Page 91 of The Shadow Prince's Ruin
My heart feels as if it’s falling apart, and while I’ve been through so much shit, no pain ever felt this intense. But I don’tlet any of that show, because he needs to focus on getting to safety, not comforting a man who’ll inevitably lose himself.
“That too,” I say, snorting. “Handsome, and tall.”
The smile falls from Sylvan’s lips as he dresses in the damp black clothes that no longer look very refined. “Hawk… please stay in that pool once I leave. Turn the water on, so you have a steady cooling stream.”
I nod and rest my chin on the tip of his boot, clinging to the chance to touch him once more. “You know what’s best.”
But when he lets out a sob and turns to hide his face, Ihaveto get out. The need to comfort him is stronger than my sense of self-preservation.
“I don’t want to leave you,” he whimpers when I pull him into my arms.
“You must,” I insist, burying my face in his damp hair. Nothing was ever as hard as letting him go, but there is no other way. I pick up his backpack and lead him toward the heavy door, because this will be easier for him once he can no longer see me.
His heavy inhales weigh on my heart. When I usher him to the other side of the vault door, it feels like leaving a kitten out in the rain.
“This can’t be happening. Not right after I found you,” Sylvan utters, grabbing my hand, but he must know what is about to happen, because he doesn’t try to come back in.
Overcome by a wave of grief, I give his hand a quick kiss, and then shove the door back in place before either of us can change his mind. It’s only then that my tears fall, but I wait, holding the door until the lock finally clangs.
And still, he speaks, his voice like an echo through the thick metal.
“Hawk? What if we—”
“No, Sylvan. You need to promise me you will leave.”
Silence.
“You need to promise!”
An eternity later, he says, “I promise.”
My legs give up, and I curl into a ball on the cold, dusty floor, trying to contain the anguish tearing me up on the inside. But I got what I wanted.
Now, I can waste away in peace.
Chapter 36
Sylvan
So I fucking lied. I only made the promise to Hawk so he stays put. And I would lie a hundred times more if it meant saving Hawk’s life. I would lie, beg, steal, and kill if need be. Maybe it means I’m no good, but I’ve not been brought up to begood. I’ll leave that to theheroes.
The promise I made at our wedding was way more important, and I intend to keep it. I understand full well that he wanted me to leave for my safety, that he cares for my life as much as I do for his. That’s why he put on that damn mask in the first place. Iwouldhonor his sacrifice if there was no other way, but I am not giving up on him when there might still be something I can do.
Our bond tells me he’s still alive, and I will fight for him for as long as I can sense his heartbeat, no matter how faint.
It might be a shot in the dark, but there are artifacts capable of containing the power of Sunlight. Were he a shadow-wielding elf, he would stand a chance against the force radiating insidehim, but because he is not, he needs something to do that for him.
There are collars that suppress shadowcraft, like the one I wore during my time in the human realm, but the treasure vault of the Nocturne Court contains one capable of blocking Sunlight. A long time ago, a grimsmith fashioned it for his daughter out of a rare metal mined on the Darkmoon. He embedded it with sunset gems, and it was used a few times to aid royal children born with the power to wield both shadow and Sunlight, until they learned to cope with the two forces tearing them up from the inside.
The Umlaris Band.
Could it save Hawk? There’s only one way to find out.
I need to steal it from the Nocturne Court.
I’m the prey about to dash toward the hunting party, but I’ve grown up at the castle and know several ways to sneak inside. My mind fizzes with the many plans and options, but I can only make them happen if I reach my destination safely. And fast, because I have no idea how long Hawk’s soul has until it is burned to char.
So even though I dread meeting Lepearl and her crew again, I make my way back to the cove where they are still hopefully moored. Her vessel is small enough to get close to the Nocturne Court without being spotted, and with two kelpies tugging on the boat, it should take merely hours, unlike the perilous journey I’d have to make on foot.
