Page 59

I left Estella there. I had no choice.

I passed through the shadowed corridors and ran up those hundred steps toward the Serpent towers. I didn’t know who I could trust, which scared me more than living a lie my entire life.

I imagined a younger Estella with my mother, her grey, wispy hair replaced by dark braids, their leather boots pounding against stone halls as they uncovered secrets at the academy.

Had they stripped Estella of more than her voice?

In another life, did she wield power beyond stitching wounds, now reduced to tending students’ injuries as penance?

I pounded on Archer’s door, urgency burning in my chest. When the door swung open, I stumbled in.

My gaze caught the violet buttons and silver bows neatly arranged along the walls.

Archer stood by the circular window, dressed entirely in black.

He looked like he’d just returned from a Serpent meeting .

“How is your cheek?” he asked, voice measured.

“Estella is… gone. Petrified,” I said, the image of her grey, lifeless eyes haunting me.

His sharp, questioning look told me he didn’t understand. “And how did that happen?”

“If someone is warded from speaking about something, could they become petrified?” My voice cracked under the weight of the question.

“Death would be a kinder punishment,” he said. “If a ward is forced, it can lead to petrification or death, depending on its strength.”

“Say it had to do with the king. Say it was a secret that could ruin lives.” My limbs felt heavy, as if I, too, were on the verge of petrification. “If that truth got out, what would happen?”

“Yes,” he admitted, his features hardening. “You shouldn’t be here, Severyn.”

“Do you… do you know who my grandfather is?” I asked,

“I was never certain.” He closed his eyes briefly, as if the truth itself pained him. He knew what it meant: death, ruin, the fragile connection between us unraveling.

“Are you warded?” My heart nearly stopped as I watched him still.

“Not that I know of. But if Monty knows your bloodline, he will tell everyone. Tomorrow at your trial, I suspect it will become a hunt. I cannot protect you every moment. Taking you to Ravensla was a mistake. Kissing you was wrong. I am your superior.” He pressed his thumb against his temple. “I’m sorry, Severyn.”

“Is it because you want to kill me yourself and take the king’s title? Am I standing in your way?” My hand drifted toward my daggers.

Darkness swirled in his eyes, feverish and untamed. “No. ”

“Then what is it?” I demanded. “You regret taking me there. I mean nothing to you beyond a bond forcing you to tolerate me.”

“Because I cannot protect you every second. Because running is better than failing you. Because it would shatter Ciaran if you died… and destroy me.” His words landed like stones, each one heavier than the last.

Archer squared his shoulders, hands in his pockets.

“You’ve known me for two months. I’ve known you for two years.

I waited for you, Severyn. Weak, but alive, because you kept me that way.

For months, I wanted to see you. I even took a ship to your family’s estate, hoping to glimpse you.

Hoping you’d release me. And when you answered that door, I knew you would hate me forever. ”

Release him. The words felt like a chain tightening around my throat. He made me feel like a beast, holding him captive.

“Do you believe in me?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Yes,” he answered without hesitation.

"Then I won’t die tomorrow. Nor the next day. If this is all the time we have, I don’t care."

“That first trial nearly killed you. They will only get harder,” he said, stepping closer. His presence was overwhelming, but I held my ground. His hand brushed my cheek, thunder rumbling in my veins. “All the Serpents will be watching. My father. Your father.”

“I only care about one Serpent watching me,” I admitted, the words slipping free.

His fingers curled around my jaw, lifting my chin. “You were slow to draw today. Sharpen your blades.”

“Fine,” I muttered, shadows pulsing beneath my skin. “It must be difficult, having your life held in a naive girl’s grasp. ”

He chuckled, low and dark. “Infuriating. But I imagine having your life tied to a Serpent is no better. I leave for days, return torn and bloody.”

I clicked my tongue. “I always know when you’re safe.”

“I spent two years with that feeling,” he murmured.

“Why didn’t I know?” My voice softened, thoughts swirling with thunder and flame. “Being near you feels like I have a hundred quells in my veins.”

