I try again to summon my magic. Nothing but void.
Ferelith holds up the book. “Before I do that, though, I want to know what’s in this. It’s clearly ancient. Open it,” she commands.
“Open it yourself,” I snap at her.
“Are you refusing to help me?” she asks, a slow smile spreading. “Because I can make you do it. Or I can torture you for the fun of it, and then you’ll beg to help me.”
“I’ll never willingly help you,” I say, lifting my chin.
Her smile becomes blinding and she takes such joy in my answer that she almost looks beautiful from the inside out. “I hope you can tolerate a little pain, Thalia. I’d settle in. It’s going to be a long day for you.”
CHAPTER 30
Bastien
Bastien bent over a table in his tent, scanning recently drawn maps that marked all the forces they’d congregated not only at Camp Rosethorn but in various regions around Kestevayne. His palms pressed down onto the worn wood as he surveyed for error in their planning.
They were as ready as they could be, and no matter how much work he’d done coordinating the battalions, none of this would’ve been possible without Thalia’s magic, without her bravery to take on the shadows from Amell, learn to wield it, and then offer her own blood day after day to protect her people.
She was the most remarkable woman he knew.
She was also all he could think about. As the days ticked by since he last saw her, he found himself longing for her more and more, rather than the ache easing with time and distance.
Bastien had thought he only had crumbs to offer her, but it plagued his mind that if they survived this, he’d work his ass off every day for the rest of his life to make her happy.
Somehow, he had changed, and he understood he had the capacity for love to grow again.
Hell, it had grown.
He’d fallen in love with her again. Simple as that.
And while he couldn’t remember well the excited buzz of those feelings from years ago, he could tell that what he felt now was deeper.
Wiser.
More settled.
Yes… he could offer her even more, as long as he hadn’t blown it completely.
But he doubted he had. Thalia would forgive him—she loved him, and he knew her soul and heart. She wasn’t going to give up on him so easily. That was something of which he was certain.
Now he just had to figure the best way to make it up to her. He imagined it would take a bit of groveling, perhaps more apologies. A small price to pay to start anew with his woman.
“Bastien,” Kieran said as he appeared out of thin air, having bent distance to step right into the commandant’s tent.
Ice swept through Bastien’s veins, not just from the tone of his brother’s voice but from the look on Kieran’s face. He knew without even needing to hear the words that something bad had happened.
“It’s Thalia… you need to come back to Clairmont now.”
“To where?” Bastien asked, needing the specific location and not wasting time on what had happened.
“Her house.”
That’s all Bastien needed, and he bent distance without waiting for Kieran. Stepping into the living area of Thalia’s home, he first noted all the blood. A bright red spray along the wall, across the chairs, and a large puddle on the floor where Merrilyn lay with her eyes open and unseeing.
His stomach roiled at noticing her lifeless body, but he was more worried about where Thalia was and whether she’d suffered the same fate. It never once crossed his mind that Thalia had murdered Merrilyn, though.
“Oh, thank gods you’re here,” Heph said as he ran from the bedroom.
Kieran materialized beside Bastien and explained, “Heph came home to find this and Thalia gone. I came to get you right away.”
“Where’s Amell?” Bastien asked. If they ever needed a powerful ally, it was now.
“Back to the Underworld,” Heph replied as he wrung his hands in agitation. “Just yesterday.”
Panic settled deep in Bastien’s gut, and he rubbed his head, then his neck. He looked to Heph. “When was the last time anyone saw Thalia? And do we know why Merrilyn was here?”
“I sent Merrilyn over with a tea for Thalia. She was running herself down through the amount of blood she was letting for the spells. But I left Thalia probably two hours ago.”
Bastien growled, angry at himself for not providing oversight. He should’ve known Thalia would give all she had and then more she didn’t have to protect her people. But that was moot now.
He moved onto the porch and looked around. Little Sam stood near the fence that surrounded the yard. He looked at the house curiously but still with shy reserve. Sam didn’t talk to many people, but over the last couple weeks, he’d been coming around to see Thalia, definitely warming to her, or at least that’s what Kieran had reported to Bastien after his daily visits to Clairmont. His trips had been mostly about the status of training, but he always gave Bastien updates about Thalia, whether he asked for them or not.