Auryn whirled, silver gaze brimming with fury and grief. “He doesn’t even trust me to choose. Not even that. Always deciding for me. What I’m allowed to know, where I’m allowed to be.”
Thessia’s expression softened, but her voice stayed steady. “Maybe he’s afraid.”
Auryn’s voice cracked, raw. “Then he shouldn’t have looked at me like I was his world. And he shouldn’t have made me believe he’d stay.”
The words stung in the frost-bitted air. Even the horses stilled, sensing the weight of them.
Despite her attempts to stop them, the tears rolled down her cheeks. Hot. Damning. "Thess… I don't know what to do…I don't know how to make him see…"
Thessialoosened her hold, but she didn’t step back. She held out her hand, and Auryn collapsed into her. The tears came harder. And harder. Even as strong arms and the wild scent of the winds surrounded her, Auryn couldn't stop crying. Thessia stroked her hair. Awkward, but tender.
"I'm no good at this sort of thing," she admitted as Auryn's sobs quieted. "My company—we don't cry unless we're deep in our cups, and it usually involves a lost bet or misplaced underthings."
Auryn's hiccups broke on a giggle. She buried her face into Thessia's chest, and the Lioness rested her chin on the crown of her head.
"None of us have so much to lose. One day we live, another day we fight, and one day—unexpectedly—we perish. But you, moonbeam. You've found something rare. You have to fight for it."
Auryn sniffled. "How do I fight when I cannot see where to aim my bow?"
Thessia stiffened, as though deep in thought. She took a deep breath.
“Do you remember what you told me? That my heart sings, but you wouldn’t listen until I wanted you to?”
Auryn blinked, startled, and nodded. “When you braided my hair…”
Thessia’s jaw worked, uncharacteristically tense. Then she lifted Auryn’s hand in both of hers, guiding it to her chest. “I want you to listen. Now.”
Auryn’s eyes widened. She covered Thessia’s hand with her own.
A beat of silence passed.
“So how does this work?” Thessia asked.
“You simply…speak…and I listen. I hear your voice, and the song of your heart.”
“What should I say?”
“Anything you wish.”
Thessia’s ears flushed pink. She cleared her throat and spoke in a gruff voice. “You’re never alone, moonbeam. Whatever happens, you can comewith me. I won’t keep you—that is—you don’t have to promise me anything. Just…come. You could even be a Riven Blade if you wanted."
She met Auryn's eyes. Just for a moment. "Is it…working?"
Auryn nodded. "Please, keep going."
"My house isn't very big, but it's big enough if you would—ah, no. That is—if you would want to, you could stay with us. The Riven Blades. We can be loud and surly, but we're a good bunch and…Stars, this is harder than I thought…” She reached up and scratched the back of her neck, sheepish.
But it was enough for Auryn, and biting her lip could no longer hold back more tears. Warmth filled her chest. Thessia’s heart sang a note so pure, so clear, that it broke through all the pain of Auryn’s uncertainty. She shivered.
“Oh, Thessia…” she whispered. “It’s beautiful. What is this feeling?”
The Lioness made a small, unsteady sound. Her throat worked as though words had caught there. Her lips parted, but all that came out was rough, halting.
“You tell me,” she muttered at last. Her mouth tugged sideways, betraying the ghost of a smile she couldn’t quite hide.
“It’s warm,” Auryn said. “And light. And aching. It’s steady and sure.”
A moment. A breath. Then Thessia covered her hand with her own. “It’s the way you feel about him, isn’t it?” she asked. The words tumbled too quickly, as if she couldn’t stop them.