“You didn’t know what you were looking for.” Thunder cracked outside, shaking the trees. Archer leaned closer, his hand resting on my cheek. “Do you feel me now?”

Heat surged through my veins. “I feel you,” I whispered, the space between us filling with shadow.

Archer was not the calm after the storm. He was the storm itself. And if I was to live in a world of shadows, I would strike my flame and light the path.

“Stay the night,” he whispered. “Your room is not warded like mine.”

I nodded, touching his cheek, feeling that cool darkness quench my burn. Lightning streaked the sky, flames trailing through the clouds. We were chaos together, and I wondered what would happen if we got even closer.

His eyes drifted to my lips, our breaths ragged. His hand settled on the small of my back.

I pressed my cheek to his chest, letting the silence wrap around us as our quells danced.

Chaos. Beautiful chaos.

“What is this?” I asked desperately. “What is this between us?”

“Our bond, and the past ones within it,” he said softly. “This bond isn’t ours. It’s built on friendships and trust from before. The more time we spend together, the stronger it gets. And I… I don’t have the strength to stay away from you. ”

“Then don’t,” I breathed. “We are friends.”

He chuckled, low and warm. “Friends. Well, a good friend wouldn’t keep you up before a trial.”

He stepped back into the shadows, and my hand fell to my side.

“Fine. Then be my mentor tonight. I’m simply seeking guidance before the trial.”

“As your mentor, I’m telling you to sleep. As someone bonded to your heartbeat, I’m begging you to rest.” There was a faint curve to his lips.

“Is that a demand, Serpent?” I asked, tilting my head.

Amusement crossed his features. “Sure, Severyn. My first demand as a Serpent is asking you to sleep in my bed. I must be a cruel leader.”

“The cruelest.” I pulled my riding leathers over my head, dropping them below my feet with a thud. “And that isn’t true. You demanded that I drop out of Skyfall.”

“Ah, and did you listen?”

My daggers dropped one by one as I unlatched the buckles. I swore it took everything in Archer not to drag his eyes from my body for the third time.

“No.” I shook my head. “But you were an ass about it.”

The shadow he stood in emptied. Soft rustles sounded from the bed, and Archer perched on the silk duvet behind me.

“I meant what I said, Severyn. We shouldn’t take this any further. I shouldn’t be—staring at you. I shouldn’t be contemplating shielding myself from you. I made a promise to protect you.”

“You’re allowed to demand things of me—allow me one.”

A ravenous desire burned in his gaze. “What is it, Severyn ?”

“Tell me next time when you decide to leave for days.”

“Maybe I enjoy pissing you off, heating you,” he growled .

His fingers knotted in the loose buttons atop the sheets. He went to open my fist, circling my shadow relic. I arched into his soft touch.

“I can’t handle not knowing where you are on the Continent,” I said, my gaze lingering on his lips, which seemed to edge closer with every heartbeat.

He weighed my words with a dark, hungry look.

“Once we bond, you can speak to me through it wherever I am.” His voice dipped, shadows curling around his shuttered breaths.

His hands found mine, firm and deliberate.

“Rider bonds allow no barriers. Once we bond, no shield you build will keep me out. Do you understand?”

“I understand.” My voice wavered, but my resolve held.

He pressed his palm to mine, and I gasped as smoke coiled around us. Heat blossomed, not just on my skin but deep in my chest.

“Oh—” His hand gripped the back of my knee as I reached for his jaw, my fingers skimming his stubble. The pull between us was unbearable, magnetic. I needed him—his lips, his touch.

The invisible tether between us tugged, synching the frayed edges of distance and silence that had lingered for too long.

“If it gets too intense, say something,” he murmured, his breath warm against my chin. “Our bodies will react to the bonding process.”

“I can handle it. Can you?” I teased, though my breath hitched as his proximity sent heat racing through my veins.

His lips quirked. “You consume my thoughts, Severyn Blanche. I nearly crumble every time I see or touch you.” His fingers grazed my thigh, igniting sparks of need that coiled low in my belly.

