Chapter 39
CHAPTER
I cried until there were no more tears. My mourning of Nori and Trace colliding.
Both of their lives cut too short, both their lives so different from what they wanted for themselves.
My patient and loving mate awaited me in the giant courtyard and my tear-stained kiss would be a stark reminder to him of how much pain I was in.
For the deaths I’d felt somehow responsible for.
I folded the letter and left it on the table, hoping for Trace’s sake that the Gods would grant him such a beautiful life someday.
But I knew that this was the only lifetime I could be sure of, and Varro was more than deserving of my devotion.
I would not waste a moment of it. He was my other half.
The thought of it brought me immense gratitude and calm.
And, even though I would love him with everything I had till my dying breath, that didn't mean I couldn't hope for someone else to get everything they ever wanted.
I exited Gia’s room and quickly made my way down the hall.
A few nobles were still rushing toward the festivities.
With my head turned the other direction, I accidentally bumped shoulders with someone, knocking an item from their grasp.
I bent down quickly to pick it up, as expected of a servant who’d made such an error.
I lifted it to the tall, thin female who had sharp but stunning features.
She was dressed impeccably, with a capelet laying over her lean frame.
“I’m so sorry,” I uttered, trying to keep my chin dipped as was the etiquette. The last thing I needed was any trouble with a noble as I was trying to make my final exit from this Gods-forsaken sandcastle.
Her melodic voice startled me almost more than her words. “Do not be sorry, our feet carry us on the whims of fate. Don’t you think?”
She smiled and quickly resumed her strides before I could make heads or tails of her strange reply.
I turned to study her momentarily from behind when I noticed the eerie pattern across her capelet, almost moth-like.
A peculiar attire for the dry heat of Artume.
I disregarded it and began my swift exit to meet Varro, assuring him down the bond that my delays were nothing to be concerned about.
“You had me worried,” he said, pulling me into a tight embrace and kissing me atop my head, his usual greeting. We were shoulder to shoulder with Fae as far as the eye could see, all clamoring to witness their new queen.
“I sent word not to be. After all you’ve witnessed, you think I can’t handle myself?” I teased.
“I have always known you could handle yourself, my love.”
We began to make our way north in the opposite direction of the balcony.
Suddenly, the crowds around us started to cheer in jubilation.
Their bodies pushed against ours like herds of animals.
Varro held my hand tightly as we tried to squeeze our way through the masses moving in opposition of us.
It took much longer than one would expect to close such a short distance to the exit, but Gia must have been putting on quite the show to garner such a display of support.
When we finally put space between us and their bodies, I turned to look back at my friend in all her glory.
I was easily reminded that their passionate displays of support were not for her, but for the lost daughter of their once beloved King Baelin.
Gia waved graciously at the crowds below, occasionally touching her hand to her heart and then lifting it in the air, as if to give it to them. Her people.
Gods, she was magnificent at this. I would miss her guidance, confidence and friendship.
I saw Cairis standing stoically by her side, scanning the skies and the crowds below, protectively.
Just as Gia never thought she’d become a proxy queen, I doubt Cairis ever thought the bastard son of a High Lord would ever find himself guarding the southern throne.
Seeing the pair close together brought me a sense of calm as I turned away and made my final strides away from Nasallus.
Varro led us through the empty streets. A strange sight to take in as we made our way back to the safehouse. Two strong horses awaited us; my mate had taken care of preparing supplies for the long trip ahead.
“I’ll give you a moment to change inside. I can’t imagine you want to chafe those stunning legs of yours on the saddle.” Varro drank in my figure, reminding me that this barely-there servant’s dress would be less than ideal for the ride.
“Don’t you want to come inside with me?” I teased, trying my best to seduce him.
He strolled up to me with a rakish smile and a gleam in his eye. He grabbed my hip sharply and tugged me toward him. He leaned in, speaking in a smooth, hushed voice, despite there being no one nearby to hear him.
“The next time I fuck my mate into oblivion, I want it to be as far away as possible from this sandpit.”
I laughed. “You love the sand. You live for those shores,” I reminded him playfully.
He pushed a strand of hair behind my ear, then nipped at my earlobe before remarking, “Yes, but you do not. I can’t have any distractions from all the things I’m going to do to your body.”
I claimed his mouth, kissing his unrefined declaration right off his lips. His warm hand cupped the back of my neck, deepening the kiss. He fought to tear himself away from our embrace and exert his usual self-control.
When I came out of the safehouse a short time later, ready to begin the long journey north, I mounted my horse where it waited next to Varro’s.
As the horses trotted slowly, side by side out of the city, I turned to face my golden mate, admiring the curves of his rigid and muscular arms. “You know, Idris made a big mistake in drugging us when he transported us to Basdie.”
“And why is that?” Varro mused.
“I struggle to recollect my way back to it. Could be difficult returning. Could cause delays…” I gave him a sly look with one raised eyebrow.
He played along. “Yes, I, too, struggle to remember the path to the Elorns. Perhaps if we stop along the way, someone may be kind enough to point us in the right direction.” Varro’s smile widened, his eyes sparkling at the proposition of an extended trip ahead of us.
“Is there anywhere in particular we might find ourselves having taken an unfortunate detour?”
I stared ahead at the open, empty desert trail ahead of us and said, mind to mind, “I think I have a few ideas, if you’re willing to get lost with me.”
“With you, I hope I’m never found.”