Page 84

“Emyr, it’s okay. It’s me,” I choke out.

His eyes are feral, and he doesn’t seem to recognize me.

He’s terrifying to behold in this state.

One misstep on my part, and I know he’d easily kill me.

When he’s like this, I can only imagine how fearsome he’d be on the battlefield, yet behind the raw power, there’s also insatiable fear that blooms within.

His embrace tightens on my wrists, making me wince.

“Emyr, I’m sorry,” I say, calmly. “It’s just me, your Rosey. ”

“Rosey,” he growls. His grip loosens around my wrists, though he doesn’t let me go. “Rosey,” he says again, but this time his nickname for me pulls him out of his fight-or-flight mode as his eyes roam across the room, looking for danger. “What happened?”

“Nothing happened. There’s only the two of us here,” I say. “We’re safe. You’re safe. ”

Sweat coats his brow, his breaths slowly regulating. He looks so unsure of whether this is real.

“Emyr,” I whisper. “Look at me.”

Slowly, his intense eyes stop roaming and meet mine. The bright amber orbs trace over me, stopping where my hands are pinned. The crease in his brow smooths out as his eyes become gentle. “See, it’s just us. We’re okay,” I whisper.

He nods, releasing my arms. He stands, extending his hand to assist me.

“Did I hurt you?” he asks. I shake my head, accepting his hand.

“Good,” he murmurs. Now that I’m eye level with his chest, it’s the first time I notice that he’s shirtless, causing an intense heat to spread across my face.

It isn’t fair that he’s this easy to admire.

The hard planes of his chest taper into muscle.

His slacks are slung low on his hips, giving me a full view of his strong upper physique.

“Enjoying the view there, Rosey?” he teases. It takes me a moment to realize that I’ve only been staring at his bare torso for Eternity knows how long. This only causes that intense heat I feel on my cheeks to spread to my ears.

“It’s hard not to when you’re this… enthralling,” I reply breathlessly.

His chest moves as he laughs, and it’s only then that I have the courage to look up.

His eyes twinkle in amusement as he lips quirk into a mischievous grin.

My heart flutters wildly under his gaze.

I’m locked in a reality where the only thing that exists and matters is us—our future.

How I wish he were always this content. I’d do anything to give him the life he desires, and maybe one day I will when I convince the Na Fíréin to help us overthrow Tiernan.

If we ever find the Na Fíréin.

I really hope this Crógemma will actually lead us to them.

Otherwise, there’ll never be hope for Celestae, as Siorai seems to enjoy our exile.

Emyr pulls me from my thoughts as his hands cup my face. “What are you thinking about, Rosey?” he whispers .

I blush, moving my gaze down once more until I land on the blood colored L that is branded on his chest. My hand looks so small in comparison to him, yet it’s my touch that causes his breath to hitch as I trace the letter with my index finger.

“I was thinking about the life I wish we had,” I reply.

“I was thinking about how actions speak louder than words.”

Emyr’s throat bobs. “They do?” he murmurs.

I nod my head. “Regardless of what this represents,” I say, covering the L with my hand, “I know you’re loyal to me.”

“Always,” his gravelly voice whispers.

“I’m loyal to you too, Emyreus,” I admit, meeting his gaze. The knots of anticipation swell in my chest as he leans in, his lips hovering over mine.

“You deserve more than someone like me,” he replies.

I lean into his touch, wrapping a hand around his neck. “You’re enough for me,” I say, hoping my voice carries all the reassurance that he needs.

“I wish I could tell you everything,” he stammers. “I-I just?—”

I cut off his thought by kissing him, and for one perfect moment nothing else matters, except for us.

Emyr wraps his arms around me, deepening the kiss.

My love for him is all-consuming, and I don’t care what he’s done or will do.

If he believes I want perfection, then he doesn’t realize how close to it he comes for me.

My heart has been drawn to him in some magnetic pull since the first moment I met him, and I won’t allow him to slip away this time.

Eventually we break the kiss, holding one another close, as if we can’t fathom being apart.

Emyr smiles, lightly kissing my nose. I grab both of his hands.

“One day,” I finally say. “I know that one day you’ll tell me everything.

I just need you to know that no matter what, I’m loyal to you, Prince Emyreus.

You’ve had my heart from the first moment I saw you in Aurelius, even if I didn’t realize it yet. It will always be yours, Emyr. “

Emyr’s eyes pinch, nodding as he pulls away. Even though he smiles, it isn’t the same as the one he adorned moments ago. His demeanor has completely changed in a matter of seconds. As he walks away from me, he grabs his garb off a nearby chair and heads for the bathing chamber.

This definitely isn’t the reaction I was expecting.

Was I too forward with my declaration?

I follow after him. “What’s wrong, Emyr?” I ask. “Did… Did I say something wrong?”

Emyr flinches, turning around to face me with a placating smile. “No, Rosey,” he replies. “You’re perfect. You’ve done nothing wrong. I just don’t deserve your heart.”

Before I can respond, he closes the doors to the bathing chamber. As I stand there gaping, I truly can’t make heads or tails of this frustrating Galrosan. I know he’s trained to believe he’s unworthy, but have I not proven to him that he is, despite what he believes?

Gray light seeps through the large windows, which I hastily walk to in hopes of a distraction.

Instead of a glorious landscape, I find a black, cavernous hole that cascades beyond the earth below.

The pit is surrounded by looming snowy mountains as its backdrop, which is a stark contrast to the void that light itself can’t penetrate within the crevice.

The Abyss.

So, it really is a massive pit that could swallow up a fourth of Malvoria.

