The Shadowglass (The Bone Witch, #3)(81)
Kalen frowned. “That’s true. Empress Alyx would not have allowed any interlopers here, especially if they’re Aadil’s men. General Lode has received word that the Yadoshans are coming to their aid and that they’re expected to arrive within the next day. But they have heard nothing from her.”
“I’m concerned.”
“Have you thought about contacting Fox?” Kalen was gentle; my brother was a painful issue, and he knew it. “We need to know what Kion plans to do, and we have no quicker means at our disposal.”
“I…” I didn’t know if I could bear feeling Fox’s anger and disgust again. “Can’t General Lode send another raven?”
“He’s sent four, but we can’t expect an answer for another few days at least.” Kalen kissed me. “If it makes you uncomfortable, then I won’t ask again. Perhaps a messenger on a fast horse is necessary, so we can at least guarantee a reply.”
I took a deep breath. “No. You’re right. The situation supersedes my personal problems. Kion will know we’re with the Odalians soon, so there’s no point in hiding from them. Give me a minute to pull myself together and I will reach out to him.”
It took me ten minutes to find the nerve to break down the door I had so meticulously built in my mind, separating my thoughts from Fox’s. I resisted the urge to weep as Fox’s mind flowed into mine, the familiarity of him bringing a fresh wave of tears.
Tea? I heard him ask in shock. He was, I saw, dining with Princess Inessa in her private chambers. He rose to his feet, eyes wide.
“Is that Tea?” Inessa sounded apprehensive, cautious, delighted. “Tea? Where are you? We were so worried—”
Drycht has an army at Mithra’s Wall, I said bluntly, keeping my own emotions at bay, ignoring the tears spilling down my cheeks. Oh, I missed Fox, but the anger, disgust, and fear swirling inside him when we last saw each other was still there, dimmed but pulled back to the forefront when I announced my presence.
The Calming runes that Kalen administered to me daily could do nothing against the torrent of emotions that reconnecting to Fox brought me. Once again, I was overcome with emotion that Daisy was dead and I responsible for it. That perhaps I did deserve to die before I wreaked havoc in other kingdoms. I was a plague that infected all I touched. I deserved no mercy, only justice. Had Kance thought to have me executed for my crimes against his father all those months ago, then Daisy would still be alive.
Tea? Fox sensed my maelstrom of emotions, and his concern grew, outpacing his previous anger. At the same time, I could feel Kalen slowly seeping into my mind as he held me, stroking my hair and murmuring soft, reassuring words. His warmth seeped into my core, and I found my self-control.
Did you know about Aadil’s army?
I—no. We received missives this morning about activity along Yadosha’s borders, but we’ve had no confirmation—
Consider this your confirmation. There is a Faceless within Aadil’s army, and they think the First Harvest is within Mithra’s Wall. Tell Empress Alyx to send a representative—perhaps asha you can spare from the hunt for me, as I am here with the Odalians, surrounding what’s left of the Drychta. The Yadoshans are coming, and Empress Alyx will be left out.
Althy’s already by Yadosha, scouting. We’ll relay word to her to ride to your location. Tea, I want to—
I was at my limit. The message relayed, I slammed the door between us, cutting off the rest of his words and frantically building until I could hear no more from him. No anger, no disappointment, no sorrow.
But the dam had broken, and I cried fresh grief at losing Daisy and at Fox’s distrust, twin swords through my heart. It took a minute for the Calming to take effect, and it washed over me in waves. My sobs stifled and quieted, growing softer after every sweep.
Kalen was himself shaken. “I didn’t realize—I didn’t understand why you were so reluctant, until I…”
“Y-you shouldn’t have been able to eavesdrop.” The bond I shared with Fox was unique as far as I knew. I looked down at Kalen’s heartsglass and then at mine. We beat in perfect synchronicity. I loved Fox, and I always would, but the years-long bond we shared paled in comparison to what Kalen and I shared. In that moment, I understood how completely he loved me. But as the minutes passed, the link ebbed, and Kalen’s presence slid away.
“Heartshare,” Kalen murmured. “It’s a permanent dependence, isn’t it? I am sorry, Tea. I won’t ask you to do that again.”
“No. I had to. There’s more at stake than me and my feelings. More at stake than us. I can live with Fox’s anger. As long as he’s safe and under the empress’s protection, then that is enough.”
“You have no reason to hide your hurt from me, Tea. I’ll be here for you. Always.”
He kissed me as he was wont to do, slow and lingering. I returned the favor as his arms slid around me. The heartshare’s effects had disappeared, but in that moment, it no longer mattered.
“They will control no daeva here.” Lord Knox sounded pleased and disappointed all at once. The Hollow Mountains loomed before us, thin, craggy peaks that decorated Odalia’s southern coastline like the lower jaws of some gargantuan sea monster. It was a natural barrier between the kingdom and Drycht, one that Odalian kings have long harnessed as a defensive position against invaders. I was not privy to the military roundtables that went on among the generals, but I could see Arhen-Koshon ships closing in on either side of the range. It was likely that they prevented Drychta ships from landing anywhere but along these mountain shores, which gave us the advantage of terrain.