of her.
Selene nodded. “I trust you, but it’s easier said than done. Fear isn’t a rational thing. If it was for anything else, I would be able to say yes easily. But knowing that if I agree to let you put the enchantment back on me, the very first thing you’ll do is put me through the compression trial again—it terrifies me. I can say I trust you, but just thinking about it makes me want to run screaming.”
He put his arms around her. “I won’t force you to do anything. It’s your decision.” He kissed her lips quickly, then pulled away to look her in the eyes. “But don’t even joke about separating. Whatever happens, you won’t get rid of me. I’ll take however much time we have and be grateful for every minute.”
Selene blinked, then kissed him. “You’re such an idiot.” They held each other for a minute or so, then her head popped up again. “Wait, how did you learn the enchantment? Did Arrogan teach it to you?”
Will grimaced. “No. He got rather upset when I asked. I had to go to your father.”
“You what? Tell me you didn’t!”
He shrugged. “I did. You know I’d do anything if I thought it would help you.”
“But him, he’s a monster.” Her eyes widened. “What did he want in exchange? I know my father. He wouldn’t trade something like that without receiving something of equal value.”
“Darrow.”
“Darrow?”
He nodded.
“The nation? He thinks you can give it to—” Her mouth formed an ‘o.’ “He wants you to go to war for him! Oh, William, why?”
“It was going to happen eventually anyway.”
“Not to you! Not to us! Why would you promise something like that?”
Will offered a crooked grin. “Because I thought it might help you.”
Tears began rolling down her cheeks in earnest. “But I’m too scared to let you use it on me now. I’m a coward, William. There’s no nice way to say it. I’ve lost my nerve and now you’ve paid a terrible price for nothing.”
He squeezed her tightly. “Don’t say that. I’ve been through it—once—and it scared me to death. I can’t imagine how you’ve managed to try so many times already. Whether you ever try again or not, you’re the bravest person I’ve ever known. Who knows, maybe I’ll find some other use for the damned enchantment? No matter what, I’m not going to regret trying to help you.”
She held onto him for a while, but collected herself before too much time had passed. No matter what she claimed, Selene was made of stern stuff. Together they ate supper and whiled away the evening without any more unpleasant discussions. But that night, after they had gone to bed, she clung to him with quiet desperation, her arms giving voice to the fear she couldn’t face.
Will slept fitfully, but when he woke in the morning, he found she had already risen. He had just begun to get dressed when she strode purposefully into the bedroom. Selene looked to be fully prepared for a long day. She was dressed in an austere dress meant for work rather than society, and her hair was tightly braided and pinned back behind her head.
Without pause, she circled the bed and stopped in front of him. “Do it.”
His foot was halfway down the leg of his trousers, and he froze, then grinned. “Do it? Is that a command I need pants for? Or is this a no-pants situation?”
“You’re going to need a bandage if you make any more jokes,” she snipped. “I’m serious. Do it. Put the enchantment on me.”
Will frowned. “Are you sure?”
“Now, William! Please. Before I lose my nerve.”
He nodded. “All right. But don’t worry, I won’t give you any orders unless you agree with them beforehand.”
She shook her head. “No. I’ll back out. After you put it on me, just do what you need to do and don’t listen to me if I change my mind.”
“Really?”
Her head bobbed up and down. “Hurry up.”
He formed the enchantment, not even bothering to finish pulling on his trousers. Being fairly new to it, it took him almost two minutes to form the two ends of the construct. When it was ready, he passed the ‘slave’ end over to her hand. “You have to voluntarily apply that end to yourself,” he told her.
“I remember,” she said nervously. Her hand trembled slightly, then she took a deep breath and pressed it against her throat. The runes unlaced and circled her neck, then sank into her skin and vanished.