CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

KYRION

T he next morning, Vesper and I woke up early. We took a long, hot, pleasurable shower together, then got dressed. Zane and Asterin were having breakfast on the south terrace, studiously ignoring each other.

Vesper filled a plate with food and sat down next to Asterin. Zane swaggered over to me at the breakfast buffet.

"You're looking well this morning," I said.

"And I could swear you almost have a smile on your face, despite the fact that you are chronically allergic to happiness." Zane shuddered. "Love. I hope I never catch such a foul disease."

The two of us might be connected through Vesper, but Zane was still the same arrogant jackass, and I resisted the urge to punch him in the face and break his perfect nose again.

Ding! Zane's tablet chimed with a shrill, familiar tone.

"Holloway?" I asked.

"Of course," he muttered, not even bothering to look at the message. "I never considered you a saint before, Kyrion, but you could apply for such exalted status just for putting up with that demanding bastard all these years."

"What are you going to tell Holloway?"

Zane shrugged. "That I used my family's trip to Sygnustern as an excuse to chase down leads on you and Vesper and Nerezza Blackwell. That someone bombed Nerezza's ship, although it's unclear if she survived. And that, of course, I kept Nerezza from getting her hands on Vesper and the Techwave cannon."

"Do you really think that will work?"

He shrugged again. "I might not have captured you and Vesper, but Holloway doesn't want the Techwave getting to you first. I can spin it as a modest victory."

"Or Holloway will execute you for yet another defeat."

Zane smirked. "My dear Kyrion, it almost sounds like you're worried about me." He pressed a hand to his heart. "I'm touched. Truly."

"Concerned about you? Never ." I sighed. "But Vesper would be upset if something happened to you."

Zane glanced over at Vesper with a gentle expression I would have never thought him capable of. "Agreed. My sister has grown quite fond of me already, but then again, how could she not, given how magnificent I am?"

I rolled my eyes. "I'm just thankful arrogance doesn't run in your family."

Zane looked at me again. "I came over here to say one thing and one thing only. Truebond or not, if you ever hurt my sister, I will carve your heart out with my stormsword and squish it between my fingers like it's a bloody stress ball." His voice was cheerful, but his eyes were ice-cold as he pantomimed the motion with his fingers.

"By the stars, you are insufferable," I muttered again.

His grin widened. "Oh, my dear, Kyrion. I have not yet begun to be insufferable toward you. At least, not where Vesper is concerned."

I groaned.

Z ane was just as insufferable as he promised, but Vesper enjoyed his teasing, so I contented myself with glowering at him during breakfast. Which, of course, delighted him to no end.

Vesper and I had just finished our food when Siya stepped onto the terrace, along with Rigel. Siya's gaze flicked over to Asterin, who bristled. Vesper had told me about their argument last night. I thought the two stepsisters were too stubborn to admit how worried they'd been about each other, but Siya and Asterin would have to work out their conflicting loyalties and friendship for themselves.

Siya turned toward me. "The Hammers need to get in some training before we go deal with the mess the four of you left behind in the cavern yesterday. Care for a rematch?"

I glanced at Vesper, who nodded. "Absolutely."

Everyone headed down to the training ring. Vesper and I armed ourselves with wooden practice swords, as did Siya and Rigel, along with the rest of the Hammers.

I arched my eyebrows at Siya. "Two against a dozen?"

She shrugged, but a smile snuck across her face. "Verona thought you and Vesper might need more of a challenge today. Now that your bond has solidified."

I glanced up. Verona was now standing on the terrace, along with Aldrich. I bowed to her, and she waved back.

I held my sword out to Vesper, who lightly tapped her blade against mine, and the soft clack sounded like music to my ears. Together we stepped into the middle of the training ring. Vesper and I stood side by side, raised our swords, and faced the Hammers.

Siya gave the signal, and she and Rigel rushed forward, along with the other warriors. I didn't worry about protecting Vesper at all costs, and she didn't wonder if she was a weak link. Instead, we just moved , flowing from one attack to the next, battling our own opponents but moving to guard each other's backs when necessary.

It was amazing .

One Hammer fell. Then another . . . then another . . . until only Siya and Rigel were left.

The two of them battled hard, but eventually, Vesper sliced her wooden sword across Rigel's chest, mock-killing him, while I poked my blade into Siya's back, doing the same thing to her. In an instant, Rigel and Siya were both on their asses, with slightly stunned looks on their faces.

I started to head over to Vesper, but a translucent shimmer of black and blue caught my eye. A mammoth butterfly was hovering over one of the peony bushes, its fluttering wings making the flowers bob up and down, almost as if they approved of our victory.

Memories of my mother flooded my mind, and bittersweet longing washed through me. Desdemona had been right about a lot of things, and I was glad I'd been able to remember some of her advice, instead of just the agony and aftermath of her death.

I went over and picked one of the blue-moon peonies, inhaling its sweet spearmint scent. Then I walked back to Vesper, bowed low, and presented her with the flower. "I love you."

A grin spread across her face, and she took the peony and tucked it behind her right ear. "You're just saying that because we mock-killed all the Hammers."

"Absolutely," I agreed. "And because it was my turn to say it first. You beat me to it in the cavern."

She leaned forward, her eyes bright, as though she was sharing a conspiratorial secret. "Then I will say it last this time. I love you too."

A laugh burst from my lips, and I wrapped my arm around Vesper's waist, bent down, and kissed her.

"Will the two of you quit snogging each other?" Zane called out. "I just ate breakfast."

Vesper laughed, but I raised my hand and flipped him off. Zane chuckled, but even he couldn't ruin this moment.

Siya got back to her feet and picked up her practice sword. "Best two out of three?"

Vesper and I stared at each other. Then, with one thought, we broke apart, raised our swords, and turned toward our opponents.

I grinned at Siya. "It would be our pleasure."