Chapter 76
Imagine ordering a burger.
You're starving. You open the door with the excitement of someone who's been mentally eating that burger for the last forty-five minutes.
The delivery guy smiles.
You smile back.
Then he shoves a sword into your hands and says,
"Congratulations. You're the only person who can stop an ancient evil. The kingdom is counting on you. Have fun!"
He leaves.
Your burger never arrives.
That was exactly how my day felt.
Life has a fascinating habit of baiting you with the promise of a perfectly normal Tuesday before smacking you across the face with ancient bullshit. I highly recommend avoiding Tuesdays.
I lay on my bed, staring up at the canopy as my mind looped through the day's absurd events.
First, I had an early appointment with an extremely fatal mission. And if I did succeed, I'd be granted the freedom I'd wanted since arriving here. So why did the thought of it leave such a hollow ache in my chest? Why did it suddenly feel like I was going to miss this place-and its people?
I really wanted to clear my head.
Cradling Cookie in my arms for emotional support, I headed down the quiet stone corridors leading to the tower garden.
As I rounded the corner near the open-air balcony, voices drifted through the night.
I slowed.
Curiosity really was a terrible survival instinct.
Peering through the stone archway, I caught sight of them. Lysenne and Rhaevan stood beneath the moonlight. She had her arms wrapped around him, her face buried against his chest.
"Rey..." Lysenne's voice was barely above a whisper. "I've loved you for a long time."
She took a shaky breath. "If there's a future waiting for us... I want to spend it beside you."
My grip tightened around Cookie.
"Will you let me stay by your side?"
Silence.
No immediate response. No awkward interruption. Nothing.
My stomach plunged somewhere beneath the Tower's foundations.
I didn't wait to hear another word. I couldn't. I turned on my heel before either of them noticed me, hugging a thoroughly bewildered Cookie against my chest as I hurried away.
Of course.
The thought came so easily it almost hurt.
What exactly was I expecting?
I disappear. They find each other. Everyone gets their happy ending. That's how stories are supposed to work.
Behind me, a soft laugh floated through the corridor. Then Lysenne's quiet voice:
"...Thank you."
That was enough. I didn't look back. I couldn't.
My feet carried me all the way to the Tower's garden courtyard before they finally stopped. I sank onto a stone bench, staring blankly at the dark foliage while Cookie settled comfortably in my lap.
The tower gardens were quiet. The night air was cool. The sky was dusted with stars.
And my brain was loud. Very loud.
Cookie shifted, letting out a soft sigh. Lucky creature. No heavy responsibilities. No evil kingdoms. No Solithium. No agonizingly complicated feelings. Just snacks, naps, and existing. I envied him immensely.
"You look troubled."
I didn't even need to turn around to recognize the quiet, smooth voice.
"Hello, Lucien."
He sat beside me on the stone bench-slowly, carefully, still recovering from his injuries. He managed to look annoyingly handsome despite having nearly died a day ago. Life was deeply unfair like that.
For a while, we talked about entirely meaningless things: Cookie's sleeping habits, the quality of tower food, the atrocious taste of healer-approved tonic, and the ridiculous fact that I had somehow ended up on a high-profile kidnap list despite having accomplished nothing noteworthy.
Eventually, his light tone softened.
"Are you alright, Cass?"
A genuine, breathless laugh escaped me-mostly because the question was so massive it was almost absurd.
"Let me think," I said, holding up a hand to count on my fingers. "I nearly died. Several times. I was kidnapped. We were kidnapped. You got stabbed by a spell."
"Technically, grazed," Lucien corrected smoothly.
"There is an evil kingdom," I continued, ignoring him. "Forbidden magic. A dangerous glowing rock. So... no. I don't think I'm alright."
Lucien laughed softly, the sound low in his chest, before his expression turned gentle.
"Cass."
"Hm?"
"You don't have to handle everything alone."
