Page 79 of Empress of Ruin
She gives a short, humorless laugh. “So this is going to be our life?”
My heart quickens at her use ofour. Despite her anger, I think my little bird mightfinallybe fucking accepting me. The overwhelming urge to sit her on my cock and claim her pussy so thoroughly she’s screaming overwhelms me, but I shove it down. Another time.
“Things will be better after the tribunal,” I say firmly.If I survive it. Which is still a pretty significant goddamn if, considering no evidence links Silas to my attempted assassination. But it had to have beensomeone.
“How long?” she asks.
I swallow. “A week.” Exactly how long Cain has to figure out who came for me. But if it isn’t Silas or someone working for Silas, then that information does jack shit for the trial.
I have Raegan’s and Griffin’s vote, but I need one more. I can’t rely on Ryan, considering he won’t even take my request for a meeting. I have to assume he’s already been recruited by Vlad and Silas. So my best bet is Spencer, who’s not going to vote for me without proof. He did also say Silas’s case is weak, but…
“A week,” she exhales softly. “You could be dead in… a week.”
I smile sadly against her hair. “I’ll do everything in my power to prevent it. And, no matter what happens to me, you’ll be safe. I promise.”
“I don’t want you to die,” she whispers, barely audible. As if she’s afraid to bring the admission to life.
My eyes squeeze shut, and I take the moment to revel in her words, in the meaning behind them. She’s not telling me she loves me or anything so grand, but this is a step in that direction. It gives me yet another reason to survive the tribunal; I want to hear her tell me she loves me. I want her to feel it.
I haven’t been easy to be with for her. I’m perfectly aware of my flaws. And I’m even more aware that if there is anyone in this world who can handle them, that person is Lyra.
“I won’t,” I say, but even I hear the question in my tone. “There’s too much for me to still do here. And I can’t leave you.” I rest a hand on her midsection, marveling at how much space it takes. Imagining the moment it starts to swell with a lifewemade together.
“I don’t want you to leave me, either.” Lyra rests her left hand on top of mine, engagement ring glittering brightly, catching the bathroom light. “I spent a long time hating and fearing you, Killian. But now…” her voice drops, the quietest whisper yet. “Even after everything you’ve put me through, I don’t know how I could live without you.”
“You’ll never have to, Little Bird. You’re stuck with me.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Lyra
Even though Killian tries not to show it, his stress reaches an all-time high over the next few days. He’s on his phone talking to people, in his office working, or out taking meetings virtually every second of every day.
He talks to me about any and everything. Somehow, the wall of secrets between us has fallen, and now he confides in me. How his day was. Who he talked to. That Cainstillhasn’t come through, and he doesn’t know if the Nighthawks will be able to.
I’m also working every day, cutting it close to my manuscript’s deadline, but an idea starts to blossom in my head. Four days before the scheduled tribunal, I execute it.
I give Annalise a call to start, because she’s my way to the man I actually need. I still have no clue what deal she has between herand Carter, but I can figure out a way to help her out of thatafterI ensure Killian’s head is attached to his shoulders.
“Hello?” she picks up, sounding distracted.
“Anna, it’s me.”
There’s a slight pause. Finally, she says somewhat stiltedly, “Hey.”
“Hey,” I reply.
An awkward silence ensues, during which I gnaw on my lip. There’s so much I want to talk to her about, but now isn’t the time. I have my objective.
“Um… god, this is weird,” she says. “We used to see each other every day and still talk all the time. What happened to us, Ly?”
“Life,” I summarize.
“Yeah.” Another silence. “Do you, uh… need something?”
God, our relationship is going to require some seriously legwork to repair. But not right now. “Yeah, actually. I need a favor. Can you get me in touch with Carter?”
“MyCarter?” Anna sounds alarmed, but nowhere near how alarmed I feel hearing her call the notorious Carter Blackhers. Exactly what is their dynamic?
