Fireblood (Frostblood Saga #2)(78)

“I want to pull you into my arms more than anything,” he said unevenly, “but I know if I do, I’ll just end up begging you to leave here with me. No matter what the cost.”

A knock sounded at the door. “Ruby?” Kai’s voice was muffled by the thick steel. “You have one more minute.”

I took a shuddering breath and dropped my hands. “We need to get you out of here.”

“Find Marella,” Arcus said, his resolution giving me strength.

“Marella?” I said in shock.

“She came with me.”

“Oh, of course. I bet she’s been attached to your side like a spare appendage since the day I left.”

“Do I detect jealousy? I don’t suppose you’ve forgotten that you’re engaged.”

I made an impatient motion and he continued.

“The ship is on the other side of the island, almost opposite to the main harbor.” He described the small, hidden bay in detail, and how to spot it if I rounded the island in a boat, and what password to use to gain entry. “When you get there, Marella will assemble my crew and…” He trailed off, thinking. “She’s been seasick for the entire journey, but she can still come up with a plan to get me out of this damn place.”

“I’ll get you out of here,” I said, irritated by the implication that Marella was the only one who could strategize. “There’s no way your crew can get past all the guards.”

“Not without killing them, and I don’t want to give the queen cause to retaliate. The last thing I want is to be at war with you on the opposing side.”

“You don’t want war at all. Neither do I.”

“Ruby!” Kai called, knocking again. “I’m coming in.”

“One minute, Kai!” I tossed back, not missing how Arcus flinched as I said Kai’s name. His jaw was tight, his eyes aimed resolutely at the rug, his hands on his knees. He had already started freezing me out again.

“I’ll have them give you ointment for your cuts,” I said, standing.

His lips twisted, making the scar on his lip whiten a little, which made me long to touch it. “They’re nothing. Don’t fuss.”

But I think he liked that I fussed, just a little. I stood and stepped forward, bending down to kiss his hair, but he stiffened. “Don’t. I don’t think I can…” He didn’t finish, but I understood. It would just make things more difficult for both of us if he had to leave without me.

“All right,” I whispered. I stood there for a moment, breathing his familiar scent, then stepped back.

He looked up with a small smile, and even though it was just a subtle curve of his lips, amusement reached his eyes, and that made all the difference. It felt like a ray of sunshine on my soul.

“Far be it for me to argue with Ruby Otrera, destroyer of thrones, secret princess, and who knows what else? You’ve never failed, yet.”

“And don’t you forget it.”

The door opened. Kai cleared his throat meaningfully, and Arcus turned back to the window, shutting out everything but his own private thoughts. I stepped from the room.

As the guard relocked the door, I was filled with nearly frightening resolve: I would take my initiation vows, find the book, and free Arcus.

I would free him if it took my own life to do it.





TWENTY-TWO



IN THE DARKEST HOURS OF NIGHT, I snuck out of the castle by the servants’ entrance, used the guards’ shift change to slip past, and hurried to the wharf. I checked the tavern first, and when I didn’t find Jaro there, I headed to the seventh pier. A few sailors lingered, some working on their boats, some sitting in small groups drinking. Jaro sat alone, legs folded under him on the dock as he repaired a frayed coil of rope.

“Don’t you ever get enough of that?” I teased. “Canoodling with ropes?”

He grinned and looked up. “This is what I do when I can’t sleep.” He nodded to the east. “I feel a storm brewing—a day or two off, but still, it makes me edgy.”

I hesitated briefly, then told him what I needed. Jaro knew the exact bay I’d described, but when I told him he had to keep the trip a secret, his eyes narrowed.

“Why?”

Water lapped at the docks in a soothing rhythm. “The less you know, the better.”

“Does Prince Kai know about this?”

“No, and you can’t tell him. I’m meeting someone and Kai won’t like it.”

Jaro folded his arms. “I’m not taking you unless you tell me who you’re going to meet.”

I took a breath. This was a huge leap of faith, but something told me Jaro could be trusted. I lowered my voice and whispered the essential facts.

He stood and glared, gesturing angrily. “What you ask is treason!”

“Shh.” I glanced around nervously. “I wouldn’t involve you if there were any other choice. I’m trying to prevent a war. Don’t you think that’s a good enough reason to bend the rules?”

“Bend them? You mean to break them into tiny pieces and set them ablaze!”

“True. But only to prevent a much larger catastrophe. Do you want to see your kingdom go to war with Tempesia? I can help prevent that. I just need your help this one last time and I won’t ask again.”