I held it out to him, surprised when he actually obliged, biting into the corner.
He chewed thoughtfully. “It’s not terrible. I’ve had better.”
I popped the remainder into my mouth. “You’re such a liar.”
“I’m not lying.” His hand circled my wrist, and he drew me onto his lap.
My legs fell on either side of the chair.
He brushed a wet lock of hair behind my shoulder. A drop of water slid down my arm and he met it with his tongue. He looked up at me, through dark lashes. “You’re far tastier than any tart.”
I linked my fingers around his neck. “Maybe you just haven’t eaten many tarts.”
“I’ve had plenty,” he murmured.
He kissed me and I felt the full range of his emotions.
Rage, as he pulled me closer, fingers sinking into my hair.
Sorrow as his lips moved gently, devoutly, against mine.
Relief, as he sighed into my mouth, whispering my name like it belonged to a deity he was about to pledge fealty to.
I wanted nothing more than to continue kissing him. To let my hands skate over his shoulders, for the clothes he wore to disappear, but I couldn’t switch my brain off. The thoughts I had been trying not to let consume me over the past few days re-emerged with ferocity.
I pulled away slightly, “Lana? Moric?”
Kilian’s hands stroked my arms. “Safe. Keila, Nox and Mattieu did not make it, though.”
There was relief amidst the ache for the other candidates. “What happened to them?”
“Rayna convinced Lana not to enter Cosanus. Moric and Keila did enter but didn’t make it very far before stepping into sinking sand. Keila was too far in. Moric wasn’t able to pull her out.”
“Gods.” My eyes shuttered as I imagined how traumatic it must have been for the both of them.
“As for Nox and Mattieu, neither returned. I searched the border for days, they weren’t anywhere.”
Which had to mean they had either fallen prey to the geysers, or they hadn’t made it back to the boundary within the hour and the land had drained them of all magic and lifeforce.
“We have elven still searching the border,” Kilian said. “But when Calendula found me, I left them there to fetch you. Although, unless they also fell into another scry, there’s no likelihood of survival.”
An anvil weighed me down and I nodded.
“Do you want to talk about it?” he asked softly. “The Trial?”
The memories flashed through my mind. An eerily still cavern, thirteen desiccated fae, sweat rolling down my neck, the heat of a dagger being siphoned of magic, a sprite’s head being torn from her neck.
How foolish you have allowed yourself to become.
I glanced down. “It was terrifying. I don’t think I’ve ever been that scared before. The fae… one of them woke. He spoke to me. Like he knew me.”
He nodded. “Caleb and Calendula briefed me.”
“And the land, I felt it split me open. Did it…? It can’t have taken all the magic from me; I still feel the link.”
“No, you crossed over in time. There’s still trace elements of magic left in you.”
“I just don’t understand any of it.” I dropped my gaze to the daggers gleaming side by side. “Why is it that a weapon worn around the neck of a fae is a twin to the dagger my mother gifted me?”
