The Archer & the Flame (Whispers of the Night Ravens #1)

Chapter 25

Hours later, when we were completely spent, Silas requested fresh water for the bathtub. I cocooned myself under the blankets of the warm bed while we waited for it to be filled, dozing off several times. My body ached in the best kind of way, and I stretched, satisfied for the moment.

Once we were alone, I emerged, intending to take full advantage of the tub, but Silas held up a finger, motioning for me to wait. Before I could protest, he plunged a hand into the water, steam rising as it heated.

“You can do that?” I asked, my mouth hanging open.

“Now that my Blessing has recovered? Of course,” he said.

I rushed to his side, hugging him tightly, tears in my eyes. Soaking in hot water was a luxury I had never experienced. The bathing pools at the Old Keep were lukewarm at best, and on missions, I had to rely on whatever streams and rivers I could find. All of them had been freezing cold and downright unpleasant.

“Thank you,” I said into his chest.

“It’s not entirely selfless. I intend to share it with you this time,” he said, a twinkle in his eye.

“Then what are we waiting for?”

I sank into the steaming bathtub, relishing the heavenly heat that soaked into me. Silas climbed in behind me as I made room. I settled between his thighs, leaning back against him, a sigh of contentment escaping me. Strong hands massaged my shoulders.

“I’ve been missing out. There are certainly perks for keeping a Blessed fae around,” I said.

He chuckled. “I’m sure we can find some creative uses for my magic.”

With the warmth of the bath caressing me, and Silas’ firm body supporting mine, I found the courage to voice my vulnerabilities. “I’ll never understand what you saw in me when I was so harsh to you. I don’t know if I deserve you.”

His hands froze, and I worried I’d exposed too much to him. But then he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me against him, reassuringly steady.

His voice was low in my ear. “You never once tried to impress me, even after discovering my Blessing. And you never hesitated to tell me exactly what you thought about me. Do you know how rare that is? In Eirel, the nobility attempted to sway me with false flattery, but no one dared speak their mind. Until you.”

“I was awful to you. I’ll regret it until the end of my days.”

“You were protecting yourself. Who could blame you for that? I can’t say I wouldn’t have done the same in your shoes. I like every part of you, even the dark parts you’re scared to acknowledge. Because without those, you wouldn’t be you.”

His lips brushed the soft skin of my neck, tender and sweet. “Do you know what kept me going when I was captured? The thought of you razing the world to save me. There’s no one I’d rather have by my side.”

I tilted my head to kiss him, this extraordinary man who by some miracle had fallen for me. I would spend forever making sure he knew just how much I appreciated him.

We soaked in the tub together until our skin pruned and the water cooled. Silas insisted on drying me, an endeavour that nearly resulted in us falling back into bed for another round, but our future still loomed over us, and we wouldn’t be able to find peace until it was resolved.

“We’ve denied our problems long enough. Any thoughts on where to go from here?” he said, as we dressed in our freshly laundered clothes. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt so clean. It restored me, feeding the flames of my confidence.

Neither of us wanted to leave the other, our connection undeniable, but we both had our obligations.

The only path I could accept was to face them, together.

“I have an idea, but it could be dangerous.” That was the understatement of the century.

“Tell me,” Silas said, lacing his black trousers before pulling on his shirt.

“Remember in Threstia when we fought, and I told you about the bargain I’m bound to?” It pained me to ask him to revisit that day, but I needed him to understand the cost of what I offered him.

“Briefly. You said you search for information to protect Idrix. Something to do with the curse.”

I nodded. “I know someone who may be able to help us, but I’m not exactly on their good side. I could be putting both of us at risk.”

Silas studied me cautiously. “But you think there’s a chance?”

“A slim one,” I said, threading my arms into the sleeves of my shirt.

“Would I need to make a bargain too?” He didn’t look enthused at the prospect. My stomach twinged. Was I pushing him too far?

“I don’t know for sure,” I admitted, “but it’s highly likely. Without it, I can’t tell you the full truth.”

He frowned. “I can’t abandon my subjects. They’re my responsibility. I’ll never forgive myself for leaving them at the mercy of the council. I need to fight for them, even if returning alone is a death sentence.”

I took a deep breath. This was it. “What if you weren’t alone?”

The question lingered in the stale air of the inn.

“Where are you going with this?” Silas asked, sitting on the edge of the bed to put on his boots.

“With your influence and Blessing, you’d be a formidable ally. You’d have leverage, as Mirthal called it,” I said.

“You think your contact would be willing to negotiate? Help me win back Eirel?” His voice was bursting with optimism, and I only hoped it was warranted.

“It’s worth a shot. But it requires a leap of faith, far greater than anything I’ve asked of you before.” I met his gaze. “You should know the odds are stacked against us. I hurt someone important in the process of saving you. I won’t be welcomed with open arms, but it’s the best chance we have. You’ll need allies to stop the council.”

“And you’re sure about this?”

