Chapter 53 #2
‘Enough,’ Hark growled, dangerously low so that even Arla’s stomach coiled with something that felt a little like fear. ‘It’s Arla’s choice. She has chosen for the moment to stay at Claret Hall and that’s the end of the matter. She’s more than capable of handling herself.’
Her heart fluttered. Had he always been so … attractive?
‘Forgive me, Dragonhart,’ Jaz began, his eyes tunnelling into hers with a sincerity she didn’t think she deserved. ‘I have no objection. It’s … a surprise, is all.’
She didn’t blame him. She had shocked herself at her decision to stay here with Hark.
There were things that needed discussing, beginning with how in the gods’ names Hark was planning on leading this kingdom instead of ruling the one he’d all but disowned.
She supposed there was always Reuben to step into Elrod’s shoes but the barrage of information she’d received tonight had made her head throb and she wasn’t sure she’d properly thought anything through.
‘Well, I hope it doesn’t surprise you that rescuing His Highness’—she shot a pointed look at Hark—‘has built up rather an appetite, and all I can think about is how long you and Kase have spent arguing over this bloody pheasant. So’—Arla leaned across the table, ignoring the tug at her stitches and swiping the carving knife before stabbing the bird with it—‘I’ll be more than happy to talk after dinner. ’
Silence.
And then a chuckle escaped Jack’s mouth, followed by Sebastian, and Hark before they were all laughing into their wine glasses.
* * *
Arla hadn’t managed to eat half of what she’d thought she would. Her body had decided that she had gone for so long on so little food that to eat a second plate was beyond her, and she had collapsed into the couch by the fire not long after.
The wine tinged the edges of her mind, but she didn’t care. Hark lounged next to her, his arm draping casually over the back of the couch as Arla rested against him under a thick woollen blanket.
‘I’m glad you’re staying, you know,’ Sebastian said kindly as he perched on the arm of the couch.
‘There are a lot of things to sort before I can settle here, Sebastian—’
‘Kastonia’s spun a story describing how you corrupted Hark and led him astray, but died in your feeble attempt to escape Larkire Palace.’
Fucking gods!
‘So they’ve made themselves look strong by claiming to have killed the King’s Assassin, and at the same time—’
‘Prevented war with Hadalyn by suggesting you acted alone when you stormed the Palace. That you and you alone are to blame for this mess,’ Sebastian explained.
Thara growled softly through the bond.
‘And Cyrus?’ He couldn’t believe she had turned on Hadalyn. She never would.
‘Has no choice but to believe you’re dead. You never returned.’
Clever. So fucking clever.
‘Then, I can’t go back anyway, can I?’ she said, sighing and leaning her head back against Hark. She didn’t think she would ever get used to this.
‘Not if you want to keep them safe.’
Was it so hard? To leave them? Her heart ached at it. All she had to do was leave. Now that the blood of the magics wasn’t being spilled, the gods would stop punishing the mortals and the kingdoms could return to the prosperity they had once enjoyed.
All she had to do was leave them.
‘I will be at your side wherever it is we are to settle.’ Arla’s heart swelled at Thara’s promise.
‘Excuse me, everyone, but you don’t get to be this beautiful by going without sleep so I will be taking myself off to bed,’ she said softly, carefully untangling herself from the blanket.
Hark was at her side immediately, his hand resting at the small of her back as they strolled back towards her room. From the moment she’d woken up, Arla had been mentally mapping the layout of this magnificent building, a skill she would never be without.
Something flipped in her stomach at the realisation that Hark was coming with her.
It’s not like they hadn’t already slept together, but this was different somehow.
There was too much between them. Too many years of animosity and now …
now too much of something other for her to treat this situation lightly.
She’d taken a sword for Hark, and she would do it again.
Her bedchamber was as beautiful as it had been hours ago, the stars shining through and casting a gentle, delicate light over the space.
‘Will you be all right in here?’ Hark asked.
‘Hark, for the gods’ sakes, I’ve spent the night in far more disgusting places than this. I’ll be fine.’
‘I can’t believe you’re here,’ he whispered as she climbed into the bed, taking care not to strain the stitches in her side more than she already had.
‘Why?’
‘Because I’ve dreamed of it for so long.
From the moment I felt myself falling for you, I wanted to tell you everything.
I wanted to share all of it with you. And now that you’re here…
Anything you want Arla’—he sat on the edge of the bed, taking her hands in his—‘anything you want, it’s yours.
I would give you the stars if I could. Gods, I don’t know how I found you, how I got so lucky.
And the last dragonhart … how did we manage that? ’
Dragonhart…
‘What about the others? The other dragons under Castle Grey?’ The thought came to her out of nowhere – a question for Thara, though, not Hark.
‘Some still sleep, others are just waking. They watch over Hadalyn, ready to fly to your aid if needed.’
She could feel it. In the bond. Some distant, aching thing that went beyond the connection she had with Thara. But for all of them to be willing to fly to her aid…
She still had no idea what being a dragonhart meant, how it connected her to the gods’ creatures, and perhaps even to the gods themselves…
‘We each swore an oath. Be assured, we all fly for you.’
Hark was watching her, his eyes full of something that made warmth bloom in her chest.
‘Thank you, Hark,’ Arla whispered, her throat clogging with tears she had sworn she would not shed. ‘For everything.’
And then her lips were on his again, and again, until she didn’t know how much time had passed, only that he had lain down beside her and she was melting at the feeling of his hands running through her hair as she rested her head on his chest, fighting the darkness threatening to swoop in and claim her.
She was so grateful. For him, for this life, and to still be a part of it.
Flambriar would bring her peace, and perhaps, one day, that peace would spread beyond these mountains to the rest of the kingdoms. One day the kingdoms could be unified again just like the dragons’ prophecy claimed.
She would think about what was expected of her as the last dragonhart tomorrow because the scale of their ambition was overwhelming.
But with a dragon at her side and Hark behind her, she would do it. For the people, for the magics, for the kingdoms.
And before sleep finally claimed her for its own, her last thought was of this. Of a better world.