35. Astraea #2
“I know. We will be right behind you and Rowan.” I say, taking Cole’s hand in my other.
She squeezes lightly. While planning, I had insisted that if we had to stick with a partner, that Cole would be mine.
I know Kyros, and I know that he would be too distracted for my safety if I was at the front of the group alongside him.
And since it wouldn’t be safer for anyone else to lead the group...
it just makes more sense for it to be this way.
Colette and I have been learning each other's movements for as long as I can remember.
We surely would make for the best team in combat.
Kyros begrudgingly agreed only when Viltarin and Beckett said they would take up positions behind us, with Kellan and Ruaan trailing just behind.
Even if Beckett is not much use as a fighter with his wounded leg, he at least is able to walk again after the balms from Kaeleith.
There are four other men; the team of mercenaries Queen Phaedra sent would rather be loyal to Kyros—whom I was only briefly introduced to.
They will follow behind all of us like shadows in their black leather armor that is customary to Diemos.
I would be lying if I said it didn’t worry me a little having them with us, but I suppose if Kyros trusts them enough, I will too.
I turn to look ahead to the tunnel door in the distance only to have Kyros block out my vision, his hand cupped at my cheek. He lets his fingers slide down to my chin and pull until he is the only thing I see.
“If anything happens…” His eyes lock with mine.
It's a silent plea again for me to be careful. He has told me so many times now that Diemos is dangerous, and now here we are... My shadows quiver along my skin at the possible threats, and this stokes the fire of the twin flames we share. I know he feels it just the same when he takes a deep breath, his chest rising a little higher with the bolstering caress my magick gave him, like a forced breath we take in unison. It’s a sensation I'm not sure I will ever grow used to.
“Shula—” Kyros begins, but before he can continue, I kiss him.
I wrap my arms around his neck and lift myself up onto my toes, pressing my body to his.
The kiss is dominant, forceful, and he wraps his arms around me and fuses our bodies together.
I hear a cough and a snicker somewhere from behind us, but neither of us break the kiss.
It's not until I feel that familiar lasso of heat wrapping around my body that I break away. He doesn’t let go, however, as he scans every part of my face and brings his hand to rest lightly along my cheek.
He gently runs his fingers through my hair.
I feel the tremble there before I hear it in his voice.
“I never thought I would have anything like this—like you.”
“Kyros,” I laugh shyly. Not only because we have an audience of people watching us, but also because what I truly want to do is spill my heart out to him.
I want to tell him that I never thought this life would give me anything other than misery, but then it gave me him.
That fact alone proves that beauty can still be found beyond torment; it only proves that there is life beyond the ashes of ruin.
His grip on me tightens, and I twist my brows as I look up into his dark eyes.
Instead of saying any of those thoughts, I just laugh, smiling sweetly, as I have always been taught to.
I smile through my fear and hope that the false strength I am attempting to show gives him the reassurance he needs.
I press my hand over his, and he leans in, kissing me once more before he steps back.
“I am a different man here in Diemos. I have to be. Please understand, this isn’t who I really am.
Remember that when you see this side of me.
” His eyes linger for only a moment before he looks over my head sternly at the others and then gives us his back.
The moment he does, I swallow and look past him at the darkened tunnel of trees that leads to the castle.
The tops of the sharpened pines resemble a monster's maw, open and ready to devour us.
Just the sight of the passage we have to take to a likely even more ominous tunnel in the ground sends shivers across my skin…
or was it the warning of what Kyros just said?
A feeling of dread fills me as I look up at the jagged peaks in the distance. The claw-like spires of Castle Diemos remind me so much of the nightmare that has plagued my sleep. The fear housed in the recesses of my mind, still bleeding into my consciousness as I study them.
Cole stays right at my side the whole way through.
Her bow is out in front of her, already notched and ready to let an arrow fly.
It’s odd seeing her like this, no longer just my friend disguised as my hand maiden.
She finally looks as strong as I’ve always known her to be.
This life suits her, and even if she doesn’t say it for my benefit, I know that it makes her happy to be out of the confines of the palace.
