“I said I would.” Lioran winced as he shifted his body weight.
“What you told her you’d do and what you’re planning to do are two different things.” Fyn rolled his eyes. “I’ve known you too long.”
Their banter brought warmth back to the chilled corridor.
“I was just going to check on you before training with Cora,” I said.
“Oh? Let me walk you.” Lioran stood tall, but his breathing was uneven.
“You will not walk her.” Fyn slid in between us. “I will walk her. You will go sit somewhere and read some boring prince paperwork, or whatever it is you do around here.”
Lioran laughed through gritted teeth. “Fine. You walk her.” He leaned back into the wall. “I will see you both later.” He braced his body against the wall, his face growing paler.
“Are you okay?” I reached for his arm to brace him but drew my hand back to my side.
“Your Highness, it’s good to see you up.” A fae male as tall as Lioran with silver-streaked hair approached him before he could answer me.
“What news do you have of the borders, Lord Elric?” Lioran’s tone shifted.
“Borders are all secure,” Lord Elric responded.
“No signs of the riders crossing into the Heart?” Lioran’s eyes narrowed.
“No. My men and I rode out on your return and have not spotted them anywhere.” Lord Elric shifted slightly until he faced me. “You must be Lady Aelira.” Lord Elric raised an eyebrow.
He took my hand and planted a kiss on it as his gaze lingered. I shuddered with his touch. Thalen was the only one to ever kiss my hand like that.
“Who knew a disturbance would be so beautiful?” His tone grew so soft I struggled to make out his words.
He knew I crossed the divide. Lioran must have trusted him—he sent him searching for our attackers in the woods. Had he told him who I was?
Lioran’s jaw clenched. “Thank you, Lord Elric. We will discuss the plan in greater detail later.”
“Until then, Your Highness.” Lord Elric nodded, bowing to Lioran before he left us.
My gaze trailed him until we turned the corner.
“Is he always this stubborn?” I asked Fyn.
“Always.” He smirked. “It’s surprising he stayed in bed as long as he did, or maybe it isn’t, since you’ve been visiting him every single day.”
I stopped in front of him, my voice lowered. “You’re not going to give this up, are you?”
“Give up what?”
“Whatever you think is happening—it’s not,” I scolded him.
“If you insist.” He raised his hands up.
My breath caught as I inhaled, a hollow pain responded in my chest. He couldn’t. He didn’t feel that way. I didn’t feel that way.
“You’re wrong, Fyn. About all of it.”
“Aelira…”
“I’ll go the rest of the way on my own.” I stepped ahead of him.
“Lioran wouldn’t forgive me if I just left you out there to navigate the Heart on your own.”
