78

“Well, he did say he was always in this for himself,” Aria commented. “Now that we know he isn’t a liar, let’s get stronger, do better, and get to the place where we don’t need him anymore.”

I felt good and vindicated that Aria and Halo had also come to the realization that they’d be better off without Sire. It was something I’d been feeling, but had dared not say.

Aria and I returned to our room and undressed for bed. We were both exhausted after an emotionally draining day and the ordeal we’d suffered in Navarrah City where Polonius had threatened to kill everyone if Aria ever came back to the city without him. We showered together to conserve the warm water that had started pumping up from the lava-warmed hot spring. Once clean, we dried off and tucked ourselves into bed. As soon as we were lying between the soft linen sheets, I began to massage Aria’s neck and shoulders.

“How are you?” I asked, rubbing the rock-hard tension out of her muscles. “I’m not asking the queen of Onyx Rah