Page 153 of Blackheart

He stepped closer, his dark hair towering over me. My body responded to the familiarity, reminiscing of the night before. I tried to find something ugly about him, a distraction, but it was more challenging than expected.

“I meant what I said before. I want us to trust each other, or at least try. I promise to protect you when I can, but you cannot go running off in the night without telling me. It’s not safe. I don’t care if you keep your habits and… company. After this war is over, we can have separate residences, if that’s what you wish.”

It sounded too simple.

“What about when we have children? Where will they live?”

He sighed. “Let’s focus on surviving first.”

“Fine. This is a truce then?”

He held out his hand in answer. I let out a huff that could rival Kostini’s as I grasped his hand, firmly shaking it. He grinned, sending a trickle of lightning all the way to my tailbone.

“Deal.”

After only two short days spent training with the children, tangled in the sheets with Riven, and attending lunch meetings, I was aboard a ship, taking in the capital of Eiden as we sailed away.

Beck, Amzee, and Riven were beside me. Ansel was somewhere on the ship, but hadn’t felt sentimental about watching Castivian fade away in the distance. I watched Xavian standing at the port, until his body became a blur.

“I’m going to miss Zephy,” Amzee sighed, elbow on the edge of the ship.

With our mission being as discreet as possible, we couldn’t risk bringing a bladebreather. I’d thought maybe she’d decide against going, but she’d been eager for the opportunity. Zephy would be fine, especially with the food Xavian promised to keep sending to Moonhill.

Lady Jocelynn hadn’t opted to watch us depart, but she had woken up at dawn to have tea with me. My parting gift to her was a friend suggestion. I’d described Trista and where I’d last seen her. With a little cleaning up, Trista would be the perfect person to accompany Lady Jocelynn. I’d half-expected her to shoot down the idea, but instead, she wrote the information down and wished me a safe trip.

With me, I had friends and a lover beyond anything I’d ever expected, but I still found my eyes stinging as my brother disappeared from view.

I should have spent more time with him. I wanted to know him better, and give us the chance to be siblings beyond just survival. If I returned home in one piece, I’d make more time for him. I’d loosen the grudge that was not his burden to bear.

I smiled, just barely, as the capital shrank into the distance.

“What are you smiling at?” Beck sassed, knocking me with his elbow.

I grinned a little more, eyes still burning with tears I desperately tried to hold back. “I just feel so lucky that I have a family to come back home to.”

Amzee leaned against my side, locking her arm with mine. “The future is ours to claim, and our home is ours to protect.”

Our home. For the first time, I had something to miss. More so, I had something to live for.

“Wearecoming home after this,” Beck said confidently.

I nodded with certainty. Yes, we would.

Part 4

Chapter 44

Nostalgic, Yet Horrifying

“No man, nor giant, could hope to climb the obsidian walls.”

—A Modern History of the Realm, by Jon Harvington

The passageacross the Sea of Blades went by faster and smoother this time around. I wasn’t as sick, and the weather was far more pleasant.

I spent my nights reading Castivian histories in my room or playing drinking games with Beck, Amzee, and occasionally, Riven.

Ansel never indulged in such activities, at least not with us. He did, however, require my presence during the day.