Rebecca Thorne

She’d probably be in a nervous fit, too. Because even if Queen Tilaine didn’t value Reyna’s life, Kianthe did. She hated Reyna’s job, reiterated over and over that she’d be devastated if something happened to Reyna.

Well, something happened tonight—and Reyna was not going to let this be the final chapter in her life.

Reyna could be lounging on a velvet couch beside a roaring fire, running her hands through Kianthe’s dark hair as they chatted about mundane things. No bodies. No prison-like palace routine. Just them, existing together.

And this time, something solidified in Reyna’s soul.

Kianthe hated how fear surged in her chest, how her bravado disappeared when Reyna was hurt.

“Key, I’m fine.” Reyna’s voice softened. “And I’m sorry I’ve worried you.”

“I’m the one who took so long to get here.” Kianthe moved to lead her back under the tree.

Reyna caught her arm, and when Kianthe glanced back, the woman kissed her. Her lips were warm and reassuring, her good hand tangling in Kianthe’s hair just as she liked. Kianthe melted against her, wanting to hold her close, but she was ever-careful about Reyna’s wounds. Delicately, she looped an arm around her girlfriend’s waist, feeling their hearts beat together as magic literally sparked around them.

It reminded Kianthe that she still didn’t have an explanation about why Reyna was here, camping alone in the wilderness so far from Queen Tilaine. She carefully dabbed the blood spotting a few deeper scrapes on Reyna’s stomach. “So… after all this, maybe tonight you’ll give up on that miserable woman and run away with me?”

It was meant to be a joke. But when Reyna didn’t respond, Kianthe glanced up, and their gazes locked. Reyna’s eyes were light enough to be startling, dark enough to be mysterious, and now they were raw with emotion.

Something deep and impacting shifted between them.

“You’re acting strange,” Kianthe said. “It’s concerning me.”

Reyna drew a breath. “Ask me again. Just like you’ve asked me before.”

She didn’t have to reference what she meant. Kianthe knew. She knew, because every minute they stole felt, well, stolen. Fleeting memories of beauty and happiness, bookended with the heavy knowledge that Reyna couldn’t leave her life.

They didn’t seem to matter now. Reyna held her gaze, steady.

“Ask me again, Key.”

Kianthe’s mouth was dry. She swallowed hard, and the whispered words felt like a promise. “Run away with me. You like tea. I like books. Care to open a shop and forget the world exists?”

The words hung like a melody between them. Reyna closed her eyes, a soft smile curving her lips. Everything concentrated to this moment: spelled firelight glimmering overhead, her blood seeping into the bandage, her face pale and drawn, and her expression so, so happy.

Kianthe was mesmerized.

“Okay. I’ll run away with you. Let’s find a shop and make a home and forget about everything else.”

The spell shattered. Kianthe squealed, throwing her arms around Reyna’s shoulders, utterly forgetting to be mindful of her wounds. They laughed together, their uncertain futures solidifying into something tangible and real and lovely.

A bookstore that served tea, perched in the most remote corner of the world.

Kianthe could see it already.

That, and happiness, the second so strong it illuminated her soul. They were going to do it. Open a shop somewhere, fill it with books and tea and a fireplace and cozy armchairs and Reyna could finally, finally, learn who she was without the Queen looming over her.

Reyna was more alert. Her hand rested on her sword as she stared them down, reminding them that they weren’t being sneaky—and she wouldn’t back away from a fight. Her professional attitude was always sexy, but Kianthe had voiced that before and it never won any favors.

Behind her, Visk stepped near Lilac, both keeping the horse from bolting and protecting the beast with his presence. Preposterous that Reyna thought Visk was vicious. By all standards, he was an itty bitty buddy and a good boy.

“I think we can accomplish anything we set our minds to, and that’s the truth.