Page 26 of Commanding Scythe and Sky

“I was going to defer to you, Cyrus.”

“Stop.”

“And what? Sit on this alone for eternity?”

“Our—whatever this almost was”—he motioned between us—“is hardly a priority.”

“She tortured you, Cyrus. What was I supposed to⁠—”

“Don’t.” His eyes closed. “I will not be your excuse. Not again.”

“It’s not an excuse, Cyrus. I⁠—”

“Don’t insult my intelligence by insinuating that wasn’t your plan all along.”

“It was. Then we happened. And I…”

When I drifted off, he popped the candy around into his other cheek, a single brow flicking up in annoyance. “What, Commander?” The title hit like the slap he intended it to. “Almost sacrificed your vengeance? Considered a more diplomatic outcome?”

Yes. But my mouth wouldn’t move as his lifeless eyes flicked between mine. He slid the candy back to the other side, gave an incremental nod.

“The world is literally on fire, Freya. Power transitions are always fraught with discontent. I have executed your orders. Played politics to ensure your safety. Our history has no place here, and I promise you it hasn’t crossed my mind since we returned.”

“Cyrus, come on⁠—”

“Have I not been a dutiful soldier?”

“Yes, but⁠—”

“Served the crown?”

“Cyrus.”

“For that matter, have I not overseen the security on the relics?”

Naturally, Cyrus had insisted that only he, August, and I had the full knowledge of the wards and protections around the Obsidian Crown and Rhiannon’s diadem. Only a few members of Cali’s inner circle were permitted to guard the relics Ally had deemed worth risking life and limb for. “That’s not⁠—”

“Then you shouldn’t be worried, should you?”

“I’m trying to help you understand.”

“That’s your first fault. Assuming a misunderstanding has left me silent. Believe me, I understand.”

“I never wanted to hurt you,” I whispered, chest aching where the fragile bond between us had long since gone silent.

“And yet you told me you would. I was the idiot too headstrong to listen.”

“It wasn’t like that.”

“Is there a meeting or was the missive a ploy to air our grievances?”

As the words left his lips, footsteps filled the gloomy hallway of Luminark Manor, and Carr rounded the corner, his hands tucked into his uniform pockets. We lived and breathed in full gear these days. You never knew what the next hour would bring.

Those sapphire eyes flicked between us before he dipped his chin in my direction. “Everything okay here?”

“Peachy,” Cyrus and I barked in unison.

“Clearly,” Carr drawled, unimpressed, one golden brow lifting. “Didn’t expect to be the first three here.”