Page 156 of The Princesses of Ruin
Alyse meets me outside the Scarlet Stronghold—the nickname that’s been painted in bright red over the massive front door. I pull off my mask and bury my face in her neck as we embrace. The comforting scent of ink and parchment is still there, just hidden under a layer of smoke and steel. But it all smells like her, and it puts me at ease.
“Don’t worry, my love, I’m sure we’ll find his corpse among the rubble of the palace.”
My fingers dig into her back, holding her tighter. She’s not forgotten. My problems, myneeds, are not dismissed under the weight of putting her kingdom back together.
“I hope so,” I whisper.
But if not.
“If not, I’ll help you hunt him.”
I pull back with a scowl and look down at her swelling belly.
She tsks and lifts my chin so I’m staring into her eyes. “Once this little beast is out of me, I’m going to be back out on the streets with you, prowling for monsters and keeping our home safe. Wewillfind the demon who hurt you, Adrik, and so many others. I will be listening for him.”
“We can’t very well leave the baby at home,” I say.
“Fine, I’ll strap her to my chest, and you can strap me to yours,” she says with a bright smile.
The image makes my heart swell.
“Come on, dinner’s on and Gareth needs help,” she says, then boops my nose as she turns away.
I capture her around the middle and drag her back to my chest. She giggles as I nuzzle her ear.
“You didn’t give me a kiss,” I murmur.
She turns her head and looks up at me. Her gaze bathes me in devotion. Her breath saturates me in sanctuary.
Her hand slides into the gap of my flight suit and she grabs my neck, pulling me down to her mouth. Her skin is warm and soft, and when I ask with my tongue, her pink lips part. I kiss her languidly, savoring each stroke. Our kiss awakens my blood, making my pants too tight for comfort.
Alyse smiles against my lips and I huff as I pull back. “You bewitch me.”
“See why I didn’t kiss you? Now we have to go to the bedroom, and poor Gareth will have to find another helping hand for the dinneryouextended to additional guests.”
I grip her chin, holding her still as I plant another kiss on her decadent lips.
“The bedroom, you say? What’s up there?”
She giggles. “Why don’t you come find out?”
Chapter fifty-four
Emillia
Moonlight calls to me. The stars are asking for their captain back, and I know I have to get to the sea. I’ve spent too long here on land, and I have another campaign I need to fight across the Deep. Once it’s all done, I can travel again. The far north, then around the frozen wastes to the oceans beyond.
Unexplored territory.
Fresh adventure.
Hunting expeditions and isolation.
Nonsense tumbles from Adrik’s lips and whisper over my neck. I run my hand down his arm and hug him closer. There’s muscle there that has been missing for a long time. The moonlight illuminates his sharp cheeks, but at least they’re not gaunt. He’s so much better than he was after the last fight. Strong, and ready to return to the world. He doesn’t need me anymore.
Brisha yawns at my feet, her blue eyes glowing like Nol’Ther’s radiance. Yakshim noses his sister affectionately, trying to convince her to come back to slumber. Their cooling collars keep them stable even when Adrik sleeps. He is such a marvel.
It would be a shame to take him away from here, where he can do so much more…so much good. He is such a good man.
