Page 106 of Consumed By Fire

“This is where it gets tricky.” He looks down, pulling in a deep breath.

“Why? What did he say?” I almost can’t contain myself.

“He said that his brother is to be jailed. Ice will go on trial for treason. He will be sentenced to death if he is found guilty.” His eyes are solemn.

“It sounds like there is a ton of evidence against him.” I lick my lips. “I’m pretty sure it’s a given that he will be executed.”

“Oh, there is plenty of evidence.” He shrugs. “And I say what goes around comes around.” Then he gets a look in his eye. A glint.

“What?” I ask.

“Arctic told me that he thought that Ice had one good idea through all of this. Just the one, mind you.”

“Are you going to make me beat it out of you?” I ask, giving him the side-eye.

Octane smiles, and my insides flutter. “He asked if I would stay on as a liaison between the Reds and the Draigers.”

“Are you serious?” My heart swells so much that my chest starts to hurt a little.

Octane turns serious and nods.

“Tell me,” I insist. I’m smiling.

“He invited me to stay on. He wants nothing more than peace. I mean, if Ice had taken over, we know what would have happened. We know that peace was the furthest thing from that bastard’s mind. I knew that. You know that. Even when he told me otherwise, I knew he planned on slaughtering my people. Arctic is the opposite.”

“What are you saying? Are you going to accept?” There is excitement laced in my voice.

“I want to, but I had to talk to you about it first. It’s a bit tricky.”

“We could be together. What is there to talk about?” I squeeze his hand. “This is everything we could have hoped for. Unless you don’t want to live on Mistveil. I guess I can understand that.”

Octane nods. “It’s not that. I would have an opportunity to make a difference like I always wanted. It would be a positive difference. It would be bringing people together instead of keeping them apart. It would be fostering peace and love instead of hate. But…”

I groan. “I knew there was a but…”

“But it would mean that we would have to live here at the castle. He has offered to pay me very well. You wouldn’t have to work.”

“This stuff isn’t important. Please get to the important part. I don’t care where we live, just as long as we’re together. We can iron out everything else. What is your main concern?”

“It would be dangerous. I wouldn’t be readily accepted, which means that you would be caught up in it as a Draiger lover. We would be given guards to watch over us, but…”

“Yes,” I tell him. “I said no before, and I was wrong. I should have jumped then, but I’m jumping now. It will always be yes. We belong together.”

Octane laughs. “Really? You mean it?”

“Of course I mean it.” A tear leaks out, much to my disgust. “I love you. I will follow you everywhere and support you in anything.”

“Are you sure?” He frowns, looking into my eyes.

“Shut up and kiss me already.”

Our lips meet somewhere in the middle. His mouth closes over mine as he tugs me in close, his fingers threading through my hair. For a few moments, time seems to stand still.

33

Octane

Three months later…

---