“Bring medical supplies and fresh water to the porch,” Tristan ordered. There was an untapped, furious note in his voice. He carefully lifted Austin, and when he settled him onto a couch, he lit several candles, bringing the world out of the shadows. Austin’s sunroom was flattened, only the porch recognisable.
Austin caught Tristan’s fingers and met his eyes. “Are you angry with me?”
“No.”
“He slapped me,” Austin said, his voice coming out with sudden energy. “Did you expect menotto destroy the estate after that?”
Tristan’s shoulders tightened. A furious look flashed across his face as his eyes fixed on Austin’s cheek. “He’s weak,” Tristan said with fury. “I didn’t imagine he would be so stupid as to attempt to harm you.”
“No. Neither did I. Are you mad that I killed him?”
“No.”
“I’ve wanted to kill him since you first told me about him. I’m glad he doesn’t get to exist anymore. Are you still not mad at me?”
“No.” Tristan sank to his knees at Austin’s feet. He bent and kissed both, then held them as his eyes lifted to Austin. “No,” he repeated gently.
Austin found the strength to cup Tristan’s face and kiss him softly. “Will you forgive me anything?”
“I suspect I will,” Tristan said.
Austin smiled faintly to himself, suspecting the same. “And you care about me?”
“Yes.”
Austin hummed, feeling so very light inside.
“And you care for me?” Tristan asked hesitantly in return.
Austin almost laughed. “Did you think it was that training pit keeping me around?”
Tristan’s expression was still troubled. “I have done something that I believe might anger you. I took a liberty that should have rightly been yours.”
“Did you get an attendant?”
“No,” Tristan said quickly. “That I will never do, I promise you.”
“Hm. Tell me, then.”
“At the delegation dinner, Kas listened to everything you said. He recognised the name Cessair, which is not common in Justerra.”
Austin flashed cold. Tristan’s fingers squeezed his knees, warm and grounding. He didn’t break eye contact. “A man was rescued from the ocean two years ago. He didn’t speak our native tongue, and so he was brought to Hal.”
The world narrowed. Austin’s gills took shape across his ribs, gasping desperately, his body misfiring in an attempt to meet the threat.
“Hal heard enough from the man to lock him up. He’s been in the local jail since that day.”
“Cessair’s alive? He’s in the city?”
Tristan’s head tilted to the side, showing his throat, all beseeching. “I…wouldn’t describe him as ‘alive.’ His body is in the city, if you’d like to see it.”
“What do you mean?”
“You told me much of him. And I have felt the same about your father as you have about mine.”
“You killed him?”
“I should have asked you first. Forgive me.”
