He laughed softly. “For thousands of years, I’ve tried to orchestrate every moment, craft every path. But when it comes to you, I must follow instead of lead.”
I pushed myself up to look at him, really look at him. Even in the dim light, I could see the struggle there, the constant battle between his need to protect and his effort to let me find my own way.
“I don’t want time anymore.” The words came out in a rush, surprising us both. “I don’t know how much longer I can keep fighting myself in the madness. The voices, they’re getting stronger, and I—” I swallowed hard. “I don’t want to waste whatever time I have left fighting what’s between us.”
His hands came up to frame my face, thumbs brushing away tears I hadn’t realized I’d shed. “Paesha?—”
“I know what I’m saying.” I leaned into his touch. “For once in our very long history, I know exactly what I’m choosing. It’s not mixed up with lies and deceit. It’s truly you and truly me and that’s all I want.”
“You’re not going to lose yourself,” he said fiercely. “I won’t let that happen.”
“You can’t promise that.”
“I can promise I’ll be here, whether you’re dancing in the rain or burning down realms.”
A laugh that was half sob escaped me. “Even if I burn you with them?”
“Especially then.”
I kissed him. Not the calculated seduction from the Forgotten, not the desperate clash of our reunion, but something deeper. Something real. His hands slid into my hair as he pulled me closer, and I felt the careful restraint he always maintained finally snap.
The kiss turned hungry, desperate, as if we could somehow anchor ourselves to this moment through touch alone. His lips traced down my neck as I arched into him, and for the first time since the voices began their endless chorus, everything else fell silent. There was only this, his hands on my skin, his breath against my throat, the solid heat of him beneath me.
“Stay with me,” I breathed against his mouth. “Whatever comes next… stay.”
He pulled back to meet my eyes, and the raw emotion I saw there stole my breath. “Always,” he promised, and when he kissed me again, I finally let myself believe it. Trust it. And him.
“You’re goingto the castle again?” Thea asked, standing outside the giant carriage that was waiting for Archer, Quill and I.
“We have to,” Quill said, climbing into the carriage. “King Aldy promised to teach me a new dance today.”
Archer threw an arm over Thea’s shoulder. “You could come. It’s nice when we’re all there. I think it gives him a sense of family.”
“I do like it when he tells stories about your mother. But I’ve got a delivery to make first. Tuck brought another trunk this morning.”
“More supplies for your underground city?” I asked, watching her copper hair catch the morning light.
She nodded. “The tunnels under the Dancing Ghost are getting crowded. We may need to expand toward the old theater district soon.” Her eyes darted around, checking for listeners before continuing. “Three more families came through last night. They’re terrified of what the gods might do next.”
Their fear was valid. Ever since Aeris had transformed Requiem, its people had slowly disappeared into the network of tunnels Thea had been quietly expanding. What had started as a few hidden rooms beneath the Dancing Ghost had grown into a sprawling sanctuary.
“Tell Vincent I said hello,” Quill chirped from the carriage. “And that I miss his sweet rolls. But don’t tell Elowen I said that.”
Thea smiled. “The baker sends his love, I’m sure. He says the underground ovens aren’t quite the same, but he’s making do.”
“Need help with the trunk?” Archer asked.
“No, I’ve got my system down now. Besides, you can’t keep the king waiting.” She hugged him quickly. “Tell him I’ll try to make it for dinner.”
We watched as she disappeared back into the Syndicate house. It still amazed me how she’d managed to create this secret network, right under everyone’s noses. It helped that Aeris had gone missing. Though I suspected Minerva, Tuck’s friend, had something to do with that. That old goddess was something fierce.
“She’s doing good work,” Archer said quietly as we climbed into the carriage.
“And Tuck keeps the supplies coming,” I added, settling beside Quill. “Imagine if the people knew the gods were helping them hide from the gods.”
“Thorne helped me get more blankets for the children yesterday too,” Quill said, petting Boo who’d settled in her lap. “That feels like we’re winning.”
I lowered my chin, taking her hand. “We’re not in a war, Quilly, okay? We’re careful, but not setting ourselves up for something we could never win. You understand that right?”
