Kilian’s brows drew together. “I don’t doubt the training helped, but… I told you, that sort of skill takes many years to hone. Channeling the current wasn’t the sole reason you survived.”
I blinked up at him. “What? What else could it have been?”
He hesitated. “You must be freezing. Let’s go back to the house and get you warmed up before we talk about it. Wewilltalk about it,” he said, as my lips parted to argue. “But my priority is your well-being.” Kilian kissed me on the brow, before grasping my hand to lead me down the trail, back to Valhan House.
I glanced over my shoulder to where Septimus and Lana still stood huddled near the boundary, their heads bent together as they spoke to each other.
“They’ll be fine,” Kilian assured me. “Septimus will take care of her. Let me take care of you, and then I’ll answer all your questions.”
Curiosity burned through my veins, but he was right. I needed to soak my aching muscles in a bath. And I needed to eat. I was starving. We descended quicker than it had taken to ascend the trail. My body moved easily, sinuously, with the slightly longer limbs. Even my muscles felt stronger. We entered the house, Kilian pulling me past the dorms on the third floor, to his bedroom on the fifth.
“What about Calendula?” I inquired. I wanted to see the shadow sprite and thank her for everything. To tell her I had passed the Rite.
“She returned home to the Shadow Soil. She was too anxious you wouldn’t make it through. She’s really grown to care for you,” Kilian said. “I’ll send her a message, though.”
I nodded. I couldn’t fault her for leaving. I knew how much she hated being away from her home.
Kilian opened his bedroom door. It was as I remembered it. I stared at the bed. Was thisourroom now? He hadn’t formally asked, and I wasn’t the expert on elven traditions. I assumed we’d be sharing it from now on, but maybe he hadn’treallyexpected me to pass the Rite and now he felt obliged–
“The link’s gone, so I won’t know what’s bothering you unless you tell me,” Kilian said.
I realized my brows had scrunched as I considered our living arrangements.
“What a shame,” I jibed, “that you can no longer spy on my innermost thoughts.”
“It truly is a pity,” he said. “I rather enjoyed your thoughts, violent as they were.”
I huffed a short laugh. “I was just wondering… where I’d stay now.”
“Here, obviously. Unless you don’t want to? Your room’s still available on the third floor if you’d prefer, I just thought… the hallway will be empty now.”
My eyes closed, a hard lump forming in my throat. Moric would no longer be next door to me. And Lana would likely room with Septimus.
“Right. I mean, here’s fine. I just don’t want you to feel like youhave to–”
“Hey.” He pulled me against him, arms wrapping around me. “I don’t want you going anywhere. If I could, I’d keep you in my bed all day.”
I smiled against his chest. “All day?”
“And night. I meant what I said yesterday. I love you.” He lifted my chin and our eyes met. “Will you remember that?”
I nodded.
He pressed a soft kiss to my lips then drew away, a hand sliding down to grab mine as he led me to the bathroom. He pointed out where the towels, bath salts and soaps were and turned to leave.
“I’ll have some food sent up,” he said, closing the door behind him.
Alone in the bathroom, I let the water run in the tub. I mixed blue and green salts together, watching as the colors swirled into a pretty teal, before shucking off my clothes and stepping into the bath. I let the water wash over me, sinking low until my entire body was covered. I held my breath, surprised to find that thirty seconds had passed, yet I was still comfortably submerged. It was so quiet, so still, beneath the water. Like life itself was muffled. I could pretend that Anama and Moric, and all the other candidates were alive for one idyllic minute, before crushing reality set in.
I resurfaced. Water streamed off my face, and I slicked my hair back, breathing in the soapy scent to ground me. I scrubbed myself clean and dried off with a fluffy towel before padding into the bedroom. Kilian wasn’t there, but the smell of food greeted me as soon as I entered the room, and my stomach clenched.
A fresh set of clothes had been laid out on the bed. I changed quickly before surveying the food. Several bowls were arranged on a tray. I salivated at the contents. I picked up a bowl of what looked like creamy pumpkin soup, bringing the spoon to my lips. I moaned at the taste. It was unlike anything I’d ever eaten before – spiced to perfection, with a hint of cinnamon and something else I couldn’t quite place my finger on.
“I thought you only made those sounds for me.” Kilian stood at the doorway, amusement lighting his face.
“You wish you tasted as good as this soup,” I teased.
He snorted, stepping into the room proper. “It’s elven. You’ve never tried our food before. Doesn’t it make that mortal stuff seem horrendously bland?”
