Page 168 of A Game of Monsters

“We will be reunited with you on the other side,” Duncan added.

These could be my final words to them, I wouldn’t part with a lie.

I lifted a hand, placing it carefully on the side of Erix’s face. The second I touched him, Erix melted into my hold, leaning into my palm and releasing a groan. “I need you to say it, Robin. Tell me this is not a goodbye.”

“Robin?” I spluttered feigned surprise to lighten the tension. “Is this really the time for using my actual name?”

His silver eyes pooled with tears. “You’ve always been Robin. My Robin, my little bird. The man who inspires me, the man who changed me and the man who saved me.”

“I haven’t saved you yet,” I reminded him, the lump in my throat becoming unbearable.

Erix closed his famously silver eyes. “You know exactly what I mean.”

“I know.” A pain shuddered in my chest, part from emotion and the rest from the chasing storm of chaos at my back. It was gaining. Quickly. “This isn’t over. We promised each other a tomorrow, and I am far too selfish to not see it through.”

“Being selfish is not a bad thing,” Erix added, staring deep into my soul. “You have always punished yourself for making decisions on your own, when all your life that is what you have relied on yourself to do.”

“It has taken a long time to work that out, but I see it now. Because of you, because of your patience and guidance.”

“Itismy honour.”

“As my personal guard?” I said, with a smirk that was seconds from breaking into a chest-breaking cry.

“No, little bird. As the man who loves you, without bounds and limitations.”

I trailed my hand down his cheek, brushing my thumb over his lips. “I love you too, Erix.” My eyes lifted over Erix’s shoulder, coming to rest on Duncan, who had not stopped smiling toward us. “And you, Duncan Rackley. Come here.”

Duncan lifted a finger to his eye, lowered to his heart and then slowly pointed toward me. Those actions spoke more than words. Duncan took confident steps, closing the space between us. Erix took the moment to step back, allowing room for Duncan, respecting that we all needed equal time.

As much as we pretended this was not a goodbye, it certainly felt like it. But I wouldn’t leave until I had given them both their final command.

“You’re the bravest person I know,” Duncan said, running his hands up my arms as though using his last moments to memorise me. “I saw it in your eyes the first time we met, and I see it now. You’ll do anything for the people you love, and that is an admirable trait.”

Duncan leaned in and placed a kiss on my cheek. His lips brushed the corner of my mouth, and I fought the urge to back out of my decision. Which was why he did it – careful not to touch my lips completely. He knew I needed to do this, and no matter if both men hated that truth, neither one would stop me.

I steeled my expression, growing taller and broader, just at his confidence alone. “You’re not going to try and stop me this time, are you?”

Duncan shook his head. “It would be a waste of breath, darling. I’ve tried that before and learned the hard way.”

“Learned that I always do what I want?”

“No. I learned that you do what is necessary to secure the lives of those around you. When you took that vial, believing it was poison, it was to save the realms. That is the mostselflessact of anyone I have ever known.”

“I thought the whole point of this was that I was being selfish,” I said, allowing myself to be wrapped up in his arms. His grasp was firm, his newly formed wings folding over me, encapsulating me in heat.

“To be selfish for selfless means is one of a thousand reasons why I admire you.”

“Do we have time for you to share your list with me?” I scoffed, desperately wanting to draw out the moment, but knowing I couldn’t.

The rumbling of thunder at my back told me I was right.

Duncan planted a kiss on my crown, exhaling a hard breath that spoke of a million unsaid things. “How about we make a deal. You go and save the realms, collect that lost part of Duwar, and then I will gladly sit and list every single one of the reasons why I love you.”

“I like the sound of that,” I replied, knowing this moment was coming to an end. But in my last grasp to enjoy this, I shot out a final command for Duncan, perhaps the most important. I made sure to keep my voice to a whisper, something only he could hear.

“Look after Erix,” I whispered.

“He will be fine–”

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