Page 128 of The Crown’s Temptation

"Both," he said.

I almost smiled.

We were quiet. A good quiet. The kind that did not need filling.

"There is a man Aviaryn told me about," I said. "White hair. She said he comes and sits near the ward every evening. Stays until morning sometimes." I paused. "She said she saw a tear fall down his face once."

"The little girl," he said quietly. "I met her. She told me you were alive."

I nodded. "She asked me if I knew him."

He still said nothing.

"I told her--" I paused, my voice breaking.

He closed his eyes.

I tried again. "I told her he was my husband."

He leaned in closer to the ward and did not speak for a long time. I looked at his hand trembling next to him. He opened his eyes slowly, taking in the tears that were now streaming down my face.

His voice was thick. "I cannot do this without you." He looked away. "I am only here because of our children. And because there was a small hope that you would somehow survive."

I said nothing. There were no words that would have been adequate enough.

"Asharin," he said. “If there is no way for you to leave there, then I told myself that I will raise our children by day, and spend every night of my life here on the floor waiting for you, if this is as much of you as I can have."

My throat tightened.

"It isn't."

He waited.

"Eravic..." I began.

At his name, his jaw tightened.

"What did he do?"

"He gave me something that I was meant to have since I was born.” I swallowed. "I can cross the ward now."

He stared at me.

"There has to be a cost."

I nodded.

"I am not supposed to. Not for long. My body has not recovered yet."

His eyes searched mine.

“You still need the antidote.”

I nodded again.

"He has people searching for it."

"As do I," Colsar said.