Page 188 of The Fifth Heir

“Do you want me to object?”

“I don’t know.”

“Would it change what happened?”

“No.”

“Would it change what you want?”

“No.”

“Then I don’t object.”

The answer came without hesitation.

“I don’t want you to misunderstand what this is,” I said.

His attention sharpened. “What is it?”

“I don’t know yet. But choosing you tonight doesn’t mean I’ve chosen against them.”

Torren’s jaw tightened. “There is a part of me that wants to lock this door and keep every other man in the academy away from you.”

“That sounds inconvenient.”

“Extremely. Rafe would come through the window.”

Despite everything, I smiled.

“Wanting something doesn’t give me the right to demand it,” he said. “You were chosen with all four of us. The wing opened for all five. I don’t understand what that means yet, but I won’t punish you for it.”

“I’m not choosing you because of the Prism.”

“Good.”

The answer came without hesitation.

“You don’t?”

“I’m not Leander. I don’t need a rule for everything.”

“That seems unfair to Leander.”

“He’ll survive.”

“What do you want?”

Torren leaned back in the chair.

“You.”

The single word affected me more than any careful explanation could have.

He continued before I could respond.

“But not because I trained you. Not because I believed you in the Trial. Not because I stayed tonight.”

“I understand.”