The door slammed behind us, locking out the noise of the crowd. The fort’s back garden was small, but beautiful—an oak with yellow leaves loomed over a fountain, shading the bubbling water. Flowers had begun to bloom in the early weeks of spring. Pale blues and pastel greens.
“Did you just growl?” I asked, hiking up my skirt as I followed Reese across the garden. “What are you, a feral dog?”
He stopped beside the fountain and whirled around. “I would love nothing more than to stab someone right now.”
I took a step back. “Should I be worried?”
“No,” he breathed. “God, no.” He held out a hand, beckoning me to come near.
Joining him, I regarded my reflection in the fountain. I looked like the woman I’d been before, the clueless noble. But I did not remember that girl. She was buried in the past.
“When did Brighid tell you?” I asked, looking up at Reese.
“A year ago,” he said stiffly. “If we talk about it, I’m going to murder him.”
“Alright.” I shimmied closer to the fountain, blocking his view of the fort. “Shall we discuss our feelings, then? I could lament about the boy who broke my heart when I was fourteen.”
“Who would do such a foolish thing?”
“Lord Fitheal’s brat son,” I spat. “He only favors Stormborn with lavender hair. Do you know how rare those are?” Pulling my hair over my shoulder, I leaned against the tree.
“When I was fourteen, I was playing rogue.” Reese dragged his collar aside, revealing part of his tattoo. “We called ourselves the Sun Chasers.”
“You got that when you were fourteen?”
“No, this was when it became official—when we grew up.”
“Wait—you were a thief?” I rolled my head to the side. “First Liam, now you. I’m doomed to the company of delinquents.”
“How dreadful for you." He looked wistful, "I never believed Cleiv Solais should have chosen me.” He leaned against the tree, too close, too warm.
We stood like that for a while, surrounded by birdsong and flowers. I twisted my hands together, wondering if I should say something, burning beneath the distance he didn’t know was between us.
“I should return,” he said quietly. “Tell my father I intend to oversee your anointment, once I’ve finished training you. “
“This isn’t your burden, you know.” I twisted my neck to look up at him. “To train me, to deal with all this.”
“Maybe you could’ve convinced me of that back when we first met, but not anymore.”
“Yes, well.” I swallowed, and looked away. “Now we have the problem of you coddling me too much.”
“I can’t help it. I’m overprotective. And . . . selfish. I don’t want you to leave my side.”
Vaf’s promise echoed in my mind. Lurching from the tree, I put space between us. “Maybe we should part ways, then.”
His eyebrows fell. “What?”
“We’re being foolish, courting forbidden temptations,” I said, heart pounding. “Distance will ensure we don’t cross that line.”
Reese took a step toward me. “What line?”
I spread my arms. “Don’t be coy with me. You’re warm and sweet and frustratingly good-looking. I feel like all I’d have to do is frown a little bit, and you’d happily pamper me like a princess for a week.”
“I would.”
“Ugh.” I flopped my hands back at my side. “Even if you weren’t a Solheart, you’re . . . perfect. And I'm . . . ” I trailed off. “I’m not good enough to be a Paragon.”
Heat washed over me as Reese stood opposite me, hand gently cupping my face. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you blurt out a bunch of words like that before.”
