Page 187 of Spring Guardians & Songbirds

While Mal attended to create a soft spot on the ground for him to rest on, I demanded to check on Kilian’s wounds.

“See,” he said, running a hand down the still angry, rosy flesh of the wounds. “Will live a while longer.”

“He almost lost a leg once,” Mal said, laying down on his makeshift mattress. “The bastard will be just fine.”

Kneeling before him, I uncapped the salve Moriko usually had made for him and applied it to his scars. “Love,” he said, hooking an arm around my waist and hoisting me up. “The ground is cold.”

Before I stood, some ridiculous part of my brain made me lean forward and plant a kiss on his stomach. “Done.”

He leaned back a little, his eyes fluttering with sparkles. “Kissing my pain away?”

“For the love of the crescent heaven,” Mal grumbled. “Please go back to daggering one another.”

“Talking about daggers,” I said, weaving my fingers through his hair and pulling his head to me. “The Breshall Prince told me something about anima accissor. Father was buying metal from them. But why would father need to create weapons when he is breeding beasts and assembling Aurora?”

Kilian didn’t seem alarmed by the news. “Did he say specifically that the metal was used to create weapons?”

“No. But why else would father need it?”

“Anima accissor is often used as a token to strengthen the walls like we’ve done with Highwall, and that would make the veil stronger—unblessed metal is potent and the main ingredient in creating it. This could be the sign he is suiting up for war, preparing for any response. Silas knows Solarya is aware of the Octa Virga. He probably expects resistance from other kingdoms once he starts to attack. The same resistance he will not have the time to deal with while Aurora tries to turn the realm to ash.” He rested a hand on my hip, gently pulling me closer to him. “What are you thinking?”

“If I tell you, I will get the Kilian lecture.”

“So bad things that will have bad consequences and bad outcomes.”

“Ha ha.”

He smiled a little, pulling me closer and closer to him. “If you’re going to laugh, do it fully so I can hear it.”

Mal sat back up from his makeshift bed. “Sacred Cynth, is he always like this? How did he get you in bed speaking like a flower girl?”

“With his huge c—”

Kilian quickly wrapped a hand around my mouth and Mal howled with laughter. “Well done, brother.”

The man narrowed his eyes on me. “Glad the size is to your satisfaction.”

“I’m glad, too,” I said, jumping in the bed and ducking inside the covers. Very glad.

He followed suit, pulling me flush against him.

I cocooned in his chest, the feel of being held was enough to lull sleep into me.

The younger Castemont still twisted and turned, making the floorboard creak. The only thing keeping me awake.

“I feel bad for Mal,” I whispered. “Shall I tell him to come up here, there is plenty of space.”

“I really don’t want to kill my brother,” he murmured from where he had buried his face in my hair.

Slowly, I spun to face him and wrapped my arms around his body, hiding my face in his chest.

“Better?” he asked, kissing the crown of my head.

“Mhm.”

“For the love of all gods, don’t do anything in my presence,” Mal sighed.

“Ah, Kilian, right there, ah,” I moaned loudly and the man holding me shook with laughter.