The concerned look on her face grew more exaggerated with my words. “Oh no, it’s not that. I’m just worried about Pyrran. He’s been searching for anything he could use against Lioran.” Cora’s low tone left me feeling unsettled as she glanced at Lioran then back to me.
And now he had what he wanted. “I know when there’s something you want to say but won’t…you can tell me.” She pushed her frustrations down deep within her, bottling things up—I had seen it so many times during our training sessions. Now I saw it all clearly on her face. Something was terribly wrong.
“I’m so happy for both of you.” She clasped her handstogether rigidly. “It’s just…it’s more than Pyrran. Bigger than all of us.”
What could be bigger than Pyrran telling the king and queen I was in Nythrel? I forced a swallow, my throat constricting. Had she seen something?
“Your vision?” My words caught in my throat. It was the last time I saw her this unraveled. “Please. Whatever it is you can tell me.”
“I don’t know enough yet to reveal what I saw.”
“It has to do with us…doesn’t it? You’re not going to tell me? You won’t even tell Lioran?”
“I will share when I can, but now is not the time.”
Lioran’s laughter echoed through the quaint space. I pressed my lips closed, wanting him to have his moment of peace.
Cora clutched the bottle in her trembling hands. “Who needs more wine?”
Lioran and Fyn held their glasses up in unison. Once she filled his glass, Lioran came to find me in the kitchen. His lips slowly grazed mine, and I pulled back.
“Are you alright?” Lioran slid his hand onto the small of my back. I pulled away from him, my instincts flaring. “Am I making you uncomfortable?”
“This is new to me—you kissed me in front of Fyn and Cora. In my kingdom…no one could kiss me unless they were marrying me.” His eyes narrowed. I wanted to be close to him—this world was so different. The rules of Bailoc didn’t matter here.
“I didn’t know.” He hovered close, his hand almost resting on mine, but he pulled away. “I will try to be more reserved, so you will be comfortable.”
“No…” I reached out, grabbing his hand. “This is just new to me.”
His eyes gleamed as moonlight streaked through the open window.
“Are you two going to just stay in there chatting all night? Things are going to get dreadful boring around here.” Fyn looked out the window and tapped his wineglass.
“Fyn.” Cora smacked him in the stomach. She lifted the glass to her lips. “How will you contend with Pyrran?” Cora’s cracking voice piped into the conversation.
“I don’t know yet. He’ll travel to the High Court soon,” Lioran said.
Fyn and Cora both tensed at the mention of theHigh Court.
“Do you think they know already?” I asked.
“It’s possible. My father has a way of finding things out.” Lioran’s eye twitched.
“Well, that’s putting it mildly.” Fyn coughed, choking on a sip of his wine.
“How?” I snapped.
Fyn’s eyes widened.
“My father can compel the truth out of anyone.” Lioran’s eyes lingered on mine, waiting for me to say something, to react at all.
I sat frozen beside Lioran. The warmth of his palm settled against mine.
“But he hasn’t sent for me.” My words challenged me even I knew it didn’t mean they wouldn’t.
“Yet.” A chill rippled down my spine at Fyn’s words.
Either they didn’t know I was here yet, or they were merely waiting.
