Fantasy of Fire (The Tainted Accords #3)(21)

“Of course I do. But first let me tell you I’m glad you’re home,” he says with a grin.

“I am glad to be back at the castle,” I say. His eyes glint in an unusual way.

“You’ve been at the front?” I ask. He nods, while his deft hands make quick work of the straps holding his chest armor in place. His blue eyes don’t leave mine during the process. The heat in my cheeks rises and I let my gaze slide away as he stretches, pulling the plate over his head.

I squeeze my eyes shut. “There are a few things I need to tell you.” I open them and gesture to a seat.

He doesn’t take the hint, silently staring down at me, massive arms folded over the planes of his chest. I shake my head and take a deep breath, launching into a comprehensive recount of my time in the Ire.



King Jovan is statue-still, mouth slightly open when I finish. He started pacing during the middle of my account and has only just stopped.

“It’s a lot to take in …” My words seem to jolt him out of his stupor. I didn’t realize how much information I’d just unloaded on him. I’ve had months to process the discovery of the Ire and the events that have happened since.

“I’d figured the flying people were on the Great Stairway. But you say they’re all mixed? You showed your face to the leader to gain their help, almost got caught while destroying the pathway, and were sighted by the soon-to-be-dead uncle who used to beat you.” He summarizes. I nod slowly. I can’t tell if he is annoyed or angry.

“How the fuck do you get yourself into this stuff?” He’s angry.

“I … don’t know.” The truth of my words hits me and I let out a giggle. The storm on Jovan’s face breaks briefly before coming back full-force. I’m surprised he didn’t lose his temper when I’d told him about Cassius, but somehow he reined himself in.

“Why did you show the leader your face?” he asks, jaw ticking.

I shrug. “It was the only way to prevent war.”

His eyes are narrowed. Oddly, I’m much more comfortable dealing with annoyed Jovan. “Do I need to kill him?” he asks.

If anyone else said this I’d think they were joking. “No.” I frown. “I know the consequences of what I did. And I trust Adox. As much as you can trust anyone.”

He grunts at this and resumes his pacing for several minutes. I can see him trying to process everything I’ve said. Hidden people, flying, halted army, Olina sighted. I bet he’s still wondering if he needs to kill the Ire’s leader.

He stops in front of me with a long, drawn-out sigh. “You have a plan?”

I sigh. “Not really.”

He moves to brush my hair back from my face. I recall who we are just in time to jerk back. His hand curls into a fist and he lowers it to his side.

I avoid his gaze, and in doing so I see little things I’ve missed. The circles under his eyes. The tightness in his shoulders.

I move to place my hand on his, but pull it back. Tiredness is lowering my guard. “How have you been?” I ask.

He looks up warily. I know he doesn’t like to share his thoughts. It’s one thing we have in common. Actually, one of many traits we share. “I saw your men camped in the First Sector. They saw me flying.”

He rolls his head around on his shoulders. “You’re lucky they didn’t shoot you down.”

I stare at him and wait.

He glares and takes the hint. “Yes, they marched two days after you left for the … Ire.”

My blinks are getting longer. “What are we going to do?” I ask wearily.

“We?” he asks. I narrow my eyes at the humor in his voice.

“Yes. What are you, as the king of Glacium, and me, as the Tatuma of Osolis, going to do about this?” I can tell he wants to smile, but he doesn’t. He leans forward and taps a finger against my lips. It’s distracting beyond all reason. I swat him away, before giving in to temptation and risking a look at his mouth. I bite back a groan when I see it’s just the same—smooth and hard all at once.

When I look up, his gaze is steeled. I pull back, confused.

“I think the best course of action is to wait to see what the army does with the delay.” He resumes his pacing. “It sounds as though there’s a good chance they’ll be forced to turn around. There’s really nothing else we can do with the pathway destroyed anyway.”

“I agree. But I also know my mother won’t stop. Not now she’s so openly declared herself. She won’t be thwarted by those she deems beneath her. I also fear for the Ire folk. I assured Adox we would do our best to protect them,” I say, standing up from where I lean on the table.

Jovan waves a hand. “Of course, of course.” I knew Jovan wouldn’t let the Ire down. I was right to trust him.

He stops in front of me. “What are you smiling at?” he asks. I’m startled and blank my face.

“I’ll be happy to assure the Ire of our alliance when they arrive to give their report in a week.” I cover my slip.

“I will meet them when they come.” This is within Adox’s request. I nod, forcing my eyes to stay open as they become blurry with sleep. This time I don’t catch his hand before it grasps my chin in a gentle grip.

“What were you really smiling at?” he asks. I shake my head and close my eyes.