Page 99 of Of Serpents and Ruins
"I don’t want to risk hurting you or damaging the ship. We can’t afford any delays."
My lips pressed into a tight line. What had made him change his mind? I didn’t like this.
Or maybe I was just greedy to be close to him.
"What changed? It will be all right. Look at your charm—"
"I just…I had a chance to think about it. How often has the charm been wrong, Stella?" He tipped his head forward, his expression hardening. "We say our goodbyes here. Once you leave, don’t come back into this cell."
"You don’t have to fear yourself that much." The words came out sharper than I intended, but the feeling behind them was the same. "You are not a monster. You never have been. This is a curse, and you are still the king."
"Can our goodbye here not be enough?" he asked, his voice low as his gaze searched mine. "And if you are successful, can our reunion not serve as our reward for succeeding?"
Anger seared through me even stronger, rising in my heart. Something had changed in his eyes.
"What happened?" I demanded. "What happened in that dream?"
He shook his head. "Just a nightmare, but its warning is wise. I cannot play fast and loose with your life, Stella. You mean more to me than anything."
"You would not be risking my life if you came down to the docks. Your warriors are there. Kine and Hord have handled you countless times!" A slight exaggeration, but true in spirit. "You can't let fear control you."
"Don't fight with me on this, Stella. Please. Let our night together close peacefully. Let me just enjoy your presence."
My lips pursed, my muscles tightening. Tears spilled down my cheeks again, but why argue? We were down to our final hours, and I couldn't bear the thought of fighting with him.
I burrowed my face in his chest and sobbed.
The sun had barely warmed the stone when Hord arrived. To his credit, his face registered only minor surprise before he schooled his features and asked if either of us required anything. I swiftly explained what had happened relating to the Gola Resh while Brandt listened with minor amusement, still bound firmly to the wall.
Hord’s brow rose at the statement that the Gola Resh had gotten in. He immediately sent for an attendant with orders to begin scouring all the wards and strengthening them. Despite this, he agreed with Brandt that the only thing for us to do was move forward with the plan. We would gather the necessary components and meet directly at the Ember Lord’s Crest, saving us a half day’s travel and the potential for more delays. He and Cahji would leave shortly after Kine and I departed. Tile would oversee the Goblet with Candy’s help.
I dragged my hand through my hair as I studied Brandt. His solemn expression. His muscular planes. His gentle eyes even when he tried to keep the emotion from them. Who wouldhave known that red eyes could be so expressive? Despite our lovemaking last night, part of me felt as if he had already given up.
"We could take you with us," I offered. "Then you would be with us for the final battle."
"Three days at sea at minimum with a water serpent shifter going insane," Brandt growled, rolling his eyes. "You’re smart enough to know why that wouldn’t work."
I was, but that didn’t mean I was happy about it.
I then returned to my room but not before Kine caught me in the hall. Unlike Hord, his expression was teasing, but that soon faded when I explained to him what had happened, leaving out once again what Brandt and I had done to pass the time as well as the offer the Gola Resh had made me. No sense in sharing what I would never accept.
The rest of the morning passed with something akin to numbness. Elias avoided me. Kine spoke with Tile and others.
Hord informed me that someone had chipped off a portion of the wards that had prevented the Gola Resh from entering. Something else must have been used to draw her in, but they weren’t sure what.
Alarm spiked through me at once. "What’s going to be done to keep that from happening again?" I asked. "Who did it?"
"If I had to guess, one of the factions," Hord said solemnly, arms akimbo. Weariness remained etched in his features. "You will have to continue to be careful. We’ve kept your presence here as quiet as possible."
"Why would the factions try to kill Brandt or me? Why would anyone even worry about this right now? Our entire race is at risk!"
He lifted his broad shoulders. "I have never understood it, but I am not a politician. We have been working to engrave moreprotective wards into the heartstones ever since we learned that the Gola Resh survived."
"And they still don’t know how that happened?"
He shook his head.
"Please…I don’t know what Brandt will say to you regarding his protection, but if the Gola Resh came for me, I am afraid she will come also for him." I pressed my hand over my chest. That pulsing sensation had returned, but I spoke before I registered it.
