He throws open the armoire, drags out an armful of shirts, and stuffs them into the bag. “Tonight.”
I take him by the elbow, turning him toward me. “Take a breath. Talk to me.”
His eyes meet mine, and I see fear there. “Humans didn’t attack you. It was the king’s guards.”
That can’t be true. If the men had been sent by the king, surely Eason would’ve recognized at least one of them. “Are you certain?”
He bobs his head, snatching another handful of shirts. How many shirts does one man need?
“He did the same thing to Aeron’s lover.”
Stars above…
If that is true, then we really must leave straightaway. “Let me do that.” I take the bag and nudge him aside. If we are to escape, it will presumably be on foot, so we will have to travel light. Only a few shirts and trousers, some extra socks and pants.
Senan holds his head in his hands as he watches me. “I’m so sorry, Allette. This is all my fault.”
I close the bag and shove it into his chest. “Stop that right now. I chose to love you, Senan Vale.”
“Are you certain? Because even when we first met, I always felt like I’d convinced you to love me.”
Is he mad? From the first moment I saw him, I felt an immediate pull—and that was long before we marked our hands. I was the one who told Senan to kiss me. I was the one who pushed for him to take me to bed. If anything, I am the one who convinced him to love me.
“Even after everything that has happened, if I were given the chance to do it all over again, I would still choose you.”
His throat bobs when he swallows. “You should know that I have written to the magistrate about reinstating your ownership of your aunt’s tower. It will take a few weeks, but if you choose to, you can make it your home once more and forget I ever existed.”
I love him even more for giving me this choice. For letting me know there is an out. Although it is an out I will never take. “Youare my home.”
He kisses me then, frantic and full of longing and fear. I cling to him until I can no longer breathe.
“If you and I stay together, we will never be safe,” he whispers.
The reality of this forbidden love is like an iron gate slamming closed. We might never be truly free, but freedom means nothing when you cannot be with the one you love. “Then we’ll run forever.”
His eyes glitter as he nods. “Aeron has agreed to offer us safe passage to Stratiss. We’re to meet a member of his guard at the stables behind the Nag’s Head in three hours.”
The Nag’s Head—the same inn where we used to meet all those years ago. It feels poetic to be ending this chapter where we began.
“We cannot be seen leaving together,” he says. “You take the servants’ stairs, and I will come as soon as I’m able. Speak to no one unless you must. When you arrive at the inn, book a room. I don’t want you hanging around the streets at this hour of the night. Take this.” From his belt, he withdraws a purse full of coins. Stars above, it feels like a bloody fortune.
“How will you get out?” Every time I’ve been with Senan, he has been followed by one guard or another.
“Aeron is in my room right now, changing into my clothes. He will leave at the top of the hour and fly into Kumulus City. We’re hoping most of the guards follow him. I’ll leave from his balcony and do my best to lose any stragglers who remain.”
If I am to use the servants’ stairs, then I’ll need to change into the uniform Braith left at the bottom of my chest of drawers. Hopefully, the person who destroyed my gowns didn’t destroy that as well. I kiss him once more. “I will see you soon.”
“You will. I love you, Allette.” Senan cups my face, presses his lips to my forehead, and grabs the rucksack before slipping out the main door.
I head back down to change into my uniform and then escape using the servants’ stairs with the purse tucked into the pocket of my skirts. When I finally reach the bottom of the staircase, the guards seem to pay me no mind. On and on I go, each step bringing me closer to freedom. Braith is in the great room with Mari and Jeston, a bottle of wine sitting on the table between them.
Although I’m in a rush to leave, I take a few minutes to tell them goodbye. Jeston’s brow furrows, but he gives me a hug. Mari tells me goodbye, and then they both leave me to speak with Braith alone.
“Where are you going?” she asks, as if she recognizes the urgency in my tone.
“Away.”
“Be safe.” She hugs me fast, whispering, “I shall miss you,” in my ear before letting me go.