Page 12 of Prisoner of Steel and Shadow

“And youneedme.”

“Always, but this is something I can do on my own.”

“Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.”

That fucking ball was back. “Helena...”

“Ronan...”

“Let me go.” The plea was a ragged whisper. “She needs me more than you do.”

“I know.” Tears swam in Helena’s aqua eyes.

“If there was another way—”

“I know,” she repeated, her voice steadier this time. “It’s okay. It would be selfish of me to force you to stay when your heart is so clearly elsewhere. I will not be your jailer, Ronan. You made your vow to me before Reyna was ever in the picture. You may not have had the chance to voice them yet, but the unspoken promises of your heart supersede any you gave to me.”

Relief rolled through him. He closed his eyes, sucking in a shuddering breath. He’d known she would consent, but hearing it affected him far more than he thought it would. Helena was the final tether keeping him in Elysia. Without the shackles of duty to bind him, he felt unmoored.

Weightless.

Free.

“Thank you.”

“It is the least I can do for the brother of my heart.”

Ronan didn’t bother wiping away the tear that slipped free. His hands were full, holding on to the child in his arms anyway. “You’ve always been the sister of my soul.”

“Hey,” Effie protested softly, breaking the tension in the room and making the others laugh.

Ronan used the moment to catch Von’s eye. A lifetime of memories passed between them. Ronan couldn’t think of a single milestone in his life that didn’t include the silver-eyed warrior. This would be the first time since childhood they’d be apart. When Von had set off to face his destiny, Ronan had been right there at his side. It had always been that way between them. Where one went, the other followed.

But not this time.

This time Ronan had to walk alone.

Von’s eyes darkened, and his voice was gruffer than usual when he spoke. “Find her, Ronan.”

“I will.”

“Find her, and thencome home.”

Ronan didn’t answer that time. Not because he didn’t want to, he was simply too overwhelmed by all he was feeling. And after feeling nothing but anger for so long, he couldn’t seem to remember how to function any other way.

“Kiri, who will you name in his place?” Timmins asked.

Ronan almost smiled. Fucking Timmins. Of course the Advisor would be more worried about following protocol than anything else. Some things never change.

“No one.”

“But Helena, the Circle... you cannot—”

Her eyes turned a sparkling iridescent. “Ican do whatever I want, Advisor. Ronan is my Shield. Though he must leave me, he will return, and on that day—no matter how far away it might be—the position will be waiting for him. Until then, we will find someone to stand in during his well-deserved vacation.”

“Since when do we get to take vacations?” Kragen grumbled.

Ronan wanted to point out that he didn’t anticipate there would be much in the way of relaxing in his future, but that wasn’t the purpose of Helena’s proclamation. Her message was clear. As far as the Chosen were concerned, the Shield was taking an extended trip but would return. His position would be filled by another in his absence. It might seem a small distinction, but her version of events would raise fewer eyebrows than the truth.

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