Page 48 of Dark Heart (Elven Kingdoms #2)

Eight days later…

Jai stretched beneath the covers. He put out his arm, searching for Arya , only to find her side of the bed cold. He started to sit up when her voice reached him.

“ Don’t you dare get up.”

He raised his head to see her walking naked into their bedroom, carrying a tray of food. They had spent the better part of every day in bed, making up for lost time. When they weren’t having sex or talking, they were poring over maps of the Below and Above . And grieving.

Jai chuckled and pushed up to lean back against the headboard. Arya set the tray on the bed and sat beside him. He sometimes caught her staring off into space and knew she was thinking about her parents. It would be easy for her to give in to the rage and the need for revenge. He probably would have.

But not his Arya . She was stronger. She held on to love to get her through the tough times. He marveled at her strength and courage. Her tenacity. He knew the ins and outs of the slave trade, or at least parts of it. The Masters believed themselves too powerful—and him dead—so there was no need for them to change their tactics. That gave them an advantage.

Arya brought another aspect to their group. She was methodical and detailed, asking questions and digging into things he wouldn’t have thought about. Yasmin continued to gather intel from the stones, who were all too happy to share the information with her. Ravi , a master of disguise, had ventured out twice already to Rannora . He’d picked up rumors and other tidbits that added to their growing pile of data. Then there was Dain and his connections, which seemed to be everywhere.

Jai and Arya had a room where they pieced together the Masters ’ goings-on. Ravi and Yasmin had theirs, and if he had to guess, Dain did, as well. The bounties on their heads had risen significantly. Everyone was careful, but it was only a matter of time before they were discovered.

But they had a plan for that, too.

Jai accepted the mug of tea from Arya as they shared a smile. He hadn’t known when buying the house that it would be the place he got to share with her. He had wondered why he hadn’t wanted anyone to know about it, especially Priya . Maybe , in the back of his mind, he had known he couldn’t trust her. Jai mourned the loss of their friendship, but he didn’t dwell on it for long. She had made her choices. Just as he had.

“ I burned the toast again,” Arya said, wrinkling her nose as she handed him a plate.

He laughed and pulled her toward him to kiss her brow before taking the food. “ I’m beginning to like burnt toast.”

“ However , I did get the eggs right,” she said proudly.

Jai took a bite and nodded. “ They are done to perfection. I guess that means it’s my turn in the kitchen next.”

“ If I can, you can,” she teased.

They ate and laughed, talking about anything but their mission. That never invaded the bedroom. While they were here, it was about them, their future, and their love. And when the plates were cleaned, Jai removed the tray and pinned Arya to the bed with a kiss. He spent the next hour teasing her body until she moaned with need. After she came apart in his arms, he began it all over again while still inside her.

Gita stared across the coffee table at the sofa where One reclined. She had spent days wearing a hole in the rug as she paced, wondering and waiting. Scared . Fear wasn’t a sentiment she allowed herself. Yet it had settled comfortably within her. She wanted it gone.

“ Well ?” she asked when he didn’t say anything.

One spread his arms along the back of the couch. “ All is well in the world. The Masters still want you to remain in hiding for now.”

“ And you?”

“ I’m expendable. They tell me where to go and what to do.”

She narrowed her eyes. “ You are mine.”

“ And you are theirs. Therefore , I am theirs. They made sure to make that point.”

“ Do they doubt you?”

He shook his head of silver hair hanging free and parted on the side. “ Not that they made me aware.”

“ What of our enemies?”

“ Unfortunately , it appears they got out.”

“ How ?” Gita demanded, surging to her feet.

One calmly looked at her and said, “ It’s a question the Masters are asking. They believe someone helped them.”

“ Who would do something that stupid and risk reprisal?”

“ No one I know.”

She pivoted, swirling her skirt out with her hands as she walked to the window. “ Exactly . The Masters need to let us go after them.”

“ They are being hunted. They won’t be able to stay hidden for long.”

Gita swiveled her head to look at him. “ Are you willing to stand aside and let others take what is rightfully ours?”

“ You want to go against the Masters ?”

“ I want to return to the life I built. I want my freedom. I can’t have that until those four have paid for their crimes.”

One pushed off the sofa and stood. “ There might be a way.”

The Dark moved in the shadows. But none more so than Dain . He had learned to become one with them, to move in ways other elves could only dream of doing. Through wards meant to keep him out, into rooms where others would be caught. And hiding in plain sight. That one was his favorite.

He did it now, just outside The Crossing . His gaze was directed through the entrance to the bar. Sidiq filled drinks, and a new Dark female delivered orders. And then there was the human. Reva’s brunette locks were gathered and bound at the back of her head. She still lived in the same flat, still worked the same shifts at the pub.

Her smile was bright and engaging until she turned away. She held many secrets. Then again, everyone did. Dain didn’t care about the things she hid. He had something else in mind.

He remained in the shadows, watching the tavern until the place closed. Reva said goodnight to her coworkers and walked out. Dain followed her to her flat. She had no wards or anything to stop someone from entering her tiny apartment. That needed to change.

Dain moved aside the shadows as she sank onto her small bed. She immediately jumped up at the sight of him, her eyes wide with shock. “ I would’ve knocked if I weren’t being hunted.”

“ Where is Arya ?”

“ Safe . That’s all I can tell you.”

Reva pressed her lips together and gradually relaxed. “ Why are you here?”

“ I think we could have a mutually beneficial relationship.”

A dark brow lifted. “ How do you see that?”

“ I need information. You need money.”

She eyed him for a long, tense moment. Then she motioned for him to sit at the table. “ Go on. I’m listening.”

Thank you for reading DARK HEART . I hope you enjoyed Arya and Jai’s story as much as I loved writing it.