Chapter 28

I knewwhen we arrived in Narhavva that our stay would be brief, but I never imagined I would wake the morning after my wedding to Jasce and be forced to depart so abruptly.

As I dress and pack my meager belongings into the satchel I brought with me, a flurry of thoughts assails my mind. Worry that his people will hate me. Worry that our houses will never be united. Worry that when I go to Sharhavva, I will never see my sisters again.

The moment I finish, I face the closed door and take a deep breath, knowing I cannot allow fear to rule me. Instead, I will cling to the belief that our union will change things for our houses.

I reach for my hematite necklace and curl my fingers around the stone, reminding myself that we're all from the Hematite tribe, and we used to be united.

The door opens, and Jasce steps into the bedchamber. I take in the sight of him dressed in a marked surcoat, the fabric hugging his broad shoulders and muscular frame. Dark pants accentuate his powerful legs, and a gleaming sword rests on his hip.

"Good morning," he says with a tender smile.

"Good morning." I sling my satchel over my shoulder and lift my chin. "I'm ready."

"Annora." He closes the space between us and takes my hands. "I know it will not be easy going to Sharhavva, but I promise you, I will be with you."

I rise to my tiptoes, stretching to reach his impressive height, and run my fingers through his black hair, tousling the orderly strands until they fall in disarray across his forehead.

His dark brows lift in amusement. "What are you doing?"

"Making you even more handsome." I grin up at him, admiring my handiwork. "There. Absolutely perfect."

Jasce catches my waist and hauls me against him. "I love you, Annora."

The laughter disappears at the sincerity ringing behind those four precious words—words I never thought I would hear from any man, let alone this proud, fierce chieftain.

My heart skips with joy as I grin up at him. "I love you, Jasce."

* * *

I trailafter Jasce as he strides into the stables, where Jude and Arian wait for us.

"You'll ride with me," Jasce says as he leads me over to Vesper.

The mare nickers and nuzzles against my outstretched hand. I smile and stroke her silken neck.

Jasce helps me mount Vesper, then, with a fluid motion, he mounts the mare behind me.

A mixture of excitement and anticipation thrums through me as I lift a hand to adjust my veil, making sure it fully conceals my face from any onlookers we might encounter on our journey. Then, I lean back into Jasce's arms as we leave the stables and head toward the city.

I ride like that, my back against Jasce's chest, his arms encircling me as he holds on to the mare's reins. It gives me time to think about this next chapter of my life. Being married to Jasce. Living among his people. Promoting unity between our houses.

The mare's hooves kick up dust as we pass through the gates of Narhavva. As the city walls fall away, the barren landscape stretches endlessly ahead. No trees or grass disrupt the sea of red earth that rolls toward distant cliffs.

My eyes scan the desolate terrain. Clusters of prickly cacti pepper the hard-packed ground, their spines shimmering in the harsh sunlight. Jagged boulders jut up from the dirt, their rusty surfaces scoured smooth by the relentless wind.

In the distance, sheer cliff faces rear up abruptly, as if some mighty force had cleaved the earth in two. As we draw nearer, I crane my neck, squinting upward to glimpse their tops, but the glare of the sun dwarfs them from view.

I lift a hand to my brow, shielding my eyes as I peer ahead, but there is still no end in sight to this barren wasteland.

Jasce stirs behind me. "We'll be arriving soon. See there?"

I follow his outstretched hand, sighting a smudge of darkness marring the landscape. As we ride onward, the hazy outline crystallizes into structures—modest clay dwellings sprouting up from the dust.

I wet my dry lips and clutch the pommel of the saddle as the first few scattered buildings lumber into view around us.

It's time.

The thought returns over and over again, reminding me that this next chapter of my life starts now.