Chapter 27 #2
At least I could put my red cheeks down to rushing through the corridors.
How I’d explain my suddenly dry mouth and wide eyes was another matter.
I tried not to stare, but the slender toned planes of his coppery chest were apparently calling me.
I narrowed my eyes at Ifan, turning my attention to him instead.
His body was crisscrossed with the tattoos he’d been so defensive about mere weeks ago.
‘What are you doing?’ I asked.
‘Ifan has the answer to our prayers,’ Matthias said, linking his warm fingers with mine, sparking a thrill that raced through my veins.
‘I wouldn’t be so sure about that,’ Asher said, leaning against a long cupboard, the door creaking against his frame.
Ifan turned his massive body. He was almost twice the size of his older brother.
The tattoos weren’t random. They resembled the strange symbols people used when first writing down the histories of the Gods, thousands of years ago.
My excitement waned as I stared. How could those tattoos be the answer to our prayers?
I bent closer, reaching out my fingers. ‘May I?’
Ifan grunted his consent, so I stretched forward.
I traced the dark whorls inked onto him.
It truly was beautiful and for a moment I wondered what Matthias would look like with the same patterns inked onto him, how it would feel to trace them with a lazy finger, when a glint caught my eye.
I cocked my head and bent lower, my breath catching as the bronze flecks glistened within the ink.
‘Vyrium?’ I could barely get the word out. Slowly, I rose as Ifan turned to face me. A cold smile slid onto his face, and the flesh on my arms prickled. ‘How the fuck are you alive?’
‘It’s amazing, isn’t it?’
I slid my gaze over to Matthias, suddenly realising why he too stood bare chested.
‘It’s why he fought so well against the rebels or whoever the hell they were.’
‘Which he never mentioned at the time, despite how odd we all found it.’ Asher moved away from the cupboard, his muscles tense.
The smile slid from the prince’s face. ‘And as I told you, I wanted to be completely sure it was safe before suggesting it to Matthias.’
‘Safe!’ They all turned in my direction.
‘You’ve tattooed Vyrium onto your body… into your body.
An act that no one has ever in the history of Eusis been foolish enough to do.
It’s a death sentence. Vyrium can’t be taken.
It’ll poison you. In fact, it is poisoning you! You want to shove it on my husband?’
Ifan clenched his fists as he crossed them across his broad chest. Matthias pulled his shirt over his head; the top few buttons were undone and despite how the anger flooded me, I stole another quick peek at the exposed skin that appeared to be calling me.
He clenched his jaw. ‘You saw how Ifan fought—’
‘And you did perfectly well without poisoning your skin.’
Matthias blew out a long breath and reached out. I shoved him back. How anyone could even consider this madness was beyond comprehension.
The hackles on the wolf’s back rose, his snarl echoing around the room. Ifan sneered at him as Pab padded slowly towards the prince. Matthias reached for me again, this time managing to get a hold on my arms and tugging me closer.
‘It’ll give us an advantage.’
‘Not like this. I’d lose you, Matthias.’
Ifan scoffed. ‘Someone needs to explain to your wife how many threats we face.’
‘Don’t you dare!’ Matthias rounded on his brother.
‘A threat that would be a million times worse with a dead king on our hands,’ Asher added as Pablo continued snarling at Ifan, his amber eyes never once leaving the prince.
‘Do you think I’d intentionally hurt my brother? My king?’ Ifan’s face flushed, spittle flying from his mouth.
‘You don’t need to do this, Matthias.’ I stepped towards him, turning so my stronger eye searched his features.
The shadows under his eyes were almost bruises. His mussed hair needed a good cut, and my heart split at the thought of how desperate he was – desperate enough to risk his life.
‘What else can I do, Sorrow?’ His eyes widened, as though this were the only sliver of hope available. ‘I have people to protect. You. My family. My subjects. It’s not the risk you—’
‘Of course it’s a fucking risk, man.’ Asher grabbed Matthias by his shirt, and for a moment I worried there’d be raised fists. ‘He’s barely had it on his skin for a year. How do you know he won’t be dead in another year? Another month?’
‘It’s my only chance, Rossing. What else—’
I grabbed Matthias’s face with my hands, turning his head so he could see only me.
