Chapter 47 #2
Finally, something I’m happy to do. I wrap my arm around her shoulders and head right for the doors, ignoring everyone behind us.
As soon as we’re sheltered, I follow the passageways and corridors through to the Chamber apartments and my old residence.
Rigel will have got my mother back by now.
Ever doesn’t say a word, but she visibly sags, her whole body deflating as soon as the door to the apartment is open.
Rigel hurries himself from the sitting room but doesn’t pursue us as we disappear.
“What do you need?” I ask. I’d normally know. I’d feel it. I’d hear it, but watching her now, I’m a little lost.
She tilts her head up to me, the colour all but drained from her eyes. “A bath. A scolding hot bath. I think I’m still cold from all the ice.”
A bath. I crack a smile, my mind unable to think of the mundane and normal activity without picturing Ever, naked, dripping wet, and all mine.
“I mean it, Ten. I want to wash today off my skin. I want something normal. And then I want to go to bed, knowing that nobody is going to try and kill the people—” she stops.
“Nobody is going to kill you,” I remind her. Fenix and the Usher are dead, and Kamari and Rowan are in custody.
“I just left them.” Her eyes slide away from me.
I know she’s talking about her family and friends outside.
“They’re all out there still. We need to make sure—” her voice trembles, and I know this will haunt us.
That fear of what’s happened, not old enough to be anywhere other than just beneath the surface.
I bend to steal a kiss from her. “They will be safe. But, if you want them here?”
“Yes! Please, Ten. I shouldn’t have just left like that. But the Maker, she made me so mad, I had to leave.”
“They’ll understand.”
“Lyle! After I pleaded with her to come with us, I have to explain,” she cries, and her eyes sparkle for all the wrong reasons as the tears swell.
“Ever, it’s okay. Everyone’s safe. You’re safe.”
We both cling to each other, the desperation and need for that reassurance getting the better of both of us, eating at us from the inside. But that pull I’ve always felt for Ever is there, even without magic, wrapping around us, binding us together.
Just a few hours ago, she was dead, and I bartered with everything in me to get her back.
And I have.
“Ahem, forgive me, Master Ciro. I heard Miss Hart’s plea for the company of Lyle and her friends.”
“Yes, thank you, Rigel.” I reluctantly let go of Ever, but keep physical contact with her. “Could you get a message to Calix Aster? He should be with our friends.”
“I’ll see to it, Master. Your mother has retired for the night, but I am happy to fix you food or refreshments. It is late, but I am happy to oblige.”
“A bath. Miss Hart would like a bath drawn. We’ll happily have breakfast tomorrow morning. If there’s anything else we need, we’ll see to it ourselves.”
“But—”
“Please, Rigel.” I nod to him. On any other day, I’d let him take over. But tonight isn’t any other night.
He gives a visible shake, as if he’d rather not comply, but then disappears.
“Come on. I can make you a cup of hot tea while we let Rigel do his thing. Everyone will be here, safe, when you get out of that bath.”
“I love you. I can’t remember the last time I said that to you, but I need you to know that. Not just for your sacrifice, but for everything you’ve had to do. For me.”
“You didn’t force me to do any of it. Everything was my choice.
My choice to fight for you, over everyone and everything else.
Now, will you let me make you some tea while the bath runs?
No buckets of hot water to fill here.” I fight for the normal, to try and ground us both in the here and now, and not what’s outside of this door. The carnage of what happened can wait.
We’ve done enough.
“Yes,” her breathy response is steeped in sleep. “Yes, you can make me tea.”
Ever hovers as I set the kettle to boil on the stove. I don’t keep my eyes from her for long, sneaking a glance back and forth as I set about pulling the cups from the cupboard and scooping a spoonful of the dried tea into the pot to stew.
I’ve only made tea like this a few times—only for my mother.
“You don’t have to do this,” she protests, but I ignore her. I need to do something. Being left to my own thoughts isn’t a good idea right now. Ever is my focus and a happy distraction.
As we bring the tray into my room, we pass Rigel, still bristling. His eyes flare as he sees the tea prepared, as if my work is a slight against him, but he doesn’t say anything.
“That smells amazing.” She drifts into the bathing room, which is now filled with steam and a warm, floral scent that I’ve never used before.
She wastes no time stripping off her clothes and stepping out of them, letting them fall to the floor and straight into the hot water. She slides back and rests her head, a gentle hum vibrating from her lips.