The words landed with unexpected weight, hitting a sore spot I hadn't realized was exposed. I quickly looked away toward the moonlit roses, suddenly finding the courtyard atmosphere entirely too emotional.
I had gotten used to being alone. It was easier that way.
People who stayed close to me always seemed to end up paying for it, and eventually I had stopped wondering whether that was coincidence.
Maybe some people were simply better off keeping their distance from me.
It certainly seemed safer for everyone involved.
"...Theo briefed me about tomorrow's mission," Lucien was saying. "You're heading to the Solithium-affected villages?"
I nodded. "I heard you are leaving for Viremont."
Lucien smiled. "Viremont can't wait any longer."
"I figured."
A brief silence settled between us.
"I guess..." I said quietly, "...I won't be there to say goodbye."
Lucien chuckled. "Then I'll say it now."
He held out his hand.
"Take care of yourself."
I looked at his hand before shaking it.
"You too."
I let go, then, almost absentmindedly, said, "...I'll miss you."
Lucien blinked.
"I'll miss you too."
Another silence. Then I looked toward the stars.
"This mission..."
"It's my last favor to Eryndor."
Lucien frowned.
"What do you mean?"
I smiled, though there wasn't much happiness in it.
"After this... I'm leaving."
He stared at me.
"...Leaving?"
"I want a normal life. No kingdoms. No politics. No nobles trying to kill me. Nobody coming in search of me." A small laugh escaped me. "I've had enough. There isn't anything left for me in Eryndor."
Lucien remained quiet for a moment. Then he smiled gently.
"If that's what you want......Viremont will always welcome you."
I turned to look at him.
"There'll always be a place for you," he shrugged. "In my life. And in Viremont."
I laughed softly.
"I'll remember that."
"After what we went through, and after how you stayed by me, I really owe my best friend anything in this whole wide world," he said, smiling, cupping the side of my face with his palm.
A strange warmth settled in my chest. It felt safe. Grounded. Like a quiet promise that I wouldn't just be cast adrift when this was over.
"Thank you," I murmured.
We lapsed into a comfortable silence, watching the stars drift overhead-until a sharp, familiar voice broke the quiet.
"Good evening."
I looked up. Rhaevan stood a few paces away at the edge of the courtyard path, looking annoyingly composed-stirring up that familiar, frustrating mess of feelings in my chest all over again.
"Rhaevan," Lucien acknowledged.
"Lucien." Rhaevan inclined his head slightly, then shifted his dark gaze to me.
"The preparations are complete."
"So we leave tomorrow?" I asked.
"Tomorrow morning."
Wonderful. A multi-day journey with a man who has suddenly mastered the art of acting like an iceberg. And my sister's lover. My absolute favorite combination.
I let out a soft sigh and looked at Lucien.
"I won't be here to see you off."
"I'll survive," Lucien teased mildly.
"Please do."
"I intend to."
Rhaevan cleared his throat, the timing impeccably strict.
"It is getting late."
I narrowed my eyes at him.
"We are aware."
"You should both return to your quarters," he stated neutrally. "It isn't safe outside at night."
"We are inside a heavily protected, ward-shielded magical tower," I pointed out.
"It isn't safe," Rhaevan repeated, utterly unbothered by my logic.
I looked at Lucien. Lucien looked at me. Neither of us had the energy to fight the wall of broody stubbornness standing in front of us.
"Fine," I muttered.
We both stood up. Lucien wished us goodnight, and Rhaevan offered a curt nod in return before turning and disappearing down the dimly lit corridor.
I watched his retreating figure until his footsteps faded into the quiet distance.
"How exactly am I supposed to survive an entire expedition with that level of emotional warmth?" I grumbled under my breath.
Lucien glanced between me and the empty corridor where Rhaevan had vanished. Very slowly, a wicked, knowing smile spread across his face.
"I think," Lucien said pleasantly, "this journey is going to be very interesting."
I glared at him and groaned into my hands.
"Shut up, Lucien. Just... shut up."