Page 65 of The Infirmary for Dragon Burns and Midair Mishaps

“So you’re going to give up?” Dalton sank back down beside me. “That doesn’t seem like you. The Vaela I’ve always known wouldn’t sit here pining. She’d try to figure out how to fix things.”

I bit the inside of my cheek, mulling over his words. Maybe he was right. Maybe I was giving up too easily.

When Eden slipped from the table, headed back up to the bar for another round, I got to my feet.

Dalton raised his tankard in support. “Go get ’er,” he said, slurring his words a bit.

I smirked at him over my shoulder. “Why don’t you nurse that one for a while?”

I slipped away, ducking around broad shoulders and fighting my way to the front of the bar. I stopped at the wooden railing next to her, laying my hand down flat, fingers almost close enough to touch.

Eden glanced down at my hand, then her head snapped in my direction. “Oh, Vaela!”

The smile dropped from her face. I felt sick watching that happen.

“Hi,” I said softly.

Her tongue darted out to taste her lips. I grew distracted for a moment, studying her pink rosebud mouth.

“I didn’t realize you’d be here,” she said.

“I came to cheer Dalton up,” I admitted. “He’s had some rough news from the wrangler school.”

“I see,” she said. “Please give him my best. I know rider training is never easy.”

I nodded. “How is the, uh”—I glanced around to make sure no one was paying us any attention—“the you-know-what coming along? Did Nisse have any helpful suggestions?”

Eden’s eyes flickered about, then she nodded. “She did, actually. I’m trialing rosemary extract with honey this time. I was just waiting for the… you-know-whats to fully dry. Then I should be able to start building the new prototype. I might even have it done within the week, give or take the demands of the infirmary.”

“That’s amazing,” I said. “As soon as you’re ready, Min and I can come by and help you test it.” I watched her throat work as she stared at the row of dirty tankards across the counter.

“I’m not sure that’s the best idea.”

My heart flip-flopped. “What do you mean?”

“I’m not sure it was ever a good idea,” she amended quickly. Quietly. “I never should have dragged you into it in the first place. You’re a wrangler. You answer to the kingsguard. I compromised both you and Min.”

“I don’t care.” I reached for her, letting my pinky curl over her hand where it rested on the bartop.

“You should.” She stared down at our hands, looking pained. “If not for yourself, then for your dragon.”

“Let me worry about Min.”

Eden pulled her hand away, looking at me straight on. “I think it’s best if we part ways as far as the you-know-what is concerned.”

But if we didn’t have the armor, what excuse did I have to see her?

“It’s for the best,” she murmured. “Considering who your brother is.”

“Trystan would never⁠—”

“Maybe not,” Eden said. “Maybe he’d look the other way for you. But if something happens, it’ll be both your names that get dragged through the mud. You think he can just return to the capital after that kind of thing?” She shook her head. “It’s too much to risk.”

My teeth pressed together so hard a spark of pain shot down my neck. “Helping you was always worth the risk to me.”

“Then we’ve both been fools,” she murmured.

“Please don’t say that.” I reached for her elbow, squeezing gently. She came to me, slowly, hesitantly, arms curled against her chest like she was afraid to touch me. “Eden?”