But to me it is.” Anger flared through her despair at his remoteness. At the cold way he contemplated his own death. Like it was something of little importance. Like it wouldn’t shatter her entire world. “Lord Aldric pledged his allegiance. Rhyl and Myral will fight if you wait for them.”
“Myral won’t abandon her dragonet.” Fedryc took a step toward the door, then another, before he stopped. “Rhyl is mighty, but even he cannot fly across a continent in under an hour. That’s how long it will take Lord Anion to wipe us out if I don’t go to him. If I fight, it will buy you the time you need to evacuate the castle.”
Marielle felt something break, deep between her ribs, like fabric ripping. The nauseating feeling of despair took her in its freezing embrace, stronger than ever.
“How can you do this?” Her voice was choked but when Fedryc looked down at her, his eyes were cold. “You’re leaving when you know you won’t come back.”
“I am saving what matters most.” His voice was cold and remote—full of duty, honor and all that bullshit she didn’t care about. “You will lead the evacuation into Darragon. The transports are ready. Make sure you put the women and children first, the old and the injured as well. The guards I’m leaving behind will obey your orders.”
“What matters most.” Marielle let out a bitter laugh. “And what about what matters most to me? Does that count?”
He turned to her and the cold drained from his eyes but that iron resolve was still there.
“You matter more than my entire kingdom.” His words were heavy with sadness, with a love that blindsided her. “Your life and the life that you carry inside you are all that matters. That is why I’m going to do what I must. If I run away with you, we can hide in the far corners of this Earth and live together for a while, but it won’t last. If I allow the Knat-Kanassis to triumph here, they will get to us one day and then they will be too strong to be stopped, they will rip you from my arms and kill you—you and our child.”
Fedryc paused, his eyes on her. All Marielle could look at was him, all she could hear was him. Him and that love he had for her that ran deeper than anyone in her life before, deeper than anyone ever would.
“All I wanted since I first laid eyes on you was to grow old in your arms, but that won’t happen now.” Fedryc reached for her and his hand cupped her cheek. “All I can give you is your life. Take your brother, take your people, and fly far away to Darragon. Live, Marielle. Live for us both.”
The walls around her heart fell apart and Marielle’s knees hit the floor. Anguish washed over her and she shook her head violently, tears falling down her eyes like two rivers. Her world turned black and she was engulfed in her pain.
Then strong arms wrapped around her and she searched blindly for the comfort of Fedryc’s body. His hands cupped her face and she buried her head against him while her arms locked around him like she could force him to stay there with her.
