No! I would much rather believe Jasce’s words. Much rather think that she wouldn’t attack Sharhavva if I’m living there.
“Even if she stops attacking House of Crimson, those who come after her will not stop,” I say, my voice heavy with the weight of this inescapable truth. “My people still believe they are the ones who are supposed to rule Hematite land, that it is their birthright. They will not relinquish that claim easily.”
“I know, but if we have children with both our blood, we will be placing both of our houses on the throne.” He stands, moves to the nearby table, and pours a goblet of wine. “We owe it to ourselves and our people to start the threads of change, to be the ones who end centuries of conflict.” Conviction burns in his eyes as he turns back to face me. “If we do not at least try to bridge the divide between our houses, we are no better than our ancestors who spilled so much Hematite blood.”
I take a deep breath, wanting to believe in everything he’s saying.
He takes a long drink of his wine before speaking again, his voice low and earnest. “I know that peace is possible between our houses, and I believe in us. But our marriage will require courage and sacrifice from both of us.”
I swallow hard and nod at Jasce, knowing in my heart that he’s right. If there’s any hope of weaving our fractured houses back together into something whole and beautiful, it will require us believing in the impossible and in each other.
ChapterTwenty-Two
ANNORA
Each nightI fall asleep wrapped in Jasce’s arms. Every morning, we linger in bed. During the day, Jasce shows me the different gardens surrounding the villa.
On the third evening after we arrive in Narhavva, I step into the library with Jasce.
Jude lounges in an oversized armchair near the hearth, while Arian sits cross-legged on the floor next to him, her brow scrunched in concentration as she pores over a thin book of poetry.
Jude glances up as we enter, a lazy smile spreading across his face. “There you two are. We were starting to wonder if you’d gotten lost.”
A faint blush colors my cheeks as Jasce guides me over to the sofa, and I sink down beside him.
“Not lost.” Jasce shrugs. “Just busy.”
A mischievous look crosses Jude’s face as he looks between us. “I have no doubt you two wereverybusy.”
More heat rises to my face, and I duck my head, suddenly finding great interest in a loose thread on my sleeve.
Instead of responding to his brother, Jasce wraps his arm around my shoulders and pulls me against him.
Arian shifts to look at me. “What do you think of Narhavva, Lady Annora?”
“It’s lovely, and please call me Annora.”
She nods. “This is where I grew up.”
She grew up here deep in House of Crimson territory?
How is that possible?
Seeming to sense the questions swirling through my thoughts, she adds, “I was an orphan and forgotten after my village was raided when I was a baby. One of the men from House of Crimson took me and raised me in Narhavva.”
“That’s incredible,” I say, thinking about the type of man who would be willing to take a baby from a House of Silver village and raise her.
A smile spreads across Arian’s mouth. “I was very blessed to be raised by a man who didn’t care about the bitter rivalry between House of Crimson and House of Silver. He taught me to be open-minded, to judge people by their actions rather than their house colors.”
“How do you divide your loyalty between the houses?” I ask after a moment.
She shrugs. “By caring about both houses. Some people might not see it that way. They might see me as a traitor instead, but I know my heart, and my heart longs for peace.”
I glance at Jasce as he converses with Jude. Maybe he has a point about us bringing peace to our houses. If people like Arian are willing, surely there are others who feel the same way.
“So,” I say as I focus back on Arian. “You and Jude?”
She smiles again and nods.
