Page 36 of Spring Guardians & Songbirds

“That would be it,” she said shyly, continuing to eat. “He is his father’s son, if there is something he knows best is loss. Kilian keeps his circle small, and he is prepared to lose it all if he must. Besides you, it seems.” Her smile was forlorn. “When they told him you were dead I realised he would never be ready to lose you.”

I lowered my spoon down and spat the food on a napkin—all that honeyed shit was giving me nausea. “He really sent you here to write me all this poetry, didn’t he?”

Alaric shut his eyes. “Kid.”

I lifted a brow at him. “I’m curious to know the Night King’s strategy, Alaric. Aren’t you? How do you think he will deal with the enemy who has sworn to level his lands to a graveyard? And I know first hand that he fancies playing dirty. First playing me and then sending his sick mother to do this dirty work. So utterly fascinating.”

Her brows bunched with so much pain. “He loves you, Snowlin.”

I pointed a finger at her. “You’re funny. Mal takes after you.”

“Kid, enough.”

“Enjoy the rest of your meal,” I said, standing and straightening my dress. “It appears my taste is for another sort of food. Less talkative. And a little more bloodied.”

But there was someone else waiting for me at the doors.

Tall, angry, smelling of fire and blood.

Cai’s hooded stare was wearing all sorts of shadows. I recognised eyes that had seen death not moments ago. “You’re not going down there again.”

“I can’t let them rot on their own. It would be rude of me.”

“You’re coming to the training courts with me.”

“I’m dressed pretty. No.”

“Let’s go dress ugly,” he said, grabbing my arm and dragging me to my bedroom.

“Alaric called you, didn’t he?”

“No, someone else did. I knew I shouldn’t have left you alone.”

I groaned, dropping my head back. “I’m going to kill the little carrot.”

He shook his head. “This attempt of yours to redefine the word sadistic needs to end now.”

“Attempt?” His offences were never quite this personal and this one hurt.

He shot me a dark look over his shoulder that prompted me to seal my lips.

Each new breath I took burned. Had my lungs tightened?

“You’ve become weak,” Cai hissed, his arm tight around my neck.

“I didn’t stretch,” I panted.

He let go of me and I stumbled a few steps back. “You’ve lost muscle and you’re not eating.”

“You’re not sleeping. Your turn.”

“Once before,” he said, blocking my hit with his elbow and swirling in place to twist my arm. “I’ve seen you like this. Ten years ago.”

I shook my head. “No.”

“You saved Nia yet you felt as if you’d betrayed every foundation you believed on. You tortured yourself endless. You were torn. You didn't eat. You didn’t sleep. Tell me this is not exactly the same?”

“It’s not the same.”