Page 26 of To Sway a Prince
"You shouldn't worry about me," he whispered, his voice low and rough. His free hand rose to brush a strand of hair from my face, fingertips lingering against my cheek.
A thunderous crash echoed through the tower, followed by a dragon's roar. Ramiel jerked away, the moment shattered. His expression shuttered closed, walls slamming back into place.
"I should check on that," he murmured, pulling away.
The sudden absence of his warmth left me cold and hollow. I wrapped my arms around myself, aching for what almost was. Breathing deep, I tried to still my racing heart. More than anything I wanted to burrow back under his arm and hold him close. That was ludicrous though. What was wrong with me? I'd seared out my own mate bond years ago. Not falling hard and fast was supposedly a benefit. "Sounded like a play challenge," I responded, swallowing hard and trying to compose myself.
"Yes." He paced into one of the rooms and then back, dragging his hand through his silver hair. "Yes, probably." He cut his gaze toward me once more.
My eyes locked with his. That look in his eye was one of pure hunger and need. Almost as intense as the fear when we were at the bridge.
I—I wanted him to hold me.
My hand flew up to the heavy scarring around my shoulder and collarbone, swallowing hard. I couldn't take my eyes off him. Couldn't bury this…need that was rising within me. To be held close. Loved as a person…as a woman.
Where had these thoughts come from? They were so blazingly vivid within my mind. Practically a plea. All these years I'd been alone. I'd learned the hard way to not ask for much for myself. The world was kinder when you didn't have expectations. And yet?—
Another roar sounded. This one even more clearly a play response but breaking the moment nonetheless.
Ramiel swiped his hand through his hair again. "There's much to be done. We weren't able to fully seal the final rift in the Chasm or heal the leviathan, so it will only be a matter of time before he goes mad and attempts to break through again. His thrashing and biting near the surface weakens it enough that the other creatures can sometimes escape, and the chasm wraiths feed off his agony. There's a tragic irony to it. The leviathans are guardians of the Chasm. They help keep it safe on the inside, but that wound…it's deep enough that he can't fulfill his duty. He's got to be healed or else...."
"He's not the only one. Those knots and bindings around your heart only have one outcome." I followed him, steeling my voice to ensure I sounded far more focused than I felt. "I know what it means when someone is using a grave bane spell."
He grunted in response. "Well…it is what it is." Drawing in a slow breath, he straightened his posture and strode toward the chest with the vials. Carefully, he checked each of the stoppers and then sealed the chest. "Not everything has a cure. And everything has its time."
A deep ache formed within my chest. I shivered, feeling the cold more acutely now that he was no longer beside me. "I'm a knotweaver. I might be able to help you."
"A generous offer." His surcoat hung loose and crooked, entirely unbuttoned now. He moved it back as he straightened his tunic and then began to fasten the buttons one by one. "And one that is unlikely to be effective. This curse is beyond both of us, little gnat."
Was there a note of affection in his voice when he said that? Even the nickname…I brushed the thought aside. My imagination was not helping me. This was just loneliness talking. "You might be surprised. We've both underestimated one another. What would it hurt to let me try?"
"You mean aside from you pulling the wrong thread and killing me on the spot?"
I shrugged, trying to seem casual about this. But I genuinely wanted to help. "You're a rune fae. Your death does not end your spells. If you die and the binding spell remains on me and keeps me from Zephyrus, I'll never be able to journey with him again."
"That still doesn't account for mistakes." A hint of a smile curled at the right side of his mouth.
"No. But I won't make any. Besides, what other choice do you have? Do you have some great plan in place?"
"I have other plans I am pursuing." He adjusted his surcoat, lining it up at the shoulders, and then fixing the lapels. "I have many plans, little gnat."
"None of which have worked." I folded my arms.
Though he was moving a little stiffly now, he seemed more himself. With firm strokes, he smoothed down his hair. It returned to its sleek finery with ease. "So your point is…what's the harm in trying a desperate chance?" He glanced at me sidelong. "And what will you want in return?"
Now it was my turn to smile. "Well, I can certainly be reasonable, and we both agree, no one owns a dragon. So…I help you, and you remove the binding spell and?—"
"Let you leave with Zephyrus," he said. His expression had masked once more, returning to its more typical stoicness.
"Not if he doesn't want to. And after seeing him with his kin…" I shook my head. "No. It's his choice. But as you said, if he remains here, he is in danger." More than I had ever guessed, and Ramiel was clearly on borrowed time. "So…that means you let me stay here and help you make the Chasm safer and protect the dragons."
"So…" He smoothed the lapels of his surcoat down, making the embroidery shine a little more with the gesture. "You're saying that you want to help me in return for letting you help me more? You aren't especially good at bargains, are you?"
"I never claimed to be, but it isn't about helping you," I said, sharper than I intended. He must have noticed the way I looked at him, and he was certainly keeping his distance now. "It's about making sure Zephyrus is all right."
"So if Zephyrus wanted you to leave, you would go?" He tilted his head, those eyes of his piercing me in place once more.
"Yes." What an odd question? Something else lay beneath it. I frowned.