“No.” I said. “But we have information they need. That should be enough to hear us out. After that, let’s hope you can earn their trust, just like you did with me.”

I fastened my cloak before retrieving my pack and bow.

“And this way, you could stay with me?” Silas asked, picking up his remaining belongings where they were haphazardly scattered around the room.

I softened. “It’s the only way without breaking my bargain.”

I refused to let this be the end. We deserved our opportunity for a future together, and the Night Ravens could provide that, even with its limitations. I would fight for whatever I could get if it meant he was with me.

His features set in determination. “Then it’s decided.”

We left the inn hand in hand, acting as sickening as newlyweds. Even the drizzling rain couldn’t sour our happiness. Instead of seeking shelter, Silas took my hand and led me around the grasslands like it was our dancefloor. Afterwards, when it had subsided, he’d bathed us in a warm glow, drying the water and kissing our numb skin with heat.

The days blended together as we swiftly progressed north, our tight partnership helping us to travel with ease. We pushed ourselves during the day, Silas fully healed and eager to match my pace, then by night we made love under the stars, unrushed as we treasured each other.

Before long, we reached the Blossom Sea. It remained as breathtaking as ever, sunlight cascading over the blooming meadows. I laid on a canopy of flowers, their soft petals tickling my bare flesh, as Silas took me to the brink of release, holding me there for an agonising moment, before coaxing me over the abyss with a command I was more than willing to obey.

The next day, the charming scenery of Valtarra appeared over the horizon, looking as inviting as ever.

“Should we stop by? Visit your friend?” Silas asked. The travel had taken a toll, his appearance becoming increasingly dishevelled, but he’d kept his complaints to a minimum. Still, I didn’t miss the way he looked longingly at the village.

“No. Without a cure, we would be a burden to them. Better to come back with positive news. I just hope Dorea can hold on until then.”

On the fifth day, I breathed a sigh of relief as we crossed into the Yewdew Forest. It hummed with life, from the raglaw singing in the treetops to the plants that grasped towards the sunlight. Returning with Silas felt right, like the pieces of my soul were reunited at last. The forest was the same as ever, but I was different. We both were. So much had changed since we’d first met.

“This feels familiar. You’re not going to shoot me this time, are you?” he said when we’d stopped for a rest, roasting a few raglaw over a campfire. Their rich, savoury scent filled the air, and my stomach groaned.

“That depends,” I responded, appreciating his handiwork. It had taken a few attempts for him to hit them with our two remaining arrows, dashing back and forth to retrieve them when he’d failed, but it was worth the wait to watch his confidence grow.

“On what?” He raised an eyebrow.

“How distracting you plan to be.”

Silas tackled me to the ground, kissing me while I laughed, eventually succeeding in batting him away. I took his hand in mine as we watched the fire hiss and crackle.

He grinned smugly. “How was that?”

“Not bad, but I hope that was only the beginning.”

“Just wait for nightfall,” he promised, a glint in his eye.

We ate quickly and smothered the campfire when we were done, wanting to travel further while we had daylight. The Old Keep was only a day away. I was nervous to accept the consequences of attacking Norwyn and delaying my return to the Night Ravens, but with Silas by my side, it didn’t feel so overwhelming. And I had to confront my fears for Dorea’s sake, to secure her the help she needed.

If I wasn’t too late.

Every time he noticed me quieten or my smile fade, Silas reassured me he wanted this. That we could face whatever greeted me together.

With him, I felt stronger than ever.

Nearly a week after we’d left the inn, we reached the fortress, yet again masked by the wards that protected it.

“I never ventured this deep into the forest last time,” Silas said.

“Good. That was our intent.”

“Why? What are you hiding out here?” He strode ahead, so distracted he neglected to notice his surroundings, not that it would’ve mattered.

I called out to him in alarm. “Watch out!”

But he didn’t hear me, colliding with the solid barrier of the wards and bouncing off it, falling to the ground.

“What the fuck was that?” he said, cradling his arm where he’d landed on it.

“An excellent reason to listen to me.”

I felt for the telltale ripple of the glamoured wards hiding the Old Keep’s existence. They resisted me at first, as if realising Silas wasn’t meant to be there.

“He’s with me,” I said to them. “I can vouch for him.”

“Who are you talking to?” Silas said, his head darting from side to side.

“You’ll see.”

The wards seemed to consider me for a moment, the magic tickling as it brushed across my skin. Silas tensed, as if he could feel it too. Then they hummed, melting away at my touch without further complaint, the forest distorting as it transformed around us.

We’d passed the first test.

He let out a low whistle at the sight of the ruined castle, thousands of years of neglect eroding its walls. I had almost forgotten the awe I’d felt seeing it with Reuben as a new recruit. I’d looked at the crumbling stones and seen something broken, yet beautiful. A symbol of hope.

His eyes widened as he took in the sheer scale of what we’d concealed for centuries, and his grin made my heart soar.

“Welcome to the Old Keep,” I said.