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“If I perish in this war—”

“Riven, don’t say such—” He silenced me with another brush of his thumb.

“IfI perish and you survive, then you should know that it is your hair I want braided into mine. You shall light my pyre and collect my ashes and carry my life around your neck until it is time to say farewell to me. It is only right,diizra, that you be the one to holdmy life in your hands because it has always been yours. In life just as it will be in death.”

Riven pressed his lips to my forehead. His touch heated my skin and I leaned against his chest. “Will you be the one to braid my hair and collect my ashes if I am the one to perish?”

“No.” Riven’s answer was hard and cold, as if the thought of my death chilled his body to ice. I leaned back and saw the determination flash across his face before he looked down at me. “There is no path forward where I survive the war and you do not,diizra.” Riven’s hands knotted behind my back, anchoring me to him in a way I hadn’t allowed myself to crave. “I shall protect you with everything I have, with my dying breath if I must, and if fate is determined to make me a liar on that promise, then I will die collecting the last breaths of whoever dare take you from me.”

I ran my finger down the sharp bump of Riven’s nose, tapping the end of it. “I do not want this war to end with your ashes hanging around my neck, Riventh Numenthira. There will be times when I will need to trust you will do your mission and not worry about protecting me.”

Riven didn’t make any more promises but only pressed another kiss to my head. There was something defiant in its sweetness I didn’t trust, but I knew there was nothing more I could say to change Riven’s mind. In that way we were the same, fiercely loyal and defiant when it came to the ones we loved.

I just hoped it wouldn’t cost us our lives.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-THREE

“WE’RE SAILING ANYWAY,I don’t understand why Volcar isn’t your preferred choice!” A voice echoed through the tunnels as Riven and I reached the door to our usual meeting room. I glanced at his hardened jaw and saw his shadows darken as he whipped open the door for us both.

“The fact that I have to explain why toyouof all people …” Gerarda threw her hands in the air in exasperation. Elaran only glared down at her, unmoving in her position.

Nikolai sat in his chair watching the fight like a play while Syrra leaned against the mantel cleaning her blades. Killian’s head popped out of the book he was reading the moment I took my seat.

“They’ve been at this for ten minutes already,” Nikolai whispered, leaning over his armrest to offer me that morning’s selection of snacks. Today, it was cured meat and cheese.

“Do I look to be in the mood for whispers and jests?” Gerarda turned on her toes, slicing the air like one of her knives to snarl at Nikolai.

Nikolai raised a brow. “Are you ever?”

Elaran chuckled under her breath.

“You state your opinions very loudly for someone only invited to this meeting out of courtesy to Gerarda.” I crossed my arms. “I could hear you both from the great hall.”

Gerarda straightened and tucked her arms behind her back. Elaran pressed a hand onto the round table and shrugged. “I assumed I was invited for my opinions.”

“You were.” I leaned back in my chair. “But your opinion is wrong. We are sailing to the Fractured Isles.”

Gerarda’s throat bobbed in victory but she didn’t break her stance.

Elaran crossed her arms. “Half of Damien’s armies are stationed at Volcar. Why wait when we could fatally wound his cause by the morrow?”

“And you think we can take that many with a legion of seven?” I rested my arm over the back of my chair.

A fine line appeared between Elaran’s brows. “Look at what we were able to do at the Order.”

“What Keera was able to do.” Riven’s shadows swirled around my chair.

Elaran’s lips fell to a straight line. “We have other magic wielders at our disposal.” She glanced at me. “I mean no offense.”

I shrugged. “And I take none. But the other Fae will not join our cause until their magic is strong enough to secure a certain victory. We give ourselves the best chance by restoring as much magic as we can and attacking Volcar with a fuller force. I will not risk the survival of everyone on my magic alone.”

Riven flinched beside me. I didn’t say it to wound him, and Riven knew his magic could not be relied upon. Especially not as his control continued to slip.

I unfolded the map of Elverath across the table. I pointed to the Fractured Isles. “Our reports indicate that Damien has fewer ships docked along the islands. The ports are smaller and there are only three dozen in total.”

“Not a small number,” Killian interjected, his knee bouncing as he leaned over the table to see the map.

“I was hoping Nik would have some idea on how to deal with that problem.” I raised my brows at where he was still slumped over in his chair.