“I see you’ve found the Abyss,” Emyr’s voice carries across the room. He’s leaning against the door frame, already dressed in his travel armor.

“Why in all Celestae would someone build an inn so close to such treachery?” I ask.

“To accommodate the king when he comes to ‘visit’ the beasts,” Emyr grimaces.

“Does he come that often?” I ask.

“He used to,” Emyr replies. “He claimed it was to keep them in check, but now I see it for the lie that it was.”

Anguish dusts along his face as he looks at the vile place that’s his inheritance when he becomes the King of Zulgalros— if he becomes the king . I’m not sure why, but the reminder of his royalty causes the chasm to deepen within my heart .

If he ascends to the seat of power, would he forget about me as he sits on his throne?

Surely, he isn’t allowed to marry a commoner, even one destined to awaken the Na Fíréin.

I shake away the thoughts, focusing solely on the here and now.

I cover his hand in mine. “I’m sorry that you lost him to such evil,” I reply.

“As am I, but my father died a long time ago. No sense worrying about things that can’t be changed,” he sighs.

Walking over to the armoire, he grabs the outfit that I’ve worn the last month. He motions to the bathing chamber. “It’s time, Maeva,” he orders. His face is once more a mask of indifference.

I shuffle my feet. “Emyr, if I offended you earlier, I’m truly sorry,” I murmur.

Emyr bites the inside of his cheek, looking to the window. “There’s nothing to be sorry for, Rosey,” he says. “I just don’t want you to regret your words.”

His words fracture my heart. Of course, I don’t enjoy secrets, or being left out of important information, that I should be aware of. However, none of that changes how I feel for him—even when he’s pushing me away or saying hurtful things. I just wish he could see that.

Leaning up on my tiptoes, I kiss his cheek.

This seems to surprise him, as he searches my face.

He only views himself as a man that’s broken beyond repair, but all I see is one who’s lost and needs help finding his way back.

“You’re not someone that I’ve ever regretted caring for, Emyr.

I hope one day I can prove that to you,” I say, taking my clothes from his hands and briskly walking to the bathing chamber.

As I shut the door, Emyr is watching me as longing stirs in his expression.

I offer him a small smile as the door clicks into place, closing him away from me.

I quickly braid the upper section of hair away from my face on both sides, allowing it to meet in the back as the rest of the unruly waves fall down to my waist .

Then I adorn myself with my leathers and the armor that covers my vital organs.

As I shrug on the pants, something pokes me through the lining of the pocket.

I quickly pull out the object and find it’s the glimmering black dragon scale patch.

My eyes shimmer as I turn it over twice before tucking it back into place.

“You’re not alone, Little Star.”

Even though I’m devastated, something about the memory brings me comfort.

As I face the evil of the Abyss, I know that those I’ve lost will be with me.

Clearing my throat, I tuck my golden pendant beneath my black tunic so that only a small section of the chain is visible.

As I turn, there’s a floor-length mirror, and who’s staring back startles me.

The quiet, reserved Maeva from Aurelius has disappeared behind the Maeva that is now before me.

While I know she’s still there, I feel as if there’s just another part of me that’s been hidden for a long time, dying to come out.

Nervously, I hold out my hands, summoning small orbs of starlight.

As I watch my reflection, I’m stunned by how quickly certain aspects of my appearance change.

I look strong, capable, and unstoppable.

There’s a confidence hidden deep within that claws its way to the surface.

Since my ability emerged, or rather I finally awakened it, I’ve wondered why Siorai chose me to be the one to find the Na Fíréin.

I don’t truly know who I am or where I’m from.

I’m no one special, but he entrusted this honor to me.

Yet, in my weakness, I made a deal with Tiernan to bring back my family.

Does that make me a traitor or just a selfish creation?

You seem troubled, my dear, Saoirse says.

I worry that I made a mistake in bartering with King Tiernan, I reply.

Since their deaths, all I’ve wanted is my family back, but now that the time has come to retrieve the Crógemma, I’m uncertain if I should return it to Tiernan.

I fear what he’ll do to the Na Fíréin once he finds them, but I’ve been so blinded by my grief that I just didn’t care until this moment. What if I’m making a grave mistake ?

I think, Saoirse begins, that when the time comes, you’ll make the right decision.

How are you so certain? I ask. I barely trust myself.

Because I’ve known who you were, I know who you are, and I’ve seen who you will be, Maeva. You can do this, and if you decide not to give Tiernan the blood gem, you only need to say that you release me, and I’ll come for you, Saoirse replies.

I pause, mulling over her words.

Who are you really, Saoirse? I ask. Saoirse has always been more private, but is it possible that she’s more than just a voice in my head?

I’ve never hidden my name from you, my dear.

I’ve only ever hidden my nature. I promise that when the time comes for you to release me, I’ll come, and together, we’ll face whatever evil is thrown at us.

Also, try to have faith in your Galrosan friends.

Siorai placed all of you together for such a time as this, she bellows confidently.

I let out a long sigh, pondering all that we’ve discussed.

Suddenly, a knock on the door, followed by a muffled voice startles me. “Are you ready, Mae-Mae?” Riordan asks.

I summon my orbs back to me. “As ready as I’ll ever be , ” I shout.

I may not know who I was before all of this, but I know who I am now:

I’m Maeva Cale.

Daughter of Amelia and Rolph Cale.

Sister to Cara, Aiden, Cillian, Deidre, Aine, and Fion Cale.

Beloved friend of the High General and the Cadre.

Chosen by Siorai.

I don’t fear the darkness, but I’ll make the Abyss fear me.