My throat tightens. “Em—”
“—no, let me finish.” She reaches across the table and grips my hand again. “You’ve always been the strong one, Rora. Even when you didn’t believe it yourself. Now it’s my turn to be strong for you.”
“But you shouldn’t have to—”
“—I want to.” She stands, moving around the table to sit beside me. “You’re not alone in this. Whatever comes next, whatever Aleksander and Asha are planning, we face it together.”
When did she mature so much? Gone is the fragile girl who needed protecting. In her place sits a woman with iron in her spine and fire in her heart.
“When did you get so wise?” I ask.
“I learned from the best.” She grins again as she adds, “Now eat your bread before I force-feed it to you like you used to do to me.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Jasce
Sunlight seepsthrough the windows as I sit at my desk, absently rolling a piece of charcoal between my fingers.
William sprawls on the floor nearby, playing with the wooden warriors I carved for him.
My attention drifts to the window, where the desert sun bathes everything in harsh light, but all I see is Annora’s face—the way her eyes light up when she smiles, the way her cheeks flush when I tease her.
After I sneaked into her bedchamber, I returned to the stables to find Jude and Arian waiting for me. They didn’t waste time insisting that I return to Sharhavva, and it took everything I had to listen to their urging, to leave Annora behind.
“This is the bravest warrior, just like you,” William says.
A smile tugs at my lips as I shift to watch him. “Is that so?”
“Yes, and he has special fire magic.” He swoops one of the figures through the air, making whooshing sounds. “See? He’s protecting everyone, like you do.”
Everyone except my wife.
My fingers tighten around the charcoal until it snaps. I quickly brush the dust away before William notices.
If only I could march into Bakva and sweep Annora away from Aleksander.
“Jasce, watch this part.” William crashes two warriors together again and again.
I lean forward. “Show me what happens next.”
“The brave warrior fights the evil dictator.” Sunlight dances in his eyes as he smashes the wooden figures together for a third time. “And then…” He drops one figure to grab another, “…his friend comes to help.”
“That’s good of his friend.”
He nods. “The evil dictator tries to steal their magic, but the warrior protects everyone with his fire shield.”
“That’s very clever, Will.”
The birthmark on his forehead crinkles as he grins at me. “I learned about shields from watching you practice in the courtyard.” He demonstrates again, his uneven movements nearly toppling him, but he catches himself on the edge of my desk.
“Careful there.” I steady him with a hand on his shoulder.
“The warrior’s friend has special powers too. She can…” The lines near his mouth deepen as he thinks for a moment before continuing, “…she can make silver light that helps people.”
Unlike my father, I haven’t taught William to hate people from House of Silver. I even made sure William’s tutors teach him all about their magical abilities and the way they govern their people.
He tugs at my sleeve. “Are you watching? This is the best part.”
