I don’t respond at first, trying to form words for the feelings spinning in my gut. Finally, they come bursting out of me, unable to be contained. “I will no longer live my life for duty. My choices from this moment forth will be my own. I will follow my heart and my magic, and no other.”
Zyren nods. “I can respect that.”
“There’s more,” I say, holding up a hand to halt his words. “If being my guardian is nothing but duty to you, we will part ways at the next port, and we will live whatever remains of our lives in peace. Since I will no longer make choices based on duty, I insist that, as least as it pertains to me, you do the same.”
He stiffens, emotion moving over his face too quickly for me to read. He is silent for several long moments before speaking.
“Nothing in this world can tear me from your side, Sarielle,” he says softly. “Not in this life or the next.”
Another crack forms in the lock around my heart. I don’t know if I can ever forgive Zyren, and I don’t know, with enemies on our heels, if we will even live to see another sunset. And I certainly don’t know if we can ever make things right again in this realm or beyond. But for now, it is enough.
“A truce, then?” Zyren asks.
Hands gripping the smooth wooden railing of the ship, I nod before I return my gaze to the rolling waves. “A truce.”
