Chapter 73 Make Heartfelt Declarations #2
I looked down at our linked hands. “I didn’t know until we redirected the ley lines at the God Spire, but I think I was fighting him before that.
I should have told you.” I looked up at her, the words spilling out in a rush.
“If I’d just talked to you about it, maybe you would have been better equipped to fight him yourself. ”
Her thumb traced my cheekbone. “You couldn’t have known what would happen.”
“I’m sorry.” The words felt inadequate, but they were all I had. “For the compulsion at the Gallows. For putting you in stasis without your permission.”
“The stasis was the right choice.” She leaned into me, exhausted.
I pulled her closer, burying my face in her hair as she continued.
“I could feel myself losing control. The Shadow King was getting stronger, and I was—” She took a deep, shuddering breath.
“I was terrified that I’d hurt you. Or Griffin.
Or Vex. When you put me under, it was a relief.
” Another deep breath. “Anyway, you hated taking my choice away—I could feel it when you did it.”
Sebastian stirred again, mumbling something about proper yeast ratios before his breathing evened out as he drifted off into slumber.
And then, because I was done with missed opportunities, the words I’d been choking on for weeks finally broke free. “I love you.”
Arabella pulled back enough to look at me, eyes widened slightly. Not in surprise—more like she’d been waiting to hear it while conscious.
“I’ve been trying to find the right moment to tell you,” I hurried to say, “but I’m a coward when it comes to feelings… and then the world kept ending.”
“Technically, it’s still ending.”
“Details.” I pulled her close again, savoring the simple pleasure of holding her without ancient entities between us.
“I love you too.” She wrapped her arms around my neck. A feeling of great… joy?… washed over me. “I love you, Kaz. I love your arrogance and your dark sense of humor. I love that you cheat at eyeball golf and get jealous of my childhood friends. I love—”
I kissed her, cutting off her rambling with all the fierce possessiveness I’d been holding back. She melted against me, fingers tangling in my hair, and for a moment the world narrowed to just us. No ancient evils, no magical catastrophes, no bleeding pacifists on my floor.
When we finally broke apart, I noticed the ley lines beneath Solandris felt different. Cleaner. The corruption that had tainted them was gone, washed away by the Shadow King’s departure from them, just like the Alchemist had predicted.
“The ley lines,” Arabella murmured, sensing it too. “They’re free.”
“One problem solved, another created.” I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “The Shadow King is loose in the world, and we have no idea where he went or what he’s planning for his world domination.”
“He did monologue for a long time, though. I wonder why he gave us all that history?”
I snorted. “Because he’s arrogant. He doesn’t believe there’s anything we can truly do to him.”
“We’ll figure out something.” She glanced at Sebastian, who was now muttering about the proper temperature for proofing dough. “After we get Lord Disaster here to the infirmary.”
Sebastian’s eyes fluttered open to reveal that distinctive violet color. He looked at us still clasped in each other’s arms, then at the explosion of blue flowers surrounding him, and groaned. “Did I miss the heartfelt declarations of love?”
“Yes,” I said flatly.
“Vex said that would happen any day now…” He winced. “Did we save the world or doom it? I’m a bit fuzzy on the details.”
“Both,” Arabella and I said together.
“Ah. One of those days.” He struggled to his feet, still yet more flowers blooming where his hands touched the floor. “I appear to be stress-flowering again. Morning glories are an interesting choice, though.”
“You nearly died,” I said. “You’re entitled to some botanical displays.”
“I should go bake something. It helps with near-death experiences.” He edged toward the door, clearly desperate to escape whatever was about to happen between Arabella and me.
“Sebastian,” Arabella called, stopping him at the threshold. “Thank you.”
He smiled—genuine, warm, and only a little bit heartbroken. “What are friends for?” Then he left in a flurry of blue petals.
The Alchemist stirred in their chair and rubbed their eyes, knocking their mask askew. I noticed deep pink scarring before they adjusted it back into place. “What did I miss?” Their gaze moved to Arabella and paused, recognizing the change in her and what that meant. “So it’s done, then.”
I gave the Alchemist a curt nod.
They rose from their chair and stumbled wearily to the door. “I’ll see myself back to my cell.”
“Make sure Sebastian doesn’t fall off the lightning bridge first,” I said. Though it would take care of that problem—no. Sigh. I owed him for what he did for Arabella. I didn’t think I could ever repay that debt.
The Alchemist nodded, and the door closed behind them with a decisive click.
“Sebastian’s taking this remarkably well,” Arabella observed.
“He’s in shock. It’ll hit him later.”
Arabella looked around for the first time. “Where are we exactly?”
“The Old Keep.” I gestured at the ancient stone walls.
“I think the Shadow King built it first, before expanding outward.” I let out a dark laugh.
“Now I know why it resisted all attempts to renovate or tear down. His essence is woven into every block, every beam. The magic’s rooted too deep to extract. ”
Arabella’s eyes swept the chamber, taking in the containment circles carved into the floor—circles I’d discovered but never created.
“So you’ve been using the Shadow King’s own fortress as his prison.
” Her lips curved into that sharp smile I loved.
“There’s something beautifully twisted about that. ”
“Even if it was only temporary.” I pulled her closer, needing the reassurance of her body against mine.
Arabella tilted her head to give me better access to her neck. “The world is ending.”
“The world is always ending.” My teeth scraped against her throat, making her shiver. “Right now, I just want to celebrate the fact that you’re alive, you’re you, and you love me.”
She hummed in agreement. “And then we should probably go check on the army.”
“Have I ever told you how the stench of battle on you makes my cock hard?”
“You’ve mentioned it once or twice.”