Corvin shook his head. “No, at least not one I’ve ever come across before.” He aligned his gaze with mine. “I’m thinking there’s a different solution. I’m thinking you go through the Sky Kingdom’s gateway instead. I know the words to pass through. Last year, the gateway appeared above my mother’s statue. It should appear there again in the courtyard. You can still make it to the inauguration ceremony. I know the words. I can get you there.”
His eyes took on a slightly glazed appearance, like he was fighting back tears. There was something intensely, awfully tortured about his expression. And I had to admit to myself, his plan made sense. That I could use the extra protection. That finding my broken body in that alleyway, healing me, may have left a deeper mark on Corvin than I yet cared to admit to myself. And yet, he had so many people relying upon him, an entire kingdom—
“I can’t let you do that. Only one person is allowed through before the gateway closes. You should be the one to go. Your people are depending upon you.”
“I want to protect you,” he insisted, his tone ferocious.
“I want to protect you too,” I shot back with equal ferocity.
We stared each other down, our breathing labored.
He looked over my shoulder. “Nix, you think she should go through the gateway too, right?”
“Hey now!” I spluttered. “Don’t drag him into this!”
“I’m glad to see you well, Corvin,” Nix replied, folding his paws in front of himself like he was just here to enjoy the show.
Ajax raised his head, briefly joining in the conversation to say, “Welcome back, young prince. Your father will be glad to hear that you’ve recovered.”
Despite myself, a grin tugged at my lips.Nix called Corvin by his actual name.Even as I acted annoyed at him for involving him in our argument, I was actively suppressing a grin. Still, I leaned back on Corvin’s lap for good measure, crossing my arms. “I’m not going—it wouldn’t be right.”
When he realized I wasn’t going to budge, he altered his approach. “My father’s debt! This could be how I’m meant to fulfill his debt. By helping you make it to the inauguration ceremony. That, that could be enough.” A pleading note entered his voice. “Please, Elvira. Let me do this for you. Let me fulfill the debt we owe the Midnight Sovereign. I can’t lose you again—”
At the mention of the debt, I gritted my teeth.
He was always bringing it up. Corvin had done everything in his power these last few moons to support me. Including saving my life. Still, my heart ached, because I didn’t just want his obligation, I wanted his desire—
“Enough about the debt already!” I practically roared, no longer willing to let him use it as an excuse for the relationship blossoming between us. “I don’t want—I don’t want you to dothis because you feel you owe the Midnight Sovereign. I want you to do this because you wantme.You owe me nothing, Corvin. If it’s truly what you want, then I’ll go through the Sky Kingdom’s gateway. But don’t expect me to act like everything we’ve been through together has been about your father’s debt, not when—not when I’ve never wanted anybody the way I want you—”
The sound of approaching footsteps halted our conversation.
Hastily, I removed myself from Corvin’s bed so that I wouldn’t be caught straddling him. An infirmary healer promptly rounding the corner, heralded as much by her footsteps as by the smell of medicinal herbs that followed in her wake. “Prince Corvin!” the woman shrieked, evidently surprised to find him sitting up in bed, wide awake. “You’re finally up and about again! You had your father and I worried sick.”
“Nice to see you, Kali,” Corvin greeted, apparently recognizing his nurse. “About my father, is he doing alright? He doesn’t normally sleep in the infirmary.”
The woman fussed over Corvin, laying a hand against his forehead, before responding. “Yes, he’s doing fine, sleeping comfortably at the moment. I believe he asked to be moved here from his bedchamber to be closer to you while you recovered. He’s been in good spirits this week; he even managed to stay awake for several hours this afternoon. I wouldn’t be surprised if you get another opportunity to speak with him tonight. We’ll have to see. It’s just so hard to predict anymore.” She cleared her throat, absentmindedly fluffing one of Corvin’s pillows. “And how are you both feeling?”
“I’m feeling drained, but in good health,” I replied.
“I’m feeling fine, really. Thanks for looking after me,” Corvin answered.
Kali regarded him with a sharp gaze. “Alright, Your Highness, I’ll be back soon for a thorough checkup regardless. Inthe meantime, someone should tell Kygraw and the rest of your council you’ve awakened. Please excuse me for a moment.”
Shortly afterward, Kygraw came bustling into the room.
It filled quickly after that, a parade of people huddling around Corvin, inquiring after his well-being. Quietly, I slipped away from his bedside, letting myself be pushed to the periphery of the crowd where I could still overhear everything, listening silently as Corvin was asked question after question in an incessant interrogation.
“Your Royal Highness. Tell me, do you believe there is an active threat against your life?” asked a winged man carrying a sword at his side and wearing a diagonal swatch of fabric across his chest, covered in a selection of feathers.
Another healer held two fingers to the inside of Corvin’s wrist. “Your Highness. How are you feeling right now? Are you comfortable? Warm enough? Hungry? Can you move and speak as normal?”
“My lord, I must impart bad news. Today is the Winter Solstice, and we’ve decided to delay the inauguration on account of your poor health,” said what I presumed was a royal advisor, another Roowk, resembling Kygraw but with darker feathers and a smaller stance.
Corvin ignored them all, rising from his bed. “I don’t have time for this. I need to get to the gateway before it disappears.” He pushed his way through the crowd of people, pushing his way back to me. For the first time since everyone materialized to fuss over him, silence descended over the room.
“Your Highness.Surely you don’t mean you plan to attend the inauguration in your current state.”
“Not me. Elvira,” Corvin replied, his voice filled with steely resolve. “She’s borrowing our gateway.”
