Chapter 44
44
Lyra
Corridors were quiet, and I could not shake the feeling that something had gone on since dawn came.
I’d expected a meet with the king. Perhaps an order of execution for my head.
Fears I hadn’t shared with Roark. In his arms, for one peaceful night, I’d forgotten to be afraid.
I leaned over the basin in my washroom, studying my features in a gilded mirror.
Glass jars sealed with wooden lids were lined atop a shelf over the wide basin. One of the jars nearly slid from my hands when the golden edge bled with murky black, when sunlight burned in cold, blue skeins through the window.
I drew in a sharp gasp of air, readying to scream, when his dark, billowing reflection stood behind me.
Before I could utter a sound, Skul Drek twisted me against his body, a cold misty hand—or a bit of his darkness—muzzled over my mouth.
“Do not take the bones with the sunrise.” The thick rasp of his voice was different, almost desperate. “Enemies stand on both sides. They will find you, hunt you.” I shuddered against the frosted breath on my skin when he tilted his hooded head near my cheek. “Do not take the bones.”
Ribbons of night slithered off my skin, phantom chills left in their wake, when he pulled away. “What…what bones?”
“Any of them. Every bone the Thief King has found.”
“Damir’s soul bones?”
Skul Drek stepped to the corner of the washroom. He was fading, drifting. Sunlight was returning to warmth.
Whatever craft kept him here, he was allowing it to pull him away.
I held out a hand to stop him. “What do you know? Why are you warning me?”
Darkness encircled me. Cold breathed over my skin, and I was drawn in deeper, like an embrace of shadows. Like the phantom had pulled me close. His burning gaze steadied me. “Your soul is mine. I won’t lose it.”
I didn’t breathe. He believed I belonged to him?
When warmth returned, when darkness retreated, I slumped against the edge of the basin, hardly able to draw a breath. Skul Drek was gone.
A heavy knock sounded on the washroom door.
In a rush, I wiped at my eyes, reorienting myself to reality. The way I could fall into the mirror realm was horrifying and I didn’t understand it.
When I opened the door, my eyes fell on the Sentry.
“Roark.” Memories of his touch, his kiss, the rough, low gasps he’d breathed against my skin, collided when his sharp eyes found me.
Roark held up a hand, then went to the chamber door, turning a brass key until the lock clicked. In three long strides, he had me in his arms. I clung to his waist, biting down on my bottom lip to muffle the fear.
“What is happening out there?” I pressed my forehead against his chest.
Roark’s palm cupped the back of my head, holding me to his heart for a long silence. He led me to the chaise and laced our fingers together before he spoke.
The wedding vows are now set for tomorrow evening.
I bit down on the inside of my cheek. “How are Thane and Yrsa?”
Prepared. Roark’s knee started to bounce. Lyra, for added protection, Damir has ordered you to meld every Stav, me included, with the lot of his soul bone store. Every bone .
Do not take the bones. “He knew.” I closed my eyes, my grip tightened on Roark’s hand. “Skul Drek was here.”
He looked at me, befuddled.
“He…he can’t be a man. He was there and gone, like a damn haunt.” I leaned onto my knees and buried my face in my palms. “He told me not to take the bones. He knows. That means ravagers know.”
Roark used one knuckle to tilt my chin. Ravagers are not the threat. It is the bones. That many will kill you .
My blood chilled. Roark didn’t spare my fears. It was frightening and refreshing to be trusted with the vicious truth rather than sweetened omissions. He admitted his fear for what melding would do, fear for the retaliation from Dravenmoor.
It won’t happen, Lyra . One palm pressed against my cheek.
“There isn’t an escape from it,” I said, voice small. “Where am I to go?”
Roark’s jaw worked in tension. He shook his head, his thumb tugging on my lip. I don’t know yet. But I will not let him touch you .
His words lanced through me, sharp as a blade. The Sentry, fealty melded to the heir of Stonegate, was speaking of desertion, of treason. As a Draven, to commit such crimes against Stonegate would most assuredly mean a brutal death for Roark Ashwood.
