CHAPTER 60 Wren
Wren
‘The crucible teaches what words cannot: perfect timing. Too brief a heating leaves potential unrealized; too long burns away possibility’
– Alchemy Unbound
‘I WISH WE had more time,’ Torj said, showing her the tremor in his hands as he dressed.
‘That’s what I thought as well. It shouldn’t be happening like this,’ Wren told him, turning to face him.
She brushed a lock of silver hair from his brow and smiled sadly, the golden bond materializing between them, shimmering in response to their roiling emotions.
And then she paused, toying with the gilded ribbon between them, realization hitting her hard.
She had felt his pleasure as her own. At the end of the first battle at Drevenor, she had felt his pain . . . They could speak, mind to mind through the connection. They were linked. Always.
‘The book said we could share physical sensations. That’s the whole reason you tried to break the bond in the first place, isn’t it?
’ she said slowly. ‘What if, by instinct, you’re preventing the poison from spreading to me?
What if you’re using up your strength, your reserves, by stopping the poison travelling through the bond? ’
‘That’s a bit of a leap, isn’t it?’ he said, staring at her hands as they covered his.
‘Is it? You’re a protector, Torj. You were long before you became my guard. And I’m your soul-bonded. It makes sense that a certain level of instinct would take hold . . .’
Torj stroked the back of her hand with his thumb. ‘If that’s the case, then we need to be asking a different question.’
‘Which is?’
‘Did Silas know? Did he somehow know about the soul bond, therefore targeting me in order to get to—’
Torj’s breath shuddered out of him, his gaze becoming distant.
‘Gods, he actually told me. I’m so sorry, Wren. I’m so stupid. There was a moment, during that first attack on Drevenor, when I had the dagger sticking out of my chest. Silas said, “I can get to her through you.” Those were his actual words. He told me then and there. Fuck.’
‘This isn’t your fault,’ Wren replied fiercely. ‘And now we know. We know you’re not growing weaker because of the poison itself. You’re expending your Furies-given strength stopping it from going down the bond.’
‘Is this where you tell me to stop? Because Embers . . . that’s not going to happen.’
But to her own surprise, Wren shook her head. ‘I won’t tell you to stop. I’m not sure you could even if you wanted to. The bond has a mind of its own when it comes to instinct.’
‘Then what do we do?’ he asked.
Wren’s heart ached for him. She knew how much he was struggling with needing help. But she lifted his chin so that his eyes locked with hers as she said, ‘We defeat Silas. We save you and the rest of the world.’
Torj gave a weak laugh. ‘Is that all?’
‘That’s all there is, Bear Slayer.’
‘Need a hand?’ Torj offered back in her private tent, as she reached for the breastplate that lay waiting for her.
Wren turned to give him access to the straps. ‘It’s strange . . . you’re usually taking my clothes off, not putting them on.’
‘That’s definitely my preference,’ he replied, fastening the buckles over her shoulders.
As much as Wren wanted to haul his mouth back to hers and claim her husband again for the evening, she knew that they were out of time. ‘Take me to the command tent?’
‘Only if you eat something on the way,’ he replied, rummaging through a bag and producing a squashed pastry.
Gratitude surged through Wren. When was the last time she’d eaten? ‘Thank you for thinking of me,’ she told him.
Torj huffed a laugh. ‘Always, Embers. Can’t have that gorgeous ass of yours shrinking.’ He gave it a playful slap as she lifted the canvas flap and she jumped, batting his hand away.
‘Not the time or place, Bear Slayer.’ But she couldn’t keep the smile from her voice.
Wren knew she’d have some explaining to do as she and Torj emerged and found their friends waiting in the command tent.
‘Is it true?’ her sister demanded.
Kipp, Cal, Thea, Wilder, Dessa and Zavier stared back at her, all of their faces astounded.
Wren returned her gaze to Thea, hiding a wince. ‘It’s true.’
Thea shook her head in disbelief. ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’
‘That’s the issue here?’ Wren asked, stunned.
‘One of many,’ Wilder interjected, his tone stern as his eyes swept to Torj. ‘You could have given us a heads-up before you threw our main patron through a fucking tent wall.’
‘It was made of canvas, Hawthorne. He survived just fine.’
But Thea elbowed Wren, snatching her attention back. ‘How did this happen? When did this happen? And again, why didn’t you tell me?’
‘I was going to – at Thezmarr. But then you told me that Wilder had proposed and that you were getting married. I didn’t want to steal your thunder – so to speak.’
Thea stared at her for a moment longer before she burst out laughing and threw her arms around Wren. ‘Congratulations, sister. Don’t think you’re getting away without having a wedding party.’
‘Yes, congratulations, Wren.’ Kipp surged forwards, wrapping her in a hug as well. ‘I’m sure the men of the midrealms will be devastated.’
As her friends hugged her and wished her well, Wren knew that behind closed doors, people were talking, spreading the word about her deceit and likely drawing into question her suitability as queen.
But she also knew that the true test of her confession was not amid her friends and family .
. . It would be with those who had already rallied to the promise of a joint banner between the royal Embervale family and the noble house of Devereux.
Even so, the weight that had sat atop her chest like an anvil had lightened.
‘Well, that was unexpected,’ Wilder said as he embraced her.
‘It was necessary,’ she replied.
‘Agreed. It’s about time.’
Wren smiled. ‘I know.’