‘I’ve found one.’
His brows pinched together.
‘I’ve found a potential site. And it’s here, Matthias. In Asmar.’
The three men held their breaths as the weight of the news settled. The only sound, Pablo’s constant growl.
‘A mine?’ A weak smile played on the corner of his mouth.
I nodded, realising my hands still cradled his stubbled jaw. I ran my thumb across his cheek. He closed his eyes, leaning into the touch. Stepping closer, he placed his hands on my waist, the gentle pressure lighting me up.
‘Skye noticed I’d fucked up,’ I whispered. ‘We spent all afternoon fixing the map. If we’re right, then there’s a clear site, near Graig Du.’
Matthias’s shoulders slumped, the coiled muscles releasing as he lay his forehead against mine. I closed my eyes, breathing him in.
‘You really did find yourself a treasure with this one,’ Asher said.
‘And if she’s wrong?’ Ifan barked.
Pablo growled louder, almost drowning out the prince.
‘Hush, Pab.’
He let out a final snarl, but his hackles remained stiff.
‘Then we go back to the map.’
‘Matthias?’ Ifan tugged on his brother’s sleeve, and he stepped back from me, my body aching for him to hold me again. ‘Why don’t we do both? Then if there’s no Vyrium—’
‘Please.’ My desperate gaze locked on his. ‘Asher’s right. The long-term risks would kill you, Matthias. I can’t…’
My chest burned as the words escaped me.
The reckless rascal still lay beneath the king’s skin, ready to burst through.
But this was suicide. Any attempts at taking Vyrium, harnessing power for those not blessed by Evella, only ever ended in death.
Adding Vyrium to alloys, the bricks building our castles had been as far as they’d managed.
Matthias had to understand this wasn’t an option.
‘I don’t want to lose you again.’
Something in his face shattered at my words and then there I was again, wrapped in the warmth of his strong embrace.
I relaxed against his firm chest, his chin resting lightly on my head as my arms reached around him.
I closed my eyes, clinging to him and praying my words reached him.
‘The risks Matthias… the risks. Please.’
My voice broke and somehow we were even closer. My body fit his as though Evella made us only for each other.
‘I won’t do it.’ He spoke the words into the side of my head, the shell of my ear. ‘I promise you, Sorrow.’
‘Fuck you both,’ Ifan bellowed, shoving us aside before slamming the door behind him.
Pablo threw himself at the closed door, his claws gouging deep grooves into the wood as he snarled.
Matthias and I broke apart.
‘Pab!’ The wolf lurched at the door once more. ‘Pablo stop!’
The wolf stalked back a few steps. Drool dripped onto the floor as he bared his fangs.
‘Your wolf doesn’t trust our prince,’ Asher said.
Colour rose up my neck. I’d almost forgotten the captain had been in the room too.
‘He’s obviously an immensely good judge of character.
’ Asher clapped his hands together. ‘As much as I hate to break all this cuddly lovey-dovey stuff up, I’m afraid I need to borrow my queen and get details.
If we set off tomorrow, we might have a brand new untouched Vyrium mine by the end of the month. ’
Matthias ran his fingers through his dark hair, a glint of hope sparking in his eyes.
‘We might just do this.’ A frantic grin split his face.
I offered him my hand before leading them back to the map to show them what Skye and I had found.
By the time the moonlight glimmered through the tall leaden windows and Matthias walked me towards my rooms, he still hadn’t let go.
Reaching the corner, where we’d separate and go to our chambers, he raised my hand, brushed his warm lips across my knuckles, and I sank against the wall.
‘Good night, my wonderful Sorrow.’
I straightened, aware of the soft grin lying on my lips.
‘We’ll be up early. Sleep well.’
Dropping my hand, he walked away. My empty arms crossed across my heaving chest, the back of my head colliding with the wall.
Pablo turned towards me, tilting his head and whining.
I cocked my head, desperate for the comfort of Matthias’s footsteps.
But the halls were silent. I swallowed. It could be a month, more, before we’d ever have a chance to be alone.
Pablo sat down, pawed my dress as I blew out a heavy breath.
‘Fuck it,’ I said, and gripping the wolf, decided for once, I’d follow my stupid heart.