I kissed him. I kissed him with a frenzy and passion that felt wild and out of control. Roark wasted no time in claiming me back. He tugged on my waist, pulling me over him so my thighs straddled his lap. The crescent moon of his Sentry sword dug into my skin. He made quick work of ridding himself of the bearded ax and seax with the clang of heavy metal against the wood floors.
I was frantic. He was desperate.
Hands tugged at clothes, at laces, and belts, until his length was deep inside me. I braced my hands on his shoulders, using him as a ballast as I lifted slightly, then sat back over his cock. Roark’s gasp was hot against my neck. He guided my hips with his palms and rocked against me.
I pinned him to the chaise with my body, using my movements, touch, and kiss as a sort of command to the Sentry to give over his control, the worries crushing his spine. Brow strained, Roark let me.
His head fell against the back of the chaise, and his bleary eyes watched as I writhed and bucked over him.
I took my time, adjusting to the fullness of him.
Those molten eyes locked with mine. His callused palm glided up the curve of my waist, the divots of my ribs, until he palmed the whole of one breast.
I bowed my spine, pushing into his palm. Roark pinched and tugged at my nipple, then adjusted on the sofa and took the other side between his lips, sucking and licking until the peak hardened.
I cried out his name when he rolled the tip between his teeth while his fingers worked the other. I rocked against him, gasping when he bucked, striking a new depth.
Heat pooled low in my belly.
My head fell back, his name cascading over my tongue again and again; my body shuddered through my release.
Roark gripped my chin, forcing me to look at him again. The heat of my pleasure still throbbed in my core, but when I followed his gaze down, looking at us joined together, watching as his length still moved in and out, I thought I might lose myself again.
My arms rested on his shoulders, but I gripped the back of the sofa, keeping my head down so I would not miss a moment.
Roark’s breaths were hot against my neck. One hand gripped my waist, holding me in place as he deepened his thrusts. Each motion shifted the wooden legs of the sofa a little more, wood scraped over wood. We didn’t stop, didn’t slow.
Roark freed a rough groan and went taut. His cock twitched and the warmth of his release spilled into me.
Spent and breathless, Roark tucked a lock of hair behind my ear, meeting my gaze.
I dipped my head and kissed him gently. For a long while, I didn’t move off his lap. We stayed there, joined for a time. Roark held my head to his heart, and sometimes his lips would press into my hair.
On my bare spine, his fingers moved in deliberate patterns, and it took me a moment to realize he was repeating the same thing over and again.
Yours, body and soul .
When Kael arrived at the door, Roark was the Sentry again, steadfast and standing watch near the window.
Kael pressed a kiss to the top of my head and took a seat beside me. “I’m assuming you’ve been filled in on King Damir’s plans.”
“I’m to be his sacrifice.”
Kael clenched a fist over my knee. “We’re going to find a way to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
“Yes.” I cut a glance at Roark. “So I’ve heard. Trouble is, I’m not sure how either of you can declare loyalty to me when you are bound to serve Damir.”
“I serve Stonegate,” Kael snapped. “I serve Jorvans. Not just a king. You are Jorvan, you are family, you are of Stonegate. I will serve and defend you.”
Stupid, reckless, brave Kael. I took hold of his hand and squeezed.
Roark turned. He didn’t address me; instead, he spoke to Kael. Keep watch until I return .
“Where are you going?” Both Kael and I asked in unison.
Roark paused at the door. Darkwin. Fail her, and I tear out your spleen .
Kael hardly seemed bothered by the threat.
“Wait, Roark. Where are you going?”
Roark looked at me. I have a meet I cannot miss. I’ll return soon.
I had no time to press the Sentry before he slipped out the door without a glance behind. Bastard. It was intentional. One look, and Roark would know I would delay him, question him, tempt him to stay.
My pulse raced. Where would he go? “Why did he threaten you?”
Kael scoffed and kicked out his legs, crossing his ankles. “If I had to guess? Because he’s completely in love with you. The man simply says it in odd ways.”