Page 95 of A Trial of War
When Neera’s eyes turned from Seamus and met mine, I nodded in silent confirmation. She would join Rhea while Seamus, begrudgingly, would return to the Labyrinth. The threat of his oath turning him into a weapon against us, despite the mate bond to Neera, was too great a risk.
I turned back around and squeezed Talon’s shoulder lightly. “I’m glad you’re well enough to come,” I said, letting a small smile break through.
The pack bond glowed bright in my chest.
Talon leaned over to Rhea, whispering something that made her snort into her cup of tea, and Shaw elbowedZola lightly, prompting her rare, amused glance from a shared secret.
Even Rhett allowed himself a faint smirk at something Seamus said. He motioned at Neera, who gave him a playful scowl before leaning to kiss his cheek.
I moved toward the couch and leaned back into the cushions, letting the laughter wash over me, and the warmth of their presence fill every ache and fear I hadn’t realized I’d been carrying. Daxton’s hand found mine, firm and grounding, and I squeezed it back. Silent words passed between us.
For a moment, the future, the battle, Solace, all of it, didn’t exist. There was only this.
I glanced around at all of them, my family, my heart, my people. Each face held courage, love, loyalty, and a spark of joy we had carved out for ourselves in this dark world.
I could carry this moment of happiness with me, always.
And Daxton… my mate, my husband, and king. No matter what came next, we would face it together. Because we always did.
Ember cooed softly in Idris’s arms, and I felt the smallest, warmest smile tug at my lips. For now, I let the laughter, the warmth, the smell of noodles and embers sink in.
Tomorrow was coming, but tonight was for us.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Castor Aegaeon
I leaned against the cold windowsill, staring out onto the training field below, a swell of mixed emotions stirring me from sleep.
Minaeve, Istar, Taran’s forces, mages, hunters, garmr, harpies, fallen creatures…
What the fuck had we gotten ourselves into?
Leaning my forehead against the glass, I inhaled deeply, forcing my heart to stop racing like a wild beast against my ribs. My fingers gripped the cool window frame, frost creeping from my skin and fogging the pane, creating an icy veil between myself and whatever else waited outside these walls.
Was I afraid?
For myself? No.
I had danced with death too many times for me to fear it now. But for my friends, my family, my mate?
The fear of losing her was like a garmr sinking its razor-sharp teeth into my neck.
I pushed away from the window and turned toward the bed. Nyssa lay tangled in the silver satin sheets, her limbs soft with sleep, midnight-black hair spilling like ink across thepillows. She looked peaceful, too peaceful for the war I was about to enter.
Her almond-shaped eyes, perfect nose, and silky lips were a constellation I’d memorized like the stars over our homeland. My luck from fate or the Mother and Father above had never been good, but somehow, it had given me her. And I would never trade that, not for anything in this entire disaster-filled world.
I went to her, sliding beneath the sheets and pulling her on top of my chest, where she snuggled in close as though she was crafted for only me.
I pressed my lips to her temple. “Nyssa,” I murmured.
She sighed, nuzzling deeper into my neck.
“Nyssa, love. I need to leave soon.”
Her eyes fluttered open, still hazy with sleep. She blinked up at me, her expression soft at first, until she remembered. Remembered that I would be leaving for Solace, and she would remain here to rule Silver Meadows in my stead if…
No.