“Take your clothes off,” he said, his voice low, almost commanding. “You’re overheating. ”

“I’m fine,” I protested, though the heat beneath my skin betrayed me.

He hooked a thumb in my belt loop, a wicked grin playing on his lips. “I could always take them off for you.”

I slipped out of my bottoms, kicking them to the floor. Sitting there, stripped down to my undergarments, I felt vulnerable yet alive under his gaze. His eyes lingered, tracing the lines of my body.

“Claiming my health is at risk to get me undressed? Convenient,” I said, arching a brow.

“You’re not undressed enough,” he countered, his hands sliding over my bare legs. “I want to see all of you before sanity returns.”

His shadows traced along my thighs, pulling a soft moan from my lips. “Bond with me,” I whispered, my voice trembling with anticipation.

“Feel for it,” he said, his tone velvety, coaxing.

The bond snapped into place, a slow, electric tether wrapping us together. His thoughts brushed against mine, darkness swirling like ink in water. It wasn’t invasive; it was a gentle, steady hand guiding me.

“Bond with me,” I repeated, my plea more desperate.

His fingers slipped beneath my garments. Pleasure knotted deep as he moved deliberately, coaxing my body to respond. My thighs tightened, a shuddered breath slipping free as he nipped at the buttons of my shirt.

“If we’re going to bond, I want your first thoughts of me filled with pleasure,” he murmured, his voice like a growl against my skin. “You despised me days ago.”

A black flame flickered to life on my palm. I was burning him, but he didn’t flinch, didn’t pull away.

“How am I supposed to feel about you now?” I whispered, my hand brushing his sleeve, the fabric singeing under my touch .

“Pleasure. Desire. Hate if you must,” he said, his lips teasing the curve of my neck. “But for the next hour, I want every breath you take to be my name.”

“Archer…” I gasped, pulling back to see the burn marks on his shirt. His skin, untouched, bore no sign of my fire.

“I can handle your burn,” he said, his eyes alight with amusement.

I grabbed his jaw, kissing him deeply, fiercely. “Is that so?”

He pulled back just enough to breathe in the ash I exhaled, his shadows binding my wrists to the bed as I reached for him. “Slow, Severyn.”

“This isn’t fair,” I bit out, struggling against the restraints.

He brought my wrist to his lips, kissing the flame relic there. “I thought you only had one demand?” His voice was a dark tease. “And you have a big trial tomorrow.”

His lips traveled along my collarbone, down to my chest. His thumb traced over my skin with maddening precision before he released the shadow tethers, leaving me breathless and aching.

“I’ll be fine,” I said, meeting his wicked gaze.

“I don’t want to tire you out—for both our sakes,” he said, his voice softer. “Rider bonds can drain energy. I could steal your entire quell for a day and leave you bare for the trial. As it is, I already taste ash in my lungs.”

“I understand.” I crawled farther onto the bed, and Archer rolled onto his side, resting his head on his hand as he watched me. The night breeze from the open window sliced through the heat between us.

“Sleep, Severyn. Please,” he said, his voice gentler now. “Our bond is strong enough to hold us, even if we take nothing further tonight. This bond… ours… it’s what we make it.”

I turned onto my back, staring at the ceiling. “Tell me about Night. Distract me. I can’t rest knowing half the school plans to hunt me down once they find out whose blood I have. ”

He brushed a strand of hair behind my ear, his other hand lightly tracing the edge of my flame relic. “I didn’t think you were serious about a bedtime story,” he mused.

“Please. Tell me about your home.”

He saw the anxiety in my furrowed brow and sighed before speaking.

He described the plains of shadows, the crystal mountains lining grey grass, and rivers of violet threading through the city.

His voice softened as he spoke of owls hooting in wispy trees and the youngest heir to claim the Serpent title when his grandfather surrendered it to him.

And as I listened, the tension in my body eased, though the fire Archer sparked within me remained, smoldering just beneath the surface.