Page 45 of The War of Wings
“They do,” he sighed. “And she’s perfect.”
I wanted to ask him more about Cielle, but I could tell by the set of his jaw and the slouch of his shoulders that he needed rest. Not only his body, but his mind.
“You have my word,” I said quietly. “I’m sorry, brother.”
He let out a humorless laugh as he retreated, calling over his shoulder, “Such is life, right?”
???
I stayed on that beach until the last of the sunset faded from the horizon and the moon hung high overhead. The house was quiet when I pushed through the front door and padded up the stairs.
Petra lay sleeping in the large bed, buried beneath a mountain of clean blankets she must’ve found in one of the countless closets in this home. I stared down at her sleeping form, marveling at every part of her.
Her lips were parted, lashes resting against cheeks that were reddened from the flight here. Her hair spread around her like a halo. One hand rested on the pillow beside her, the other strewn over my side of the bed, as if she’d fallen asleep waiting for me.
I slipped out of my leathers and climbed in beside her, pulling both her hands into mine. In the bright moonlight, I traced the lines of her palms. Her hands were so delicate yet capable of devastating power.
She stirred, her eyes fluttering for a moment before they opened and focused on me. Her lips upturned into a sleepy smile as her palm found my face, thumb stroking over my cheek. “Hi,” she whispered, closing her eyes again.
I pressed a kiss into her hair. “Hi. Sorry to wake you.”
“I was just dreaming a handsome king was slipping into my bed,” she murmured against my chest, and I chuckled. “Did you talk to Miles?”
“I did. Everything’s fine,” I answered, squeezing my eyes shut. The lie was ash on my tongue. “He’s still a bit shaken up from the battle.”
“I’m glad you talked to him,” she said with a yawn before reaching up to kiss me. I wondered if she could taste my lie.
I loved her. Saints, I loved her. We were brought together by the greatest force of evil this world had ever seen, and yet, we weregood.She was good. And staring at her peaceful, sleepy face, I knew I’d do anything at all for her to know such peace again.
Including lying to her, one last time. Including taking the life of my own brother.
I just hoped she’d forgive me for both.
Chapter 17
Petra
The cerulean shallows were lit by the first rays of a new day. They gave way to turquoise, and soon, there was nothing but deep navy water as far as the eye could see. No land. Only the sunlit ocean passing beneath us.
Conversation with Miles and Cal was difficult with the roar of the wind, so the three of us were silent atop our drivas. With nothing to do but sit and wait until we made landfall tomorrow, I thought. My eyes went blurry and unfocused, my mind swinging like a pendulum between pure confidence and utter hopelessness.
I could do this. I was doing this.
I was useless. I was out of my depth.
I had power in my blood and drivas at my call.
My powers weren’t enough.
I was strong.
I was weak.
I was foolish, foolish, foolish.
The pendulum always seemed to linger on hopelessness, always seemed to catch for an extra second on a raw edge of despair.
What the fuck was I doing?
