“No, it wasn’t, little brother. I was a trained assassin in a League prison. While it definitely wasn’t fun and I’ve no wish to repeat the experience, I wasn’t defenseless. Besides, I respect the venom. It was a brilliant payback, and I’d much rather you had done that than sicced Nykyrian on me. While I survived prison, I wouldn’t have survived his blade.”

“Still—”

“No, Darling. You spent a lot longer in your prison than I did in mine, and you had no way to fight back. While I had a fairly happy childhood, yours was cut in half and made absolutely miserable. I abandoned you to a hell no one should have endured. You have more than earned your place as governor, and I wanted you to know that I intend to do everything I can to back you. You need soldiers, assassins, whatever, I will bust hell’s gates wide open to get them for you. On my life, I mean it. I won’t let you down this time.” Ryn cleared his throat before he spoke again. “Is there anything you need me to do right now?”

Darling swallowed as emotions surged through him. He’d missed those days when he’d been a kid and had looked up at Ryn like Ryn had all the answers to the universe. Like his big brother was some mythic hero, capable of any feat. While he’d never feel that way again, this, in some ways, was better. For the first time since their fight, he felt like he had a brother he could depend on. “Please get them home, and don’t kill Drake.”

“I can’t promise the latter, but I will make sure both Maris and Zarya get some rest.”

“Thanks, shilo.”

Ryn squeezed him on the arm. “Get better fast. I won’t keep your empire straight for Drake.”

Darling had no doubt about that. The two of them had never gotten along. They were way too much alike. And he’d spent his entire life attempting to make peace between them.

Closing his eyes, he savored the silence even though he missed Zarya in a way that was inhuman. She was his breath.

His heart.

His…

He opened his eyes, but it was too late. The Trisani in him that was so unpredictable had already seen a glimpse of the future. A future that terrified him.

It wasn’t his death he’d seen.

It was Zarya’s. And unlike Nero, he didn’t see multiple outcomes.

He only saw the one and that meant it would happen without fail…

17

Alone in Zarya’s dark room, Darling frowned at her empty bed. As soon as Syn had given him medical clearance to leave the hospital and he’d finally come to terms with the surgery’s results and accepted them as best he could, he’d headed straight home to find her.

But she wasn’t here.

Sad disappointment overwhelmed him. Her room looked as if no one had been in it at all. And that left him feeling as empty as her bed. Absolutely desolate. It was like a part of him was gone, too. And the hole it left inside him ran all the way to his soul.