Page 98 of Silver Claws, Crimson Tears
As I approach the entrance, a familiar figure emerges from the shadows. Vaylen. He must have left orders to be notified the moment we returned. Our eyes connect, and something flickers across his face. Relief? His lips part as if to speak, but whatever words he planned die in his throat.
We stand frozen in painful silence, everything we’ve said to each other hanging between us like sharpen swords. My chest tightens. I want to reach for him, to explain everything—the new vision, the King, Heratrix, Zephyros’s mental gaps—but pride and resolve keep my arms at my sides.
I break eye contact first, brushing past him into the tower. Whatever we were to each other, it’s over.
I enter the Commander’s office with Vaylen close behind, my spine snapping straight as I stand at attention. Voltguard sits at her desk, already buried in reports, not bothering to look up.
“Permission to receive my orders, Commander,” I say, keeping my voice flat despite the gut wrenching turmoil inside me.
Voltguard glances up, annoyance flashing across her face. “I thought you got those directly from the King, Wyndward.”
The insinuation stings, but I keep my expression neutral. Years of hiding what I am have made me practiced at wearing masks.
Vaylen stops beside me, his presence both comforting and infuriating. He stands mirroring my stance, his voice carefullycontrolled. “Commander, I’m surprised you’ve returned so quickly. I thought?—“
“You should be glad to have this Skysinger rejoin your Clutch, High Prime,” Voltguard cuts him off. “Rhealyn Wyndward has been declared innocent by the King himself and is to return to full duty effective immediately.”
Vaylen’s confusion radiates off him in waves. I can almost hear the questions racing through his mind, but he asks none of them. “Understood, Commander.”
The Commander’s mouth tightens, and she returns to her reports. “You’re both dismissed.”
We remain frozen for only a heartbeat, then pivot sharply in unison and march out of the office. Anger seethes in my chest, but this is what I wanted, wasn’t it? So why do I feel so awful?
I bolt out of the tower, escaping Vaylen and his damn blue eyes that see too much. The courtyard stretches before me, mercifully empty.
“Wyndward!” Vaylen calls after me.
I keep walking, my strides long and purposeful. Just leave me alone.
His footsteps quicken behind me, and suddenly his hand grips my shoulder, spinning me around. I nearly slam into his chest as he forces me to face him.
“What happened in Emberton?” His voice carries both command and plea. “What did the King say to you?”
I wrench my arm away. “The Commander told you. I’m cleared for duty.”
Again, I try to leave, but he steps into my path, so close I can smell him—forest and leather and him. My body betrays me with a shiver of recognition. His eyes flick down to my mouth, and for a heartbeat, I think he might kissme right here in the open courtyard.Wyrm’s rot, part of me wants him to, and I’m afraid it always will.
“Please,” he says, his voice dropping low though no one’s around. “Tell me what happened.”
I stare at him, drowning in his ocean eyes. How can he still look at me like this after everything I said? After I deliberately twisted the knife to drive him away?
“You don’t have to do this alone,” he whispers. “You can trust me.”
A harsh laugh escapes my throat before I can stop it. “Can I? And isn’t trust mutual?” I step closer, looking up at him with challenge burning in my eyes. “Trust goes both ways, Vaylen, and you’ve lost yours. You let your jealousy murder it as plainly as I murdered that fucking Neutro, so don’t talk to me about trust when you’ve shown none yourself.”
I try to step around him, but Vaylen grabs my arm, his grip firm. He lowers his head, his lips close to my ear, his breath warming my skin. I freeze, caught between wanting to run and wanting to stay.
“I’ve already apologized, Rhealyn,” he whispers, voice rough with emotion. “I’ve made it clear I would do anything for you. But the one thing I won’t do is go against your wishes or force my presence on you if it’s truly unwanted.”
My heart hammers against my ribs. He’s too much of a gentleman to force himself on a woman.
“Maybe you’re acting like this out of anger and pride. I can understand that.” His fingers loosen on my arm, trailing down to my wrist. “But I hope your anger will pass, and you’ll forgive me. And when you do, I’ll be right here, waiting.” His voice drops even lower. “Because what I said in Hearthdale is true... I love you.”
Something cracks inside me. I jerk away, unable to bear his touch, his words, his everything.
“Don’t,” I hiss. “Don’t say that.”
“Why not? It’s the truth, and I know I will go on loving you for the rest of my life.”
