46. Rylan
46
RYLAN
S eraphina is too damn stubborn.
Even bleeding, even weak from wounds that should have kept her bedridden for weeks, she still looks at me with fire in her eyes and defiance etched into every inch of her bruised skin.
I should have known this would be a fight.
"You are not coming with me," I say, voice low, firm.
She doesn’t even hesitate. "Try and stop me."
I exhale sharply, jaw clenching.
This woman is going to be the death of me.
I press a hand to my temple, trying to rein in the storm raging inside me.
Vael mutters from the corner, arms crossed. "If you’re going to argue all night, I’ll just go slit my own throat now and save Nhilian the trouble."
Seraphina glares at him. "Then do it quietly."
I almost smirk.
Almost.
But there’s too much at stake for humor.
She winces as she shifts on the cot, and I catch her before she can fall forward.
I feel the sharp breath she takes, the way her body trembles against mine.
She’s too weak.
She knows it.
I know it.
And yet, she still fights me on this.
I cup her face, forcing her to meet my gaze.
"You can’t do this, little thief."
A beat of silence.
Her fingers curl into my shirt.
"I have to."
Fury. Frustration. Love.
I brush my forehead against hers, my breath hot, uneven.
"You’ll slow us down," I say. "You’ll die before we even get there."
She exhales.
"Then we wait. One night. One day. Let me recover, and we go together."
I hate that I consider it.
Hate that I can’t say no to her.
I pull back slightly, searching her face.
Her pulse flutters beneath my fingertips.
She looks exhausted.
Hurt.
But determined.
I should refuse.
I should leave her behind.
But I can’t.
The thought of going there without her is worse than anything else.
I close my eyes, jaw tight.
"Fine."
Her fingers loosen against my shirt.
I can feel her relief.
She sags slightly against me, as if she wasn’t sure I’d agree.
I lift her carefully, easing her back onto the cot.
"One night," I murmur. "That’s all you get."
The chamber is silent, save for our breathing.
Vael muttered something about checking the tunnels and left us alone, leaving only the flickering candlelight between us.
Seraphina shifts closer, her body pressed against mine beneath the thin blanket.
She’s so warm.
So small.
Her head rests against my chest, and I breathe her in.
Now, there is no running, no fighting, no blood spilled.
Just this.
Her heart beating softly.
Her fingers tracing idle patterns against my skin.
She sighs, slow and deep.
"You smell like fire," she murmurs.
I smirk, pressing a kiss to her hair.
"And you smell like blood."
She lets out a tired laugh, and gods, it’s a beautiful sound.
I tilt her chin up, running my fingers along her jaw.
She watches me, eyes half-lidded, lips slightly parted.
I should let her rest.
But I can’t stop myself from kissing her.
It’s slow. Lingering.
A stolen moment before the war we’re about to walk into.
She sighs into me, fingers sliding into my hair, tugging me closer.
I groan softly, shifting until she’s pinned beneath me, my weight careful, mindful of her injuries.
Her breath catches as I trail my lips down her throat, as I trace the inked lines on her skin with my fingertips.
She shudders beneath me.
"Rylan," she whispers.
I rest my forehead against hers.
I don’t know what this is.
I never loved anyone.
What will I become with her?
I tilt her chin up, kissing her deeply, slow and consuming.
She melts into me.
And for one night, I let myself forget everything else.
By nightfall, we leave.
Seraphina moves slower than usual, but she’s stronger than before.
Vael leads the way, his expression grim.
We take the hidden route, the one Seraphina never wanted anyone else to know.
But it doesn’t matter.
We don’t make it far because they were waiting.
Shadows shift along the cavern walls.
Figures step into the path, blocking our exit.
I hear Seraphina curse under her breath.
Vael tenses beside me.
"Well, well," Lartina purrs, stepping into the dim torchlight.
She smiles, her red lips curving like a blade.
"You didn’t really think I’d let you leave so easily, did you?"
My fingers twitch around the hilt of my dagger.
Seraphina stiffens beside me.
Lartina’s eyes flick to her.
The smile widens.
"This should be fun."