It’s a comfort to see her so at ease as the water laps around her, eager to claim her hair and cleanse her of her ordeal.
“No falling asleep.” I smirk.
“Not a chance of that, Ten.” Her eyes close anyway.
“You can sleep later, just rest.”
“Maybe. I’m just… the heat is soothing.”
With her eyes shut, I happily kneel over the edge of the copper bath and count the freckles on her cheeks.
There are no nerves, no tension between us.
“Do people in Kirrasia keep a connection to those who are their Advocate?” she muses.
“I don’t know. I’ve not thought about it that way.” I run my fingers through the water, trailing through the bubbles as I consider my mother. “Why?”
“If they do, will it mean we have a new kind of connection?”
“Because of what happened?” Because I was her Advocate, not for power, but for life. I don’t say it, though.
“You were my Advocate,” she says it for me. Her voice is soft, as if not wanting to disturb the events that happened in case they haven’t settled yet. In case they are taken back. “You gave up your magic for me.”
“We don’t need anything to prove our connection, Ever. We have it regardless of magic or power. That’s not why I love you, and I doubt it’s why you love me.” I move my hand in the water and run it from her calf to her thigh, enjoying the shift and ripples in the water as Ever responds to my touch.
In a good way—in a way I want to sink into and explore.
But the bang of the front door closing from down the hall stills our moment.
My eyes watch hers, an unanswered question before us.
Continue. Or not.
Voices sound in the hall, and Ever shifts, tilting her head as she recognises them.
I smile to myself and steady the thrumming in my veins.
“Have some tea. Get dressed, and we can go and see them.” I plan for her and am rewarded with a smile. A genuine, full beaming smile that lights up her face more than any starlight could ever do.
We both creep out into the sitting room. Ever is nervous. I can feel it in the grip of her hand in mine. I open the door for her, and she surveys the people who’ve taken up residency.
Lyle, Raiden, Calix, Kyra, and Capella.
Ever looks over them all, running her gaze to each of them as if cataloguing them, and checking they are real. They all seem unharmed as they sit, tucked up on the overstuffed chairs, with tea, cake, and fruits set before them. Seems Rigel couldn’t help himself after all.
Her eyes glisten, glinting diamonds in the light as she waits. She’s upset. Overwhelmed, even. But she’s safe, for now.
I squeeze her hand again and pull her back from wherever her mind has taken her. That distant look, for just a moment, breaking in and haunting her.
I twist my body to whisper to Ever, “Everyone is here. You can rest. They’re safe.
” She nods in earnest, as if she’s still not believing it, but takes a deep inhale of breath as Lyle looks up, noticing her for the first time.
They share a moment that stretches, dropping an eerie silence over the room.
I’m selfish for wanting to keep her all to myself, I know that. But I also know that maybe, for tonight, we can hide away and face the barrage tomorrow.
“I—”
“Thank you all for coming. Make yourselves at home.” I nod to the refreshments. “We’ll speak in the morning.” I raise my eyebrows and look at Calix, hoping he understands.
“Ever—” Lyle starts, but Ever is the one to shake her head and retreat from the room.
She makes her way back to my bedroom and, without another word, climbs under the sheets.
I don’t force her to talk or explain. Instead, I take my time to wash up. It’s my turn to slide under the covers, and I’m glad Ever isn’t out cold.
She snuggles up towards me, nuzzling against my skin. My hands twitch to remove the shirt and trousers she still has on, but I settle for pulling her up against me, locking her against me.
We stay like that, the silence around us growing like a protective barrier from intrusive thoughts. I know there’s a mountain of things to say. To sort. To ask. But I don’t have the energy.
I avoid the memories of the last time she slept in my bed—the battle to control the reaction I had to her, and the effort to shield to reach a point where we could be just like this.
“I never thought I’d be able to lie with you so easily.” My fingers trace down her back, and in my mind, I’m brushing against her skin, nothing between us.
“It was a steep price for you,” Her breathy voice tickles my chest.
“It’s done. I’d pay it over and over.” It’s the truth.
“But you can’t worry, okay. I chose you.
I’ll always choose you.” She’s quiet. So, I let her in on something I’ve started to come to believe in.
“It was always my future, Ever. You are my fate, and I’m good with that.
” I kiss her forehead and will her to sleep.
The questions will come tomorrow, but in here, just for a little longer, I can still protect her.