Page 185 of Between Despair and Hope

“My mother owes the Supreme a favor.” She shrugged before spinning on a heel and melting back into the crowd who mingled after their dinner. Drawing a hand over my face, I gave Raj a look and knew he’d investigate whatever the fuck the assassin had been speaking about. While we hadn’t revealed that Em had caused Keeva’s death, we insisted their sister died at sea, and they had left our meeting without saying much else. They had, however, asked for our discretion, and Em had given her word. I felt her guilt down the bond, and she’d silenced me with a wicked mouth and dexterous hands when I tried to discuss it with her afterward. The burden of a taken life, no matter the reason, was a heavy one, and, though I yearned to lighten it for her, I knew she wouldn’t want that. Instead, I strove to give her the silent assurance she needed that I’d be here for her through it.

The crowd wasn’t too loud, thankfully, considering half of the guests had already left because of the postponement. It didn’t feel right to celebrate anyway. I glimpsed Elora chatting with Theo, tugging on one of her curls and twisting it as she spoke—a nervous habit I’d noticed she had—and I wondered if she required intervention. A moment later, a clattering of broken glass drew everyone’s attention, and a clearly drunken Prince Cyran threw himself to the ground to help clean up whatever mess he’d made. When I’d seen him on the guest list my mother gave me, I’d insisted upon his removal, but she’d thrown a fit and told me Elora demanded it.His brother knows he betrayed him, and he has no one, she’d supposedly said. I wasn’t as surprised by her compassion as I ought to have been.

“Which captains await me in Lamera? With Brenna gone, I assume you want Dewalt here?”

“Of course he does,” my friend said, sauntering up and butting into the conversation. I was getting rather aggravated by all the interruptions, though I supposed I was the one who decided not to call a formal meeting.

“Can I have Thyra at least?” Raj asked, complaint in his tone.

“That’s a question for my wife,” I said, inclining my head toward the woman in question, who sat with her head close to Raj’s daughter, Marella. I suspected Em was orchestrating a friendship between his girl and our own. “Are you going to send them back to the Alsors?”

“I suspect you’ll be summoning the dragons to Astana, so no. My family won’t be there to care for them. They can stay here. Aida will keep an eye on them.”

“Where is she tonight?” Dewalt asked.

“I told you to bring her,” I added, and Raj cleared his throat, a sheepish look on his face as he brushed his thumb to his nose, clearly embarrassed.

“Wasn’t feeling well, she said.”

“You’re allowed to move on. Marella seems to like her.” Surprisingly gentle, Dewalt spoke quietly. He’d left his hair down, and he tucked it behind his ear as the two of us swiveled our attention to him.

“Oh, you’re the master at moving on now, are you?” Raj retorted. For the first time in my long relationship with the two of them, I felt like an outsider to the conversation. Before, while my love hadn’t died, I’d still been able to commiserate with them, missing Em and full of regret as I was. But now, I couldn’t help but feel they might begrudge my newfound happiness, whether they wanted to or not. Although, Raj seemed to be trying to move on.

“I think what Dewalt is trying to say,” I interrupted, “is that if you’re feeling embarrassed with us about it, there is no need. We’re happy for you.”

Raj dipped his head before clearing his throat. “Alright, gods, what is this? A sewing circle?”

“I resent that remark, General,” Em interjected, joining us by pinching Raj in the side.

“Your Majesty, forgive me, I—”

“Marella just finished telling me all about how Aida has been teaching you how to patch your own clothes, so she no longer has to do it. It would seem your sewing circle is serving you well.”

Dewalt guffawed, and Emma shot him a dark look. “Don’t act as if I didn’t hear you telling him to move on. It’s quite interesting what the young ones notice, you know? Elora was just telling me earlier today about how much attention you’ve paid to a certain nov—”

“You’ve made your point,” Dewalt drawled. “Nor is dangerous. I’ve been paying attention to protecting your daughter.”

“For which I am grateful. I’m curious to hear about how escorting the woman to the temple protected Elora?” A picture of innocence with her hands clasped behind her back, Em awaited his answer, and I felt her dry amusement for just a moment before she let the man off the hook, addressing Raj instead. “You want to take Thyra with you?”

“Gods, Em, whatdidn’tyou hear?”

She turned her grin upon me, a smile shining like a beacon directly to my soul. “I heareverything. You’d be surprised how motherhood makes one adapt.”

I shook my head, smiling, finding myself wanting to pull her into my hold. Each moment wouldn’t be enough with her.

“You may take her, Raj. As long as your first embroidery project is delivered to me?” Her voice was so sweet as she asked, and Raj ran his hand through his beard, the silver more apparent among the otherwise black hair which graced his russet skin. He clearly hadn’t realized she was only using him for her amusement.

“Of course, Your Majesty,” he replied, failing to hide his gritted teeth. She snorted and rolled her eyes, deserting us to speak to Marella once more.

“Enjoy the rest of your meal, Raj,” I said as I dismissed him.

“I suppose you’ll have to inform the Supreme?” Dewalt asked.

“I suppose so,” I sighed, scanning the room to find the Supreme and my mother in conversation, heads tilted toward one another as Shivani laughed, smiling brightly.

“She’s different now, isn’t she?”

“It would seem,” I agreed.

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