“I deserve a future. I’m not going to sit and wallow while Lioran does whatever is best for him.”
Fyn shifted his weight, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. “How easy was it for you to forgive him for what heordered his men to do? I still picture Lioran’s blood on my hands, but you…you’ve forgotten entirely.”
Flashes of crimson crossed my vision as I held an inhale. “I willneverforget, or forgive him for it.” Tears pooled in my eyes as my heart thundered.
“But you’ll choose to marry him anyway?”
“There is no way out of this,” I snapped.
“You can tell yourself that all you want…” Fyn’s tone went flat. “But it still doesn’t explain why you just let him hold you. You weren’t being forced—you let him.”
“Lioran didn’t stand up for me in the throne room. When I was broken from it all—he didn’t come for me afterwards. He abandoned me.”
“He hasn’t.” He leaned in closer to me. “The king and queen have been keeping him busy with endless meetings and introductions.”
“Introductions?” My blood went cold. “To find his bride?”
Fyn winced—it gave me all the answers I needed.
Whatever we were was over.
“He will do as he must, and I will do the same.” I pushed past Fyn, but he circled in front of me again.
“Lioran’s been trying to find a way out of your arrangement with Thalen. Trying to pave a future for you.”
“He said nothing of the sort when he came into my chambers and berated me. If Lioran cared to do anything for my future, he’d tell me himself. I don’t see him anywhere. Do you?”
For a moment I thought I felt Lioran’s warmth again, but I knew better than to turn around and find an empty space.
Fyn’s eyes darted well above my head.
Lioran’s voice cracked behind me, “My heart is still yours. It never stopped being yours. But as long as it is, you’re in danger. If I care too much—too deeply—they’ll force you tomarry Thalen. You won’t have a choice, Aelira. I won’t be able to stop it.”
I pivoted to face him.
He braced his arms across his chest. “It turned out none of it mattered. No amount of fighting will reverse your decision. Do you need help finding your betrothed?”
“The rebellion—King Ardyn—they killed him.” The parchment shook in my hands as I shoved it into his chest. “Agan is on the throne.” My breath caught, and for a moment I couldn’t speak. “Ashlyn is in danger.”
The corner of Lioran’s lips slipped as he carefully read each word. “You would give your freedom to help them? Agan did nothing to help you. He tried to—” He seethed.
“I’m not going for him.” I tore the letter from his grasp. “I have to protect my sister.”
“Thalen can’t help Bailoc.”
“You would hate to think he could,” I said.
Fyn’s boots scraped the dirt. “Lioran.”
“Leave, Fyn,” he scolded.
“Don’t you dare go anywhere,” I commanded.
“Enough,” Fyn’s voice sharpened. “Figure this out—both of you. I will stand here so you two are not seen alone together, but I have nothing more to say.” He became a silent wall beside me.
“Thalen’s supplies come from Pyrran. Pyrran gets shipments from Lythira that he disperses to every territory under our protection—shipments I can’t keep up with because of the blight,” Lioran explained. “Without those shipments he will barely have enough food to feed Kybar, let alone the Vale.”
“Thalen knows this?” I asked.
