Ivar's Escape (Assassins of Gravas #2) - N.J. Walters Page 0,59

press a finger to a corner of one eye.

“You are willing to do this?” Agman stood tall, looking every inch the king of the most powerful planet in the galaxies.

“Yes. Honor demands it.” He brought Delphi’s hand to his lips and kissed it. Being without her would be like living without his heart, but he’d survived months of torture without an end in sight. He could survive this knowing Delphi was waiting for him.

The experience he had been through had changed him, but Delphi had helped forge him into the new version of himself. Her love gave him purpose beyond simply honor and obligation.

****

She’d known something like this was going to happen. Ivar might have expected otherwise, but she hadn’t.

Zaxe’s reaction hadn’t shocked her at all. He’s always been protective of her. But she was an assassin, had taken lives. Childhood was so far behind her it was nothing more than a dim memory.

“And you will leave my son?” the king asked.

“I will.” She was a fighter, born out of the worst kind of circumstances. If there was one thing she knew how to do, it was how to survive. She clutched Ivar’s hand, allowing his strength to calm her.

“You and your brother may leave Gravas. Safe journey to you.”

Now? He was making them go now?

There was no time for any kind of personal goodbye. Her knees trembled, but she locked them. She gave a curt bow to the king and queen before turning to her sister. Sass gave her a slight nod. Good, she’d stay and keep an eye on Ivar. Zaxe had one eye on the exit and the other on her. Worry darkened his eyes.

I can do this.

“We’ll talk,” she assured him. It wouldn’t be the same, but it was better than nothing.

Ivar swore, dragged her into his arms, and kissed her as though they’d already been parted for months. Tears threatened, but she shoved them back. Never show your enemy fear. And right now, that was what his family was. This foe couldn’t be defeated with force. Only time, patience, and stealth would get the job done.

When they finally pulled away, she whispered in his ear, “I broke you out of one prison. I’ll do it again if I have to.” Her brain was already calculating possible weaknesses that could be exploited.

There was no smile, not this time. Only a grim acceptance. Then his expression went blank.

It was time.

Turning on her heel, she walked away, wondering how she was still on her feet when her heart was bleeding. The last time she’d experienced such a sense of loss, of sadness was when her parents had died. But there was hope. She clung to it with the same tenacity a Vusarian cave snake did with its prey.

Zaxe fell into step beside her. “This will pass,” he murmured. Did he mean the time or her feelings for Ivar? Either way, it didn’t matter. Work would keep her busy and pad their credit accounts. And she and Ivar could talk, even if she had to hack the Gravasian communication system.

The door was the prize. She had to get out of here before she did something stupid that would get her and her brother killed. Having him beside her was a stark reminder that it wasn’t just her life on the line.

Behind her, Ivar’s voice reached her. “Forgive me if I’m not up for any family reunion. I’ll retire to my quarters. I’ll be there if you need me.” His father had pushed too hard. Ivar was going to isolate himself from them. Her only solace was Sass wouldn’t allow it to go on for long. If she couldn’t prod him out of it, Spear would, if only to make Sass happy.

Zaxe reached around her to grab the ornate handle when the king spoke. “Wait.”

She stopped in her tracks but didn’t turn around. If she saw Ivar again, she’d break. Her throat grew tight, making it impossible to swallow.

“I needed to be sure,” Agman continued. “Needed to know what you would both sacrifice in order to be together.”

She faced the door, fury and uncertainty bubbling up inside her like a molten volcano.

“You accept my decision?” Ivar’s voice was harder than she’d ever heard it. His father might have been looking out for his son’s best interest, but he’d done damage to their relationship that might never be repaired.

“You think me hard, maybe cruel. I accept that. Someday you will have children of your own. Then you will understand you are