Page 140 of Severed Heir

Without turning, Archer said, “Find a Serpent gown for Severyn. Something that instills chaos.”

She blinked. “Oh. Well… I’m not sure how to knit chaos into a gown.”

I smiled faintly. “Find anything, Amria. I’ll make it work.”

“Oh no, I’m knitting chaos into a gown,” she muttered, already hurrying off.

I turned back to Archer. “I’m glad to be rid of Damien,” I said, exhaling. “Even if just for a bit.”

“I thought you enjoyed his company.” His brow lifted. “You did seek comfort in his presence. Late at night, might I add.”

I was starting to wonder if Archer could still hear my thoughts, because how else would he know about Rok and Damien?

“He’s hiding something,” I said. The amusement vanished from Archer’s face. “I catch fragments,” I went on. “When his mind slips. Whatever it is, it devours him. But I can’t get close enough to understand what.”

Archer’s jaw tightened. “Damien hides everything. He hears more than anyone and still can’t keep his own thoughts clean.” His voice dropped, cold and sure. “He’s dangerous, Sev.”

“I know. But this isn’t just about secrets.” My voice softened. “He says I’ll never forgive him. And Damien’s done a lot of unforgivable things, and he’s never once felt guilty about any of them.”

“Getting close to him is reckless,” he said after a long pause. “A ward is only as strong as the bond between those it divides. So tell me, how badly do you want to know?”

I hesitated. “What if…” My throat tightened. “What if he killed Malachi?”

Archer said nothing at first. Then he stepped closer, voice low. “Damien is cruel, but he’s not reckless. He knows you can hear him, and he’s using it to pull you in.”

“Why?” I asked. “He shielded me. Forced me to save someone he threw off his dragon. And whatever this is, he’s convinced I’ll never forgive him.”

“He won’t tell you outright,” Archer said. “Mind readers never do. They twist the truth in ways you don’t notice until it’s already inside you. But you have two choices now.”

I swallowed. “I can’t even talk to him without him accusing me of flirting. Which I am not.”

Archer’s jaw tightened again. “If you need to get close to him to keep your sanity, then do it. That’s your choice.”

I studied him for a moment. “You wouldn’t care? If I got close to Damien?”

His gaze lifted to mine. “I can’t care.”

“I want you to.”

His mouth parted slightly, then closed. “I won’t risk you getting hurt. Or dragged into another trial for treason. I care, Severyn. That’s the problem.”

“Our bond is gone.”

“Yet we still worry for each other,” he murmured. “Maybe the bond had nothing to do with it.”

Before I could respond, Amria returned, a gown draped carefully over her arms. Black lace shimmered in the firelight, its sleeves dusted with tiny crystals like stars scattered across night.

“What’s more chaotic than black lace?” she asked, a wicked glint in her eye.

“We’ll discuss this later,” Archer muttered.

“All right, Archer. Go put on your big boy suit. Severyn needs to embody chaos, and she can’t exactly do that with you lurking.”

“My estate,” he said coolly. “I’ll stay right here.”

He stepped back and folded his arms as Amria helped me into the dress. True to his word, he didn’t look away. The lace skimmed across my skin like spider silk, and his jaw flexed. When he shifted in his seat, one leg crossing with a quiet grunt of restraint, I didn’t dare meet his stare.

And I pretended not to notice. But the heat rising in my cheeks gave me away.

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