Page 79 of House of Darkness
My schedule had been nearly as hectic. I rose at sunrise to run, then trained with Enso until his more pressing duties required his attention. I practiced by myself until Catina was free to discuss my business, which was coming along splendidly. For the first time ever, I was proud of what I was becoming—strong, independent. I refused to wait to be rescued again. Yet by the end of each day, Roman and I nearly collapsed into bed together, sleep overtaking us before our heads hit the plush sage pillows. It didn’t leave much time to discuss… anything. I had hoped we could take a breath this morning, but our tangled relationship would have to be put off once more. More pressing issues awaited us.
The rustle of flames brought my attention back to the war room. The letter, once heavy with the weight of impending bloodshed, now floated in singed pieces above Enso’s hand, trapped in the tongue of his flames until it was reduced to ash. Enso turned his gaze to the group, who sat with bated breath.
“Well, if Razvan says it’s time for war, then it’s time for war,” Enso's earthen voice boomed through the room like a sledgehammer, shattering the thick fog of silence that had settled over us.
“Hell yeah! I can’t wait to put Edward’s head on a fucking pike,” Catina snarled. I couldn’t help but smile at the thought; there were more than a few people I would like to see given the same treatment.
“We have to make a plan before we just run in there. If the Javali and Bursuc have taken up post in Molvon, we’re talking about twoformidable armies,” Isabella chided.
“One and a half. We tore through most of the local Bursuc numbers,” Roman replied.
“We just dealt with one station, not nearly half their army,” Enso said.
The Bursuc House was the only one to successfully integrate into the territories of nearly every other House. Rather than merely holding dominion over their own territory in Aetror, they had outposts across all three continents. The outpost Roman and his generals had destroyed was just one of many. How many more girls were trapped in those basements, never knowing security or sunlight? My fingers twitched in the folds of my skirt.
“I doubt they’ve had time to mobilize any other outposts, as long as we act swiftly,” Catina responded.
Roman hunched forward over the faded map pinned to the table, moving his untouched teacup aside with a grimace, as though it might bite him if he got too close. My eyes narrowed. It was a subtle movement—one the other generals probably wouldn’t notice since they weren’t paying attention—but I couldn’t remember the last time I had seen him drink. The last time had been that night, and it had been from me.
It was possible he was drinking when I wasn’t around; after all, we were both busy most of the day. But a sinking feeling told me otherwise. I pursed my lips but stayed silent as his talon traced across the patchwork canvas, catching on holes that resembled knife marks. His black curls fell around his face, his eyes narrowed with focus as he studied the map, as if the answers might leap from the ink.
“Enso, you will mobilize half of our army to the southern border of Molvon. Estrella and I will fly north and march in with Ylva’s forces. The Fjällräv army is the only way we will get there with enoughsupport in time. Cat and Bells, figure out the logistics of supplies, then march with Enso. Even if you must leave after him, you should be able to catch up. I will have guards brought in to protect the girls.” Roman spoke with a calm authority that reminded me of an evening sprawled in front of a mirror, that same voice whispering in my ear. I hoped he didn’t notice my flush, but based on the twitch in his lips, my hopes were futile.
Enso spoke next, “Good thinking. We should each send an emissary to Ethhad to coordinate our arrival and attack.”
Catina leaned over the map, picking up two wooden figurines—one a raven with carefully carved feathers, the other a fox, its tail wrapped over its little feet. She placed one to the north and one to the south of Molvon. I scowled at the void to the east—the sea. “Can’t they just leave on their ships?” I asked, pointing to the city’s port.
Enso smirked. “Let me deal with that.”
A flame ignited on the tip of his index finger, which he pressed to the port. Blackness seeped over the bluish canvas as the map scorched under his heat. Isabella reached across and swatted his finger with a stream of curses. “This map is nearly as old as you are,estupido!”she snarled.
“Then it’s time for a replacement,” Enso replied smoothly. Roman chuckled.
“Everyone satisfied with this plan?” Roman asked, scanning the table. He took his time to meet each person’s eyes, including mine. The generals mumbled in agreement.
“Good, because we mobilize in the morning. Do what you must to prepare,” he said in dismissal. The scrape of chairs filled the thick air, but I stayed locked in place, my eyes on the tsar.
Somehow, being alone with him made the room feel fuller. The static electricity was enough to raise the hair on my nape, shrinkingthe space until he was the only thing left. It wasn’t fair how he could make me feel so insignificant yet so powerful and alive at the same time.
“I can feel your eyes burning holes into my head,” Roman said, turning to look at me fully.
All words evaporated from my lungs as I stared at him, his undivided attention on me. I meant to confront him, to be headstrong as I was training to be, but I took the easy way out. “Truth for a truth?”
His eyes heated, a soft smile forcing a fang to protrude from his lips. “Always.”
I couldn’t help but smile back at the beauty of Roman’s smile. He was like a dark angel sent purely for temptation. “You first.”
He hummed thoughtfully, his hand slithering across the table to find mine. The sharp tips of his fingers brushed over my knuckles delicately, daring me to stray off course. But I wouldn’t, not for this. I snapped my eyes to his just as he spoke. “How do you feel about going to war?”
I looked back at the map, at the brownish scorch mark that had spread to the edges of Molvon. I knew that darkness was not just symbolic. Darkness would fall on that town, upon innocents and traitors alike. Blood would turn the streets that same shade of ruddy brown. I blinked back the thought. “It is necessary.”
“This means the start of war, Estrella. A war where innocents will die, and I will be partially to blame.” I studied him, noting the loose strands of hair out of place where his fingers had run through it, the soft taupe shade under those beautiful ruby eyes. The tension in his jaw—the weight of the world hung in his shoulders. Though he didn’t need to carry all that guilt, it was in his nature.
I twisted my fingers into his and squeezed. “Innocents are already dying, Roman. Suffering. Begging for our help. Youare not to blame for their pain, but if we can do something about it, shouldn’t we?”
A half-hearted smile spread across his lips, his hand squeezing back. “We should, and we will. We’ll set this whole world ablaze.”
He looked at our entwined hands and cleared his throat. “Your turn.”
