The Broken Blades Trilogy, #3
Three Shattered Souls
by Mai Corland
Contents
Chapter Seventy-Two
Overview
Aeri watches Royo labor on Gaya’s defenses and imagines a peaceful future together after the war. Later, in private, Aeri and Royo share an intimate moment that reaffirms their commitment. The amulet’s shadow lingers, but their bond steadies Aeri, underscoring what’s at stake if the coming war is lost.
Summary
At the Rose Palace overlook, Aeri observes Rune’s generals planning while Royo toils below, driving spikes into the sand to bolster Gaya’s defenses. Distracted by Royo and teased by Duval, Aeri drifts into imagining a life after victory—safe on Gaya with Royo, free from Weian threats.
Aeri envisions a simple domestic future: warmth, shared routines, and ordinary disagreements that would feel like bliss after years of danger and isolation. The daydream crystallizes her deepest desire—stability and love—anchoring her resolve about what survival would mean.
Later, in their room, Royo returns from a bath and the two share an intimate, playful exchange that deepens into passion. When Royo’s attention pauses at Aeri’s amulet—the relic that once doomed her without him—concern surfaces. Aeri reassures him that he already has all of her. Their intimacy becomes a reaffirmation of mutual devotion, highlighting the personal stakes they fight for as war approaches.
Who Appears
- AeriNarrator; longs for a peaceful future on Gaya and reaffirms love and commitment to Royo.
- RoyoWorks on Gaya’s defenses; shares an intimate moment with Aeri, showing care about her amulet and their future.
- DuvalPresent with Rune’s generals; notices Aeri’s distraction, offering light teasing amid war planning.