Page 83 of Drawn into Oblivion

“Everyone made it through—barely,” Rosuke said. “The gate became unstable a moment after the shaking began and collapsed almost right behind us.”

“Shumei?” Mai wheezed before a coughing fit overtook her. Kyoko handed Rosuke a cup of water, which he held to her lips.

“She’s still asleep,” Kyoko said while Mai took a few sips. “She was covered in blood, but they found no wounds. Not a single bruise or scratch. It was the same with you.”

“How?” Mai wondered. “I remember falling. I felt my knees pop.” Cautiously, she shifted her legs within the silky bedding and found she could bend them without much pain.

“As far as I can tell, you’re simply tired. Rest is what you need.”

Mai relaxed into Rosuke’s bed, quite willing to stay right where she was, but the relief flooding through her made her eyes sting. Granted, she could also be too tired to stay awake for long.

“On that note,” Kyoko said as she picked up the nearby tray, “I shall leave you and spread the good news.” She bowed.

The good news? Hadn’t Mai heard that phrase recently?

Kyoko slid the door open to leave. Concerned murmurs from the hallway carried into the room. Mai spied the armored sleeve of a palace guard.

Rosuke dipped his head at her assistant. “Thank you for everything.” Kyoko smiled and shut the door. The second they were alone, he wasted no time brushing a kiss over her lips. “You have no idea how…” he said in a shuddering whisper. He swallowed, eyes searching hers. “But that can wait. Do you wish to sleep?”

Indeed, having confirmed that everyone had survived, she wanted nothing more than to close her eyes. Fatigue weighed upon her head. Barely stifling a yawn, she nodded. “Will you hold me?”

“Of course, my love.” He lifted her hand and kissed her fingers. “As long as you like.”

He moved to slide under the blanket with her but seemed to remember his damp shirt and quickly removed it. She laboriously shifted to make room. Once he had settled next to her, he gently gathered her in his arms. Endless kisses rained down on her hair. She smiled as she snuggled closer.

“Tell him the good news.”

She gasped, eyes flying open.

“What? What’s wrong?” Rosuke asked, pulling back. Concern knitted his eyebrows.

“I-I don’t know how to say this.” And was now the right time to tell him? A person could take only so much emotional turmoil at once. What if he wasn’t ready to be—

“Don’t worry about softening the blow. Just tell me.”

She looked into his eyes. “I’m with child.”

He froze as though transformed into a statue, but his heart beneath her hand thumped wildly. “H-how do you…?”

“The Divine One told me.”

Joy lit up his face. His eyes shimmered. “Truly? You’re carrying our…?”

She nodded fervently and returned his smile. “I am.”

He whispered her name as he hugged her close. She tilted her head up, knowing what they both wanted. They kissed and cried and laughed. The longest, darkest night of their lives was over. Early morning light warmed their bodies beneath the bedding, and they fell asleep in each other’s arms, exhausted but brimming with happiness.

⁂

After a couple days’ rest, Mai recovered enough to visit Shumei in her quarters, and was glad to find the empress also well recovered, though a little shaky on her feet. Vallen hardly left her side, as though worried she would fall.

Both engulfed her in a warm hug and effusively thanked her for saving Shumei’s life. Then Vallen insisted on hearing Mai’s version of what had happened in the Damned One’s throne room. She gave it, including the strange whisper in her head that had come from her dagger.

“I could have sworn I left it behind,” she said. “I was more concerned about the Damned One than retrieving a dagger. But it was in its sheath and sitting on Rosuke’s writing desk when I woke for the second time. Kyoko said she’d cleaned it for me.”

“A living object. Extraordinary,” Vallen said. “Such artifacts were rare even in my time. I would love to examine it.”

“It’s alive?” Mai gasped.