Page 88 of Across an Endless Sea

Lore, of course, isn’t content to wait for me to fall. His arms wrap around my waist, surrounding me with his familiar metal and berries scent before he blinks us onto the bench, keeping me in his lap. Jaro doesn’t hesitate. The second I’m within arm’s reach, his giant hands engulf my cold feet, rubbing them like he can’t resist the need to touch me.

Ooh, that’s heavenly.

Having the two of them holding me and the reassuring buzz of our connection purring between us feels so right that all I want to do is sit there and savour the moment. Jaro lets out a near-silent growl—not a sound of anger, but more one of deep contentment that soothes away my lingering fear and pain.

It can’t last. There are things that need to be said. I stare at the gurgling fountain and brace myself for their reactions.

“I won’t mate Caed.”

Kitarni opens her mouth—probably to object, or maybe ask why—but Bree gets there first.

“Good.”

The high priestess blinks. “Good?” she echoes.

His cat ears twitch with agitation, rotating on top of his head. For a second, I really wish I could stroke them, only to dismiss the idea. Bree still keeps a noticeable distance from everyone—me included. I doubt he’d welcome the touch.

“You have no idea what Caed did to her,” he says, drawing my attention back to his face. “She drew a boundary. Respect that. If she changes her mind, that’s her decision.”

His instant support means more than he knows. Without him—and his snake tattoo—I probably never would’ve escaped Fellgotha. A wave of gratitude swells in my chest, clogging my throat until I have to swallow to clear it.

“Thank you for your snake,” I whisper. “He saved me…”

Bree’s answering smile is soft and genuine. “Any time.”

“You said Caed is on his way here,” Drystan says, disrupting the sweet moment and dragging us back on topic with the subtlety of a rusty knife. “With an army?”

I look towards him, tensing before I speak, because I’m not sure he’ll like my answer. “I don’t know if he’ll bring an army, but I don’t think he will… Caed made a bargain with me. He’s bringing Bram home, and in exchange, I’ll hear what he has to say to me.”

Jaro chokes, his hands freezing on my feet as he struggles to regain his composure.

“Bram?” he clarifies, when he can speak again. “Prince Bram?”

I nod, and he lets out a startled laugh.

“Only you could go into the heart of enemy territory and return with someone who’s been assumed dead for a hundred years,” he says.

“He was living in the Deep Caves,” I explain, feeling oddly defensive. “They exile other Fomorians to die there. It’s full of these monsters they call tunnel wyrms.” A tremor runs through my body at the memory of the huge paralysing serpent, and they all stiffen. “I don’t know how he survived for so long, but he did.”

“I was born the year after he disappeared,” Jaro admits. “So I don’t know what he was like. My mother always said he had his head stuck in the clouds ninety per cent of the time, but when he put his mind to something, he was as wily as his fox.”

“And Caed just agreed to return him? Just like that?” Drystan is as sceptical as ever.

“Caed said he was accused of treason,” I continue, bristling at his tone. “He also said he was cursed and that Danu did it—though I didn’t give him the chance to go into detail. It sounded almost like he and Prae were planning on running away from Elatha.”

All of my males share frowning glances, communicating silently between themselves.

“If Caed and Praedra are no longer working for Elatha, it’s a great loss for the Fomorians,” Jaro begins.

“Their best strategist and strongest warrior gone in one fell swoop? It wouldn’t be so easy,” Drystan retorts. “And their absence won’t ameliorate the loss of the outer city.”

Jaro’s eyes darken, and I don’t have the guts to ask what happened. Clearly, we lost some battle while I was gone. Judging by the guilty glances Jaro keeps shooting at the smoke-filled horizon, it’s still a fresh wound.

I’ll ask him about it later, or hopefully he’ll bring it up. Right now, I’m focusing on the issue of Caed.

“When he gets here, we have to let them both in,” I continue, fingering my short, uneven hair. “I promised to listen, and I will, but unless he has some remarkable reason for everything he stood by and let Elatha do—”

“You don’t have to talk about it,” Jaro assures me.

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