Page 23 of Shadows and Flames (Twin Blades #2)

I’d thrown on one of his spare tunics, the smallest pair of leather trousers he had in the safehouse, and tightened a spare belt of his to secure everything in place. My heeled boots and gloves completed the ensemble, but as much as I groused, I would never truly complain about wearing his clothes.

There was no way I was returning to the inn where Tana and I were staying. I wasn’t ready to face her questions. Well, the particular one I was still avoiding.

Seagulls squawked overhead, circling ship sails and lining the rope ledge between pier and water.

A pair of them fought for whatever food had been dropped on the wooden boards where we walked, but no one paid them any mind.

They were too busy barking orders, calling for patrons to come and sample their wares, or loudly enjoying the day.

“Just how many homes do you have ?” Something about the way he’d casually mentioned another city where he had an apartment left me wondering.

Elián squinted toward the blue sky, as if he was bloody counting . Our joined grip swung slightly between us, but my attention caught on the glimpse of bare chest he displayed. So far from the Shadow leathers.

The white tunic matched the one he’d given me to wear, but his was opened to show the edge of two defined pectorals, as well as the top of his hard stomach.

Draped over his shoulders and wrapped around his waist, a fabric the color of the sky above.

The gold hoops laddered up his ears shone brightly in contrast with his black hair and tattoos.

“I don’t consider any one a home . More of a place to stay should I need.”

I tore my gaze away from his body, only to realize I’d already been caught ogling him. “That wasn’t an answer, El.”

He snorted, almost laughing , Mother take me. “If I count all of them, I believe eleven or twelve. But only a quarter of those would I actually call any sort of home.”

I sighed harshly. “So. You’ve got three homes and nine spares. How much coin does a typical Shadow earn ?”

He shrugged. “When you work as much as I do, for as long as I have, there isn’t a shortage of coin. And one of those is my room at the Shadow Well.”

We rounded a corner, then paused to let pass a group of adolescents as they went by us. “And…do you enjoy it there? The Well.”

Our path was now clear, but he stood still. Through the tether of his hand, I sensed his muscles stiffening. Underneath my glove, Rhaea’s curse twitched, growing antsy as Zoko’s Fire flared beneath his skin.

El started moving again, mouth set in a grim line, and while he led us through the crowd, I mourned the pleasant day we’d been having.

With each step along the pier, this dream of being together drew closer and closer to reality.

How could it not? With my hand fitting so perfectly within his?

With the easy smirks I drew out of him and the chuckles he surprised out of me?

A café overlooking the waves had a free table, and I followed Elián’s lead, gawking at him as he pulled out my chair.

Any cheeky remark about him treating me like a precious maiden was long forgotten at the twist of his lips.

This was it. This was when he’d tell me that being a Shadow was still too important. That he wouldn’t leave his family. Having the worst, darkest time of my life happen without him beside me had provided a plethora of perspective, though.

We’ll make it work , I resolved. Even if it meant I’d only see him between contracts. Selfishly, I knew that I’d never give up my own work. The thing that exhilarated me.

And, if being a Shadow was his calling, made him happy, I wouldn’t demand he leave.

When a server sidled up to our table to take our order, we both gave clipped requests for tea, coffee.

He started once we were alone again, “I…when I returned to the Well. After I left you,” he swallowed, “I killed Jones.”

That was not what I’d been expecting. My brows shot to my hairline. “You did?”

Elián nodded firmly. “Yes. It appears that he was working with your brother out of his own greed. The hate he felt for the Vyrkos.” I waited for him to continue, and once our drinks were left on the wooden table, he did.

“We have our own council of senior members that keeps us in line. However, the punishment they gave Jones was too lax, and I gave him what he truly deserved. I was then punished for circumventing the proper protocol in settling Shadow conflict.”

“I—I never would have wanted you to do that for me, El.”

He gave me a long look, wordlessly calling me out for the liar that I was. “I did it for myself as well. He deserved a far more painful death.”

Now was probably a bad time for the surge of lust, making me cross my legs. “Okay. Thank you.”

He grunted and took a sip of his coffee. I drank some of my tea and quickly added more honey to it. “My punishment was more frustrating than anything. Six months with no contracts, extra training shifts for the acolytes. It left me a lot of time to think. To grieve us and see the error of my ways.”

I started to rebut until he raised a hand, silencing my words. “I began working again after that, taking contracts anywhere I could, hoping to find you in the process.”

My face heated, and I rested my hand on his arm. “I’m so sorry, El. You have to know that I wasn’t running from you. Please .”

That piece of truth left his shoulders sagging, like he’d still been unsure. “At the time, I was prepared to find you and leave it all. My Shadow life.” I almost snatched my hand away, convinced I hadn’t heard him correctly.

And then I realized that he’d used the word ‘was.’ I chewed my lip. “And now?”

He shifted, shoulders tightening right back up and bracing. “Now, I truly cannot leave.” Elián exhaled slowly. “I am sorry.”

“I don’t know how we’ll balance it all, but I am prepared to do so.

To try.” What did I have to lose? If there truly were members of The Shadows that wanted to kill me, they could stand in line with the rest of the enemies I’d made in my two and a half centuries.

But, “What changed? Are they—” rage flared in my chest “—are they threatening you? Because of me ?”

He was already shaking his head, giving soothing passes of his palm. “No. They are not threatening me. At the Master rank, I am mostly free to come and go as I please. Called to return for official ceremonies, meetings, my mandatory training shifts.”

I relaxed. “Oh—okay.” That wasn’t so bad, right? We were busy people anyway. I could manage being apart from him for those sorts of things. And then, the rest? We could go anywhere together.

“You…are alright with this?”

“I mean, I’m willing to compromise. But,” I remembered, “you didn’t answer my question. What changed? If you were able to leave before—which I’m not demanding of you now—what is making you stay?”

Those papaya-colored eyes weren’t looking at me now. Cast on the table between us. For a beat, I almost demanded the truth he held back. What he was hesitating to tell me. But what right did I have?

“It’s okay, El. If you don’t want to tell me.”

Now he was looking at me, but it was with a glare and a petulant growl.

“Don’t. I am just wary of your reaction.

” I counted the breaths, reaching five before he grumbled again and admitted, “I have sponsored a new acolyte. The time needed to become fully trained varies, but for the next ten years, at least, I am required to be more involved.”

“Oh. Oh .” I shrugged. “That’s okay. I mean, Tana and I are still working toward this contract, finding Francie. Not that I’m anticipating it taking years, hopefully. But that’s fine, El.”

He was wincing, though. Shaking his head again, coffee long forgotten.

“What is it?”

Elián ground his jaw and then spoke the name of this new acolyte. The one he’d brought into The Shadows.