Page 52 of Between Fear and Favor

“So be it,” Nereza said. “No one can say I didn’t try.”

Abruptly, the beach disappeared, and we were back in our chamber—sweaty and out of breath. Em used her divine fire to light the candle before jumping from the bed.

“What in the gods’ name was she talking about?” Em shouted at me. “You said they demandedme. That they wouldkill me.”

“Yes, because I knew you would entertain their demands,” I argued. “You considered sacrificing your life, too. What would you have me do, Em? Deliver you to the Supreme myself?”

I stood on the other side of the bed, naked and pleading with her. Should I have trusted her? Probably. But that didn’t change my decision. She was impulsive and soft-hearted. She would do anything to stop the current suffering, regardless of the repercussions.

Em stalked across the room, pulling her robe over her nightgown. “And you talked me out of it. You made me understand, Rain. You should have trusted me to trust in you.”

The sorrow rippling down the bond brought tears to my own eyes. “You’re right. I just... I panicked, Em. I’m sorry.”

She only shook her head, turning to look out the window. I walked toward her, ready to wrap my arms around her and make my apology clear, when I came to a dead halt.

The horns rang out, louder and far more insistent than they ever had before.

Chapter 25

EMMELINE

“Stay here, Em,”Rain said, as he rushed to the window.

“Youstay here,” I snapped, bending down to lace the boots I’d already slipped on.

“It’s the Wend. You’ll be safe here,” he pleaded, turning to face me. My divinely lit candle danced, his expression changing with each flicker. First I saw frustration, then fear, then longing—for time, for understanding. Was it the candle or was it Rain?

I decided, at this given moment, I didn’t care to find out. If we survived this, we could have it out afterward.

“Nowhere is safe, Rain. Not if they’ve breached the walls.”

“Maybe they haven’t.”

“Nereza wouldn’t pull us into a vision if it wasn’t to avoid this,” I said. Nereza wouldn’t have pulled us into a vision to inform me how my husband had lied if there weren’t some greater purpose. Nor would she have flaunted that he once gifted her with a seashell. It didn’t matter he was a child with no memory of it—she’d made eye contact when she said it. It was clearly some strange play for dominance. A misguided one, though. Rainier’s love for me, my knowledge of it, was unshakable. His trust, on the other hand? That was something we struggled with.

My husband stared at me, and I wished the moon was still high in the sky. Without its touch adorning his skin, all I could see behind him through the window was billowing smoke. I weaponized my posture, pulling my body taut. Standing at my full height, chin jutting out, and arms crossed in front of me, it would be obvious to Rain what I meant to do.

“Fine. But I want you to go east to make sure they can’t encircle us. That keeps you away from the Wend. And you can’t go in your robe.”

“Fine,” I snapped, annoyed he seemed to think I needed his permission for anything. After he kept the Supreme and Nereza’s true request from me? He was lucky I was still in the room. “While we’re stating the obvious, you can’t go naked either. Despite your urge to swing your dick around when it comes to me, I doubt it will be much use against their soldiers.”

“Em,” he said, taking a few steps toward me. I turned, hurrying over to the chest which held my haphazardly packed clothing. I wouldn’t dare take my boots off in front of him, considering Ihadbeen ready to leave in only my robe, but I needed to change. I didn’t spare him a glance as I pulled off my robe and nightgown.

“I’m sorry, Em,” he said as he stepped into his trousers from the day before.

I pulled my tunic over my head, shoving my arms into the long sleeves. Rain ran hot when he slept, and curling into his embrace had been nearly overbearing in the nightgown. But now, the cold cut me to the bone. I said nothing to Rain, because I didn’t want to speak any words I would regret if we didn’t survive this fight. It always came back to this though, didn’t it? Rain never trusted me to protect myself. He made decisions without me, and it always cost us in the long run. I finished getting dressed—struggling to pull my trousers on over my boots—without responding.

“Be furious with me later, dear heart,” he said, voice soft as he buttoned his shirt. Remorse fluttered down the bond, but right alongside it came righteous indignation. My own anger flared, and I was sure he felt it. “We have enemies to slay.”

Despite my irritation with him, I chuckled. “I will be even more angry if you get yourself killed before I can properly castigate you for lying to me. I do love you, though, despite your persistent failure to trust me to take care of myself.”

Before he could respond, I opened a rift and stepped through. When it closed behind me, I took a deep breath. Perhaps I should have given him a better goodbye—just in case.

“Oh gods!” came a shriek from behind me. “Your Majesty, I?—”

Turning, I came face to face with a robed Lord Durand, roused from sleep by the horns.

“Good, I’m glad you’re the first one I found,” I said, gripping his hand and dragging him after me down the hallway. This wing of the palace housed most of the court at the moment—thanks to the siege—and the Crown’s armory. “I need your help.”

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