Page 277 of Dawn of Chaos and Fury
“Have you met the Shifters?” she asked suddenly.
His eyes widened in confusion. “Yes,” he answered slowly. “Tessa took me to them shortly after we caught up with her at the Acropolis.”
“They were kind? Kylian can be abrasive,” she said.
Corbin studied her for a moment. “They were more than kind. My…mother especially.”
She nodded once, squeezing her fingers. “When this is all over, will you stay with them?”
He exchanged a look with Lange. “We haven’t decided where we will settle down,” he answered. “I suppose it will depend on what the world looks like when this is all over.”
That made sense, she supposed.
“Eviana?” Corbin prodded gently when she remained silent.
She straightened her spine, dropping her hands to her sides. “If you can only leave with one of us, promise me you’ll take Priya.”
“What?” Lange scoffed. “No. You’re both coming with us.”
She sighed. “Lange?—”
“No,” he interrupted, stepping closer and crowding her against the wall. “You’re both coming with us. Do you understand me? You didn’t drag us across half the fucking kingdoms, through the Dreamlock Woods, and make us godsdamncare,for us to leave you behind. You and Priya are both leaving here with us.”
“Swear it,” she breathed, looking up into sky-blue eyes. “Swear that you will leave here with both of us. That when this is all said and done, you will take us both from here. That you will…help me with her. Is it an accord?”
His head tilted as if listening to something, and she swore to the gods, if those winds fucked her over right now…
“I swear to you that you will both leave here with us,” Lange said, holding her stare. “I swear that when this is all said and done, you will not be alone. You and Priya? You’ll be part of our family. That is the accord I make with you.”
“Agreed,” she breathed, fighting back the emotion trying to claw up her throat. She didn’t get emotional. Emotions were pointless.
But she felt the tingling of the bargain Mark on her skin just below her shoulder blade. Then she pushed off the wall, shoving him aside. “I have to go. He will come looking soon. I am already taking too long.”
She slipped from the bathroom, rushing to the kitchens and retrieving the liquor and a fresh ice bucket before hurrying back to his study. He looked up when she entered, his hazel eyes hard.
“That took longer than it should have,” he said coldly.
“My apologies, my Lord,” she answered, dropping her gaze to the floor. “I have been unwell with my power so low.”
“And who’s to blame for that, Eve?”
“Me, my Lord,” she said immediately. Lifting the liquor bottle, she dared to look at him, finding him with a slight smirk. “Would you like a glass now or later?”
“Now.”
She nodded, moving to the liquor cart and pulling out a tumbler. She filled it with a few ice cubes and the liquor, trying to calm her racing heart and steady her breathing before she carried it to him.
His fingers brushed hers as he took the glass, and then he stood, forcing her to stumble back a step. He leaned against his desk, studying her while he took a sip.
“How long have you been mine, Eviana?” he mused, swirling the contents of his glass.
“For decades, my Lord,” she answered, her mind racing as she tried to figure out where this was going.
He hummed in response, setting the glass down with a faint clunk. Then he reached over, a fingertip trailing along her collarbone. “Decades of training. Decades of investing my time and energy into you.”
She stayed silent, his fingers still skating down to her cleavage. It was only then she realized Priya wasn’t in the room anymore. She had been here when she’d left to fetch the liquor, but now she was gone.
“And I was studying you all that time too,” he went on. “Clearly not well enough. You still managed to hide your thoughts and emotions from me. Not that I’m surprised. Youare clever, but your mannerisms…” His fingers dragged back up. “You’ve never once lied directly to my face. Until now.”