Just before we reach the end where I can see the tunnel's entrance, that sense of dread weighs me down even more.
My steps become heavier as though to stop me from continuing.
Then a branch snaps in the deadwood of the forest to our right, and Kyros stops in his tracks.
His head snaps in the direction of the noise like a predator, eyes narrowing to blackened slits, and his shadows leak from his body like snakes that are ready to strike at his command.
“Are you sure you don’t want to release Astraea on me?” A distant but familiar voice booms. Kyros’ eyes relax a fraction as he stares into the shadows, and then I see the figure as he steps from the darkness of the copse of trees not far off the path.
“Shayd?” Beckett says from behind me. Sure enough, there stands the familiar man I’ve had the fortune of…
meeting the last time I was in Diemos. Shayd turns his gaze toward Beckett, but his eyes snag on me.
He grins, rolling the shoulder I stabbed him in with a wink, before they jump over me to where Beckett stands, still propped up by Viltarin.
“The one and only. How are you doin’ kid?
” Beckett laughs at the question, about to answer as he gestures to his leg, but it's quickly shut down as Kyros lets an annoyed rumble vibrate through his chest. Beckett doesn’t respond to Shayd.
His lips seal as Kyros comes closer. Ruaan adjusts his hands along his weapons, keeping a close eye on the interaction, while also looking around and into the shadows.
Rowan's steady gaze remains strictly on me.
“What are you doing here, Shayd?” Kyros demands, his posture still stiff and his shadows still just as volatile.
“I should ask you the same thing. I thought you were taking the princess here to Aithne, not bringing Aithne back to Diemos.” He nods toward me, then looks back at Beckett again and winks.
“Plans have changed.” Kyros growls, and his body turns with every step that Shayd takes. His eyes follow each one of his footsteps. Footsteps that bring him closer to me.
“So they have. See, that’s why I’m here.
I was called in to guard this entrance in the Queen's absence. If you’ve come for an audience, I’m sorry to tell you she's not here.” This exchange between the two men is already becoming charged, and I think the others behind me feel it too as they close the distance between us.
“But, seeing as it’s just you… We can send word to Queen Phaedra.
Let her know that you have returned and you can hold down the fort while she’s away.
” He grins easily, but Kyros doesn’t deign to give him an answer; instead, he just scoffs a half laugh.
In agreement or disagreement, I can't discern.
“Where is Maisy?” I interrupt unexpectedly.
I don’t understand why I even blurted out the question, but the little girl grew on me in our short time together, and I want to know if she is safe.
Obviously Shayd wouldn’t bring a little girl on a patrol with him.
though. Shayd stares at me for a moment with an unreadable expression.
As I stare back, it strikes me as odd that a man like Shayd took palace patrols. It almost seems like it's beneath him.
“Maisy will be thrilled to hear that you’re back. Maybe you’d want to come back with me and visit her?” Shayd finally responds with a request of his own, and before I can say anything, Kyros let his refusal be known immediately.
“No.” It's a blunt blow, straight to the point and growled between closed teeth.
“Of course. I’m sure you’re tired. It seems like sleep has been evading both of you these days.
” Shayd mysteriously says with a tilt of his head as he surveys us.
Kyros narrows his eyes on the man who he called a friend not long ago.
I don’t understand the exchange, but I realize just how right he is.
I feel like I haven’t slept in weeks, even if I know that’s not true.
Just the mention of being tired has me yawning, and Shayd smiles as Kyros looks past me and I feel an arm brush mine.
I look up confused as Ruaan comes to stand at my side.
His arms crossed over his chest like a posturing guard.
It’s so out of place from his usual relaxed cockiness.
My brows pinch together, and Colette threads her fingers through mine on the opposite side.
“Lead the way, Kyros.” Ruaan says with his eyes never leaving Shayd.
Shayd puts his hands up in mock surrender, the smile bracketing his mouth only growing with the unspoken challenge.
Even Cole is quiet, where she would normally have something to whisper under her breath about there being too many alpha males in one spot.