The Kraken King, Part 7 by Meljean Brook Read Free Book Online

in despair and her shoulders slump, and he couldn’t hold her against him.
    But by the time he strode down the gangway, she’d already steeled herself again. “I’ve had everything that we’ll need packed.”
    Of course she had. Chest heavy, he started toward the courtyard with her. How many times had he watched soldiers leave their families and head off to battle? He’d always known it must have been difficult for them. Until now, he hadn’t known how deep the ache was, aware that he only had hours left . . . and then weeks or months before he saw her again.
    She suddenly stopped at the courtyard entrance. Head cocked, she looked up at him. “I just realized. No mask?”
    â€œI received dispensation to remove it this morning.” Not that it mattered now. “And I received an invitation to meet with one of the empress’s ministers two days hence.”
    Dismay parted her soft lips. “In two days? What will you do?”
    What would he do? Mara and Cooper hadn’t returned. Blanchett hadn’t returned. Damn it all. What else
could
he do?
    Frustration ripped into him. Ariq fought the biting heat of it, but his reply still possessed a sharp edge. “The ambassador will have to speak for me.”
    â€œYes.” Stepping back, she wrapped her arms around her middle and walked on. “Of course.”
    Dregs and hell. He caught her around the waist and pulled her rigid form close, her stiff back against his chest. From day to day, the scent of her hair was never the same. She’d smelled of dust and flowery perfume and the ocean—but today a warmer fragrance, like dried grass in the sun. He breathed deep and felt her soften against him.
    â€œThat wasn’t how I intended to greet you.”
    â€œI know. But ‘good afternoon’ hardly fits, does it? It’s a terrible afternoon.”
    â€œYes.” He tightened his arm around her waist. “But better now.”
    â€œIt is.” She threaded her fingers through his, their hands clasped at her side. Quietly she asked, “Are you angry with me?”
    â€œFor what?”
    â€œI sent Mara and Cooper. If I hadn’t, you could have gone two days ago. You would already know what was happening.”
    â€œYou sent them,” he said and turned her to face him. Uncertainty and guilt darkened her jade eyes. “And if I hadn’t agreed, I’d have called them back. But it’s always best to scout ahead. So it was my decision, too.”
    With a sigh, she nodded.
    He tugged her closer and she kept coming, sliding her arms around him and burying her face against his shoulder. Still uncertain. Probably terrified for her friends. “It was the right decision to make,” he said.
    Her response was muffled against his tunic. “It doesn’t feel like it now.”
    After giving orders that left soldiers dead or missing, it never did. Cupping her cheek, Ariq tilted her face up. “It was. And there’s no anger here. Not at you. Not at myself.” That kind of rage would lead nowhere and help nothing. His frustration and impatience now were enough—and even those he needed to contain or else risk accidentally hurting her with them. So he told her, “If I’m ever angry at you, you won’t have to ask.”
    She huffed out a quick laugh. “You’ll be blunt then, too?”
    â€œI will.”
    Smiling, she pulled out of his arms but kept hold of his hand, continuing toward their chambers. “You returned earlier than I expected. How many arrangements still need to be made?”
    â€œI’ve already made most.” And what hadn’t been arranged would be taken care of in the smugglers’ dens, where he’d cash in every favor he was owed and hire every soldier he could.
    â€œEverything here is ready to go. What we don’t need with us can be taken to the embassy later. Or left here. I don’t care one