Page 57
With his sharp nod, the confrontation ended. We stayed in Tova’s workshop for several hours. I memorised every rune and line for the key until I could draw it with my eyes closed. Tova created two more strips of the rune spell, giving each of us a copy, just in case. He placed mine in a strange-looking bracelet with a hidden compartment.
‘Are you trying to make Rey jealous?’ I asked, looking at the heavy silver jewellery.
‘Well, if he gets like that over a simple gift, he’ll lose his marbles when I make you a crown.’ Tova grinned as though goading the king was the pinnacle of his great ideas.
‘This is why my mother told me men’s brains stop growing when their balls drop. Right, I need to tell Rey you’ve had a breakthrough in your research, while omitting the Grand Master of the Dark Brotherhood was the first to learn about it,’ I said, already preparing myself for the discussion.
The sooner we set off for Lumivitae, the better. Giving my berserker too much time to think about this would end with me in a locked room in the highest tower.
‘And what would he do to me? I have the privilege of being the brother of his beloved queen. I could be the villain in this story, and he’d still spare me at the mere hint of your tears.’ Tova grinned and I resisted the urge to smack him.
‘You know, one day he’ll beat you to pulp, and I’ll be cheering from the sidelines.’ I dragged myself out of the chair. It was time to face the music, or in this case, one very stubborn king.
Irsha escorted me to the waiting guards.
‘Be ready at dawn, Trouble,’ he said, nodding to the men.
I took the long way to the palace, stopping by my old home to gather my thoughts. It didn’t matter how much I rehearsed the conversation in my head; we were going to argue. I just had to accept it.
‘Let’s go.’ I waved to my guards and urged my horse into a canter.
As expected, Reynard was in his study. The heavy curtains blocked the sun, and he didn’t even open his eyes when I entered.
‘An assassin would have killed you, you know,’ I said, closing the door behind me.
‘An assassin rarely smells like lilac and old manuscripts. How’s Tova?’ he quipped. I sighed and grabbed a bottle of wine from his cabinet before joining him. We’d both need some to get through this.
‘Tired and happy. He found out how to deactivate the gates,’ I said, and Rey sat up in his chair, reaching out in my direction. When he wiggled his fingers, I passed him the bottle.
‘You came to tell me you’re going after Niersen.’ He opened the bottle and took a deep gulp while I stared at him with an open mouth.
‘How did you know?’ I stuttered.
Rey pushed a letter towards me. ‘Irsha asked me to look after Lilliana while he’s hunting down Niersen. He didn’t mention you though. I’m not stupid, Viper. Just tell me. Why you? Why does it have to be you?’
‘I’m the only vivamancer in Tir ha Mor. You saw it yourself. My magic reacts differently to the wraiths and corrupted magic. We only have one chance, so… it has to be me.’
His face twisted. The expression of a man who’d lost the argument and hated every second of it. I knelt next to his chair and rested my palms on his thighs as he spoke.
‘Even if you deactivate the pillars, the Tangrian army’s already here. Our allies are gathered in the south. I won’t be able to help you,’ he said, still trying to reason with me. ‘Fuck. I have an entire university full of mages and my love is the one going.’
‘Irsha can’t be their nursemaid, and I understand how Tova works,’ I argued. Rey’s hand drifted to my cheek, his thumb pressing against my lips and silencing me. ‘If you want to use mages, station them near the pillars. Once they’re shut down, you’ll have one third of your army back in service.’
‘Did you have an answer to every question?’ Rey shook his head.
‘No. You never know, maybe I’ll have transformed all Tivalaran into a picturesque glade and the Tangrian soldiers into butterflies and roses. Then there’ll be no war at all,’ I tried to joke. Rey forced a smile.
‘If anyone could do it, you would.’ He leaned forward, grasped my chin, and forced me to look at him. ‘I know I can’t stop you, Viper, but I have a condition.’
‘What is it?’ Unease built in my chest, and I had to force myself to stay still and not squirm.
‘You’ll bond with Cin, and you’ll do it tonight. It’s this, or we’ll both follow you to the underworld and back,’ he said with such vehemence I bristled.
‘You’d force me to do this?’
‘No, my love, but if you don’t, it’ll break Cin’s heart,’ he murmured with a bitter smile. ‘Sana, if I must let the woman I love fight my war, I want her shielded by a dragon’s strength. I want my dragon to hear her thoughts, so she’ll never be lost to us. Is it selfish? Yes. But give me this one thing, please, Sanika.’
My rancour washed away.
I’d already decided on the bond before coming here. I’d simply been surprised he’d insisted.
‘I will. Now, can I kiss my king before offering myself to his dragon, or are you too upset and stubborn to remember your Viper has a knack for surviving?’ He grabbed my shoulders, yanking me up. Our lips met, hot and passionate, stunning me at how one kiss could right all wrongs.
‘For anyone else I would stand my ground and forbid them to go, but not you. I trust you, Viper, with my life, with my heart, with our future. I don’t want to end life as an oak tree. Strong but forever alone, yearning for the woman who stole my heart.’
He was talking about my father’s tree, about a love that became an obsession, about a man who never took another woman after my mother’s passing.
‘Boyan took my mother’s wings, you gave me mine. I’ll always return to you, Reynard Erenhart. May the gods above and below be my witness. In whatever form, I’ll always come back to you.’
His hands tightened on my waist, almost painfully, golden berserker light filling his iris. He kissed me again before abruptly standing up, forcing me to stumble against his chest.
‘I believe you, Roksana. Now go to Cinared. He’s waiting, and he asked for you to come alone.’ He ushered me toward the door. ‘Go, my light, while I still have the strength to let you go.’
