A Dawn of Onyx (The Sacred Stones, #1)(84)

“Very powerful Faeries have the ability to shapeshift into a creature form. It’s incredibly rare and uses a huge amount of lighte. I’d imagine Lazarus is devastated to have lost one of such power. He can’t have more than a hundred left in his army.” I wondered if it was pride that glowed in Kane’s eyes.

“That’s what killed your man in the Shadow Woods. When you brought me with you?”

“Yes. Also what ‘took a bite out of me’, as you said that day in the infirmary.” He smiled at the memory. “My father’s mercenaries have been coming for me for months now.” All the mysterious injuries that nobody would explain to me… Lance’s bite, Barney’s wound that first night… “We’ve killed as many as we can to keep them from reporting my whereabouts, but we can only hold them at bay for so long.”

The thought of them coming after Kane forced the color from my face.

“It gets worse, I’m afraid.”

I braced myself. “How did I know that was coming?”

“The Kingdom of Amber has taken Garnet.”

The entire garden stilled along with my heart. My family—they were there.

“My family sailed for Garnet. At least, that’s where they planned to go. You have to take me there. To find them.”

Kane’s expression softened. “My spies are close. As soon as I find your family, I’ll get you to them. But I fear Lazarus may be confident enough to attack now. He has two mortal armies.” Kane took hold of my upper arms. I didn’t flinch at his touch, and his eyes seemed to notice, growing warm. His broad hands radiated that heat throughout my body. “You can’t stay here a day longer, Arwen. The keep is no longer safe for you, or anyone. He is coming for me. Any day now, I’m sure of it.”

I swallowed hard. Lazarus couldn’t have Kane—all other thoughts had slipped from my mind but that. He could not have him.

“But as you know, Peridot and Onyx have struck an alliance. You need to leave tonight for the Peridot capital of Siren’s Cove, where you’ll be safe. Griffin will take you.”

“Griffin?” My stomach sank. “What about you?”

“I will join you when I can.”

Then he let go of me, and I missed his touch like warmth in the dead of winter. “Where are you going?”

“That’s enough honesty for today, I think.” He tried for a smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

“But you’ve told me everything now? No more secrets? I can’t live like this anymore, Kane. Especially now. I need to know this is everything.”

He pressed a soft kiss to my forehead. Cedarwood and crisp mint flooded my senses.

“Yes.”

A weight I hadn’t anticipated rose off my chest. He had told me weeks ago that he didn’t indulge in trusting others, and that he couldn’t trust me. Yet slowly, torturously slowly, he’d let me in. Knowing he had changed his mind, for me alone—allowed me to share these burdens with him—cracked me open completely.

I sighed so deeply my lungs hurt.

As we rounded the same hedge as before, I noticed a handful of soldiers had lined up to meet us. Griffin stood chief among them, his face stoic.

“Now?” The familiar rise of panic turned my stomach. I was terrified to leave him. The enormity of my feelings for Kane drenched me like a torrent. I nearly fell to the ground—all this time I had thought I wasn’t capable of such feelings at all. I thought Powell had so thoroughly ruined me, that I would never feel anything close to this. And yet—

Kane’s brows knit together in pain at my pleading. “Yes, now.”

“Wait,” I had to get my racing heart under control. “Please, can Mari come with me?” I couldn’t leave her here if the castle was likely to fall.

“I’ll have Griffin send for her.”

He watched me closely, brows pulling together, something warring in his expression.

I didn’t care anymore how pathetic I sounded, how weak, how afraid. How ridiculous it was to have fallen for a lethal, breathtaking Fae king. “Will I see you again?” I said.

I felt like I might cry.

Kane looked like he could hear my heart splitting open. “I hope so, bird.”

I reached up to touch the dark scruff that had grown across his jaw and neck. The slight bags under his eyes. I realized, belatedly, that he was a wreck.

Carefully, as if I was a wild animal, he brushed a hand against my cheek. I was vaguely aware of the handful of soldiers who suddenly found their shoes exceedingly interesting.

“I must tell you one last thing.”

His eyes didn’t leave my face.

“I was wrong that day, to say you thought you were worth less than your brother. You made a heroic choice the night you came here. It took tremendous courage. I have been king a long time, and rarely, if ever, do I see that even from my greatest warriors.”

My eyes found his through a cloud of tears.

“You showed bravery when you had no hope it would save you. Whether you know it or not, Arwen, there is a wild strength inside of you. You don’t need Ryder, or Dagan, or me, or anyone else to take care of you. Remember that. You are enough.”

His words were a prayer, devastating and empowering at once. We were mere inches away, and I could feel the tickle of his breath across my lips, his fingers weaving through my still-damp hair. Kane studied me closely, brows pulling together, and tentatively wrapped his other hand around my waist. His eyes searched mine once more as if to make sure, without a shadow of a doubt, that I wanted this too. I hoped he could see that I had never wanted anything in my life more than this man.