Page 101 of House of Ashes
Kirana shook her head. “How could I ask him to do it now? I ran away. I’m not worth it and I don’t deserve him.”
My back straightened in outrage. Kirana, not worth it? She was mad.
But I didn’t get the chance to tell her exactly how worth it she was—that she should seize her chance, because happiness wasn’t always guaranteed.
Alriss appeared in the training room door, and we both jumped to our feet. My heart was already racing, expecting the worst—who had Yura killed this time? Had she set her exiles on more innocents?
But Alriss didn’t look concerned. Tired, weary, but not concerned. She held a letter, this one sealed with deep blue wax that had been impressed with stars.
“Princess Maristela sends her regards,” she said, handing me the letter.
Kirana and I glanced at each other, and I ripped the wax seal away to expose Maristela’s flawless writing across no more than a few sentences.
My mother does not speak for us all. Rhylan, Serafina—come to Kirion Eyrie. Gaelin and I would stand with you, but we must bring my House around. Elinor is here, and she believes she can help you in bringing Undying Light to the alliance.
We will wait for you.
The letter was signed by both Maristela and Gaelin, her name in delicate loops, his in a sharp, heavier-handed print.
“If Maristela doesn’t have control of her House, I don’t see Chantrelle giving in,” I said, handing the letter to Kirana. “But we have to try.”
“Oh, the joys of politics,” Kirana said glumly. “I would love to see them again, but I’m preparing for the trip south. The sooner I make it to the Wildlands, the better.”
I looked at her, still wanting to tell her that she was worth everything, but Alriss cleared her throat. “Shall I send a reply?”
I nodded, refolding the letter. “I’ll go get Rhylan ready. Tell her we’re coming tonight.”
Chapter
Twenty-Two
Ihesitated at his door, fist raised to knock, not quite daring to do it yet.
I needed to. If Maristela was willing to fight for the alliance…that would change everything. Tyria would bring her House and all of its might to the table if the Shadowed Stars agreed to join our Court.
But the terror that Rhylan would open the door and glare at me with withering scorn kept my fist frozen in midair.
Because I was the one who ran. I shoved him away.
Maybe he was telling the truth, but the part of me that still lived in Mistward—the Sera who was skin and bones, who put aside feelings for the sake of survival, no matter what—that Sera would not have it.
And yet…the regret choked me.
As I stood there, steeling myself to knock and failing, the shadows shifted at the far end of the hall. A slither of dark scales, a knowing eye…
Under Erebos’s watchful gaze, I straightened my shoulders, lifted my chin, and knocked. I refused to let the nosy, interfering Ascendants believe they were right.
Never mind that they had thousands of years on me, and the wisdom to accompany it.
I would stand firm by our agreement. That, I knew for sure, was rock solid ground.
The door swung open and Rhylan gazed down at me, but not with the scorn I’d been waiting for.
No…he gave me a lazy smile, hair rumpled like he’d just rolled out of bed, and looked very much wanted to invite me to join him there.
“Um…” Whatever I was about to say was sidetracked as my eyes roamed downwards, over his broad chest, to the hard ridges of his stomach and the thick V of muscle that demanded the caress of a tongue…
I jerked my gaze back up to his face.