48
Roark
Something wasn’t right.
I looked over my shoulder, expecting to see something dreadful. There was nothing but an open door and my cousin softly whispering to Yrsa as she helped pin the last of her braids in place.
My blood began to simmer, like some deeper piece of me could not shake the cloud of unease. It continued to gather like smoke from a doused fire.
“All I’m saying is I would’ve appreciated a word of warning.” Thane fastened a silver arm ring around his wrist, two wolf heads snarled at each other on either end. “Might’ve even gone with you to slaughter the bastard.”
Tomas doesn’t matter now . I followed Thane to the end of his bed, speaking as we went, until the prince sat on the foot and tugged on polished black boots. Lyra cannot meld, not so many. We need to delay, or rid Damir of the idea altogether.
“Roark.” He held up a hand. “I haven’t heard from my father all morning. My mother sent word he is unwell. We have a delay.” The prince stood and clapped a hand on my shoulder. “After the wedding, I will insist war is rather improper after such a celebration. If I am cunning enough, I might be able to earn us an additional week.”
I won’t leave her here to die, Thane .
The prince tilted his head, one brow arched. “What are you saying?”
My jaw tightened. I think you know .
Thane the Bold spoke a great deal, taunted and jested, but he was somber and silent for a long moment. “How long have you loved her?”
How would I ever explain the truths unraveling in my head the more I was near Lyra? I shook my head. It doesn’t matter. I won’t watch her die .
Duty above it all was the law in Stonegate. Thane had a duty to his kingdom to wed, to breed, to rule as his ancestors had always done. Good-hearted as he was, I did not anticipate he’d give up his honor for the desire of my heart.
No matter how close we were, to Stonegate and the royal house, I was still the Draven boy here to serve them. They were not here to serve me.
“They wouldn’t take you in Dravenmoor.”
I looked at the prince, a little stunned.
He paced, rubbing his chin. “We could hide her again in a small village, she’s accustomed to that. But my father would never quit the search to find her again. There is nowhere else unless you plan to smuggle her over the Night Ledges and abandon her with Unfettered Folk. Maybe they won’t eat her.”
I frowned.
“What?” Thane tossed one hand up. “What would you have me do? I am not king here, and you cannot…” The prince paused. “Roark, you realize your presence would be a risk to her. If we take Lyra somewhere else, you cannot go with her. It will only draw too much attention, a Jorvan woman with a Draven.”
This does not mean you can keep her. Sometimes you must give them up if it’s what’s best .
I’d been told I couldn’t keep Lyra Bien once before. It was true then, and likely true now. I lowered my gaze. If it kept her alive, perhaps I could walk away from her again. The thought of it churned my insides in sick waves.
Thane dropped a hand to my shoulder. “We have time, my friend. I’ll do all I can to give us at least a week to keep her safe. You’re not the only one who cares for her now.”
A week was time we needed to think of some other way to get her free.
A throat cleared. In the doorway was a young Stav. “Forgive me, my prince. I was sent to inform the Sentry that Stav Darkwin and Melder Bien were meeting the…” His gaze fell on Yrsa. “Well, they were meeting with the queen and the princess, but I can see the princess is here.”
Lyra had not met with Yrsa.
Kael wouldn’t take Lyra out of her chambers without reason, without a higher command.
There wasn’t anyone who would command it but me, Thane, or perhaps the king.
“I never summoned Melder Bien,” Yrsa whispered, her gaze falling to me.
“Roark—” Thane tried to take hold of my arm.
I shirked him away and took hold of the Stav swift enough the guard stumbled. I didn’t know what I was saying, but my gestures were too frantic, and the younger guard gave Thane an imploring look.
“Who came to retrieve Melder Bien?” Thane’s palm patted my chest, nudging me out of the doorway.
“Captain Baldur, Highness.”
“And he was told she would meet with my mother and my bride?”
“Yes, Highness.”
My body seized for a breath, then spurred into action. I shoved past the Stav Guard, storming into the corridor.
Thane’s shuffled steps hurried to keep up. “Roark, keep your damn head, you stubborn bastard.”
More steps ran after us, lighter than Thane’s. Emi, no doubt. I didn’t look back. A hand gripped my shoulder, spinning me around. I shoved Thane back, something dark, something cruel clawing to the surface.
I drew in a deep breath through my nose until the prickle of heat in my blood soothed. Do not stop me again .
“Think.” Thane tapped the side of his head. “Baldur is pompous, but he has no reason to harm my father’s precious melder. My mother might’ve summoned her—”
And your father might force her to meld . I waved my hands in a frenzy.
Thane sighed. “All right. We’ll find her. If Baldur took her to meet with the queen, then we go to my mother’s wing.”
Emi placed a hand on my arm and squeezed. “Thane’s right. We go there. All is going to be well.”
Yrsa followed, a look of worry shadowed in her eyes.
I drew my seax, used my head to point toward the outer lawns, and did not wait for any farewells to be had to the princess before taking the staircase to the lower floor two steps at a time.
Something was not right.
The taste of smoke and brine burned like bile on my tongue. I felt the urge to lash out, to succumb to smoky shadows until I fell into nothing but the sharpest edges of my soul, hate and rage and avarice.
Wind whipped across the lawns. I shoved through mounting crowds strolling the outer courtyards, ignoring their gasps and declarations; some men had boorish manners.
Emi and the prince caught up, Thane still securing his short blade to his belt.
Instead of taking the paths through the gardens, I carved through one of the archways and down another set of steps, which would spit us out near the back of the queen’s corner of the fortress.
I’d only stepped off the final stair when the bellow of ram’s horns broke through the still morning. Boots stomped over mossy cobbles, and Stav captains shouted down from the watchtowers, bellowing commands.
“Go.” Thane shoved me between my shoulders. “You’re right, you’re always right. Go.”
We sprinted around the corner. The gentle slope looked down on the queen’s private garden planted beside the wall of glass doors. Open lawns spread out to the knolls and final walls.
There, scrambling toward the edges of Stonegate, was Lyra.
From all sides, Stav Guard hunted her. Queen Ingir screamed on her knees, wailing over something I could not hear. Most sound was muffled anyway. The roar of craft filled my ears. For so long it was untamed, not mine to command. No longer. The power in my blood was mine to summon—to terrify, to kill.
“Roark?” Thane’s voice was distant though he stood next to me. “What’s on your scar? Is it bleeding?”
“Thane.” Emi’s voice trembled. “Step back.”
The division of two pieces had never been mine to control until recent weeks. Until Lyra.
Little by little, the chains keeping the power out of my control had returned. My soul was tethered to hers and I would slaughter anyone who tried to break it.
Lyra stumbled. A Stav Guard grabbed hold of her ankle before she could run again.
Darkness, so cold it burned, ripped through every pore. Fear bled from her soul. I was consumed by it and it snapped the final strand tethering my will to keep control.
I freed the lash of darkness with a rough, chilling cry of her name.