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Rymedur’s tongue dragged across his cracked lips. It was getting colder the further they went. His mouth quirked up in an indulgent smirk. ‘If I remember correctly, you won, and that means I owed you.’ Placing the pastry in her hand, Rymedur urged her to take a bite.

‘Berry! You remembered.’ A large smile beamed across her face, and Rymedur’s breath hitched at the sight. Like the warmth of sunshine hitting the skin on a summer’s day. He would do anything to see her smile like that.

She took a large bite, getting some of the jam on the tip of her nose as she hummed, and the sight was adorable—but the sounds she made? Sinful. Rymedur knew the second the delicious and refreshing flavours had burst across her tongue, because she moaned in appreciation. And that sound had him stiffening.

‘I made them especially for you.’ Rymedur shifted in the saddle, the tightness of his leathers growing uncomfortable. The sound that had just emanated from her, causing him to harden, was downright torturous. Gods, did she know the effect she had on him? ‘Don’t think I had forgotten,’ he leaned down to whisper in her ear, ‘you owe me my dessert, too. And I have held up my side of the bargain,’ he purred. Biting the tip of her pointed ear, he teased her, pulling it between his lips playfully, causing her to choke on the large bite she had taken.

Percival whipped his head their way, having heard her cough. His concern was clear, but as his eyes darted between them, Rymedur noted hesitation in his eyes, as if he were wondering whether to stop their journey. Wouldn’t it be too soon to stop now, though? Her brother’s concern sent a bitter taste of confusion to the back of Rymedur’s throat.

‘Vasilio’s family is from Selcirith?’ Rymedur asked, swiftly changing the subject to distract himself from his ever-growing erection. Hopefully, this would distract him from his need.

Between large and quick bites, Areanel spoke of Vasilio’s past. ‘Yes and no. Vas’s mother was from Selcirith, and she had been visiting her family when she gave birth to him. But even though he was born there, he was raised here. Andrea is the only home he has ever known. Vas’s father was one of my father’s most trusted advisors and emissaries. He loved Vas more than anything. He used to take Vas everywhere with him. On campaigns, hunts and even council meetings. He’d find any excuse to spend time with and teach his son.’

A short, sharp stab of sorrow crossed her face. She chewed another bite of her pastry before continuing. ‘He was murdered. Nobody can prove it, but we all know it was by Titus’s hand.’ The name spat from her mouth like she had tasted poison. Putrid. Evil. Nothing but a curse. ‘Titus preferred young boys, you see. Vas’s father had found out and was going to prove it, but the war began, and he was sent to battle before he could call a trial. He was killed on the battlefield not long after, and no one can prove what really happened—but the look in that bastard’s eye when the news came! You should’ve seen it, Rymedur. I have never seen anyone so smug about a death. It was like he knew he was going to get away with it.’

Anger raged behind her beautiful irises, so raw and brutal she practically shook with it. Ah, so, that was why she had wanted Titus’s head all those years ago.

Rymedur had never asked, but he’d assumed whatever reason she had was more personal than her ambition, though that’s what the Andrean council had accused her of.

‘The loss was too great for Vas’s mother. By the end of the battle, the family’s coffers were empty. She had two options: live a life on the streets with a young boy or join the harem.’

The harem! That is where he recognised Vasilio from. Well, not Vasilio personally, but his hair—the fiery red that resembled a wildfire—he had seen a similar hue on one of Aerileas’s concubines. Vasilio’s mother had joined the harem. Then, why didn’t he visit the palace as often? Surely, he would want to see his mother.

‘As you could probably tell, she chose to join the Ladies of Night.’ Areanel tore off another piece of her pastry, her hand reaching up to offer it to him. Rymedur leaned forward, taking the food into his mouth. Closing his lips around her fingers, he let his tongue dart forward, running over her fingertips, lapping up the remnants of jelly.

Cheeks turning a bright rose, Areanel continued, ‘Law dictates that any child from another man is not permitted to stay with a concubine. So, Vas was left to the horror of the barracks. He was young at the time, not as young as we had been—’ her finger pointed to Ryyen, Brutus and then herself ‘—but young enough to catch the predatory gaze of Titus. When Ryyen first met him, we all agreed that his light was too bright. We didn’t want him to face the trauma we had, so we taught him how to survive and kept him away from the others. It’s why they live so far away from the palace and visit so rarely. They hate it there and loathe the people, as they have every right to.’

‘But Ryyen is often at the palace?’ Rymedur hadn’t meant it to come out as a question, but was confused by their choice to remain.

Pinching her brows together, Rymedur could see the way Areanel’s mind worked behind her intelligent eyes. Wheels turned. Gears whirring. ‘Yes, but Ryyen is a Skin-Walker; a shapeshifter. I can keep my father from asking about Brutus and Vas, but Ryyen is too valuable to him.’ Areanel rubbed at the space between her brows, fingers rotating in a circular motion, like she was trying to reduce the pain of an oncoming headache. She sighed, deep and heavy. ‘I wish there was a way to keep Ryyen from him. But I have yet to find it.’

‘So, Vasilio avoids the palace because of his mother. Brutus avoids it because he doesn’t want Vasilio to be exposed to the same treatment he has suffered. That is why they live so far away and don’t visit as often?’ Moving a low branch out of the way, Rymedur spoke the words out loud to himself as he tried to make sense of it all. ‘But you have still not told me why you never formally introduced us? All these years, and I have only ever seen them from afar or heard them mentioned by name.’

Glancing at her profile, Rymedur searched for a reaction. He didn’t know what to expect, but the way she stiffened slightly and refused to meet his gaze made him think she was hiding something. Was there something she was hiding from him?

‘It’s not that I didn’t want you to meet them. It’s just…’ Her frown deepened as she thought. Rymedur noted the way she chose her words carefully, like she was hesitant to reveal everything all at once. Did she not trust him? ‘I wanted to separate you from it,’ she finally added after a long, thoughtful moment.

‘From what?’

Heaving a breath, Rymedur felt the way her chest constricted and pushed against him. Her grip tightened on the cloak, pulling it further around her as a whistling wind blew past, rustling the leaves. Her skin was still hot to the touch. Was she coming down with a fever?

‘The person I am when I am with them—the one I must be, to do the things required of me…’ A shiver skittered over her body, not from the cold but from whatever memories plagued her—the things she had done and continued to do in her father’s name. ‘I thought that if I could put a barrier between that part of me and the one you see, it would mean that the two worlds would never cross.’

The corners of Rymedur’s mouth turned down, his eyes narrowing to slits. ‘Why would I not want to see you?’

Silence. A prolonged quiet had his brows knitting together, forming wrinkles on his forehead.

Rymedur, his voice filled with honesty and devotion, confessed, ‘So many versions of you exist in people’s minds. Some know you as the ruthless warrior who shows no mercy. Some see you as the valiant soldier who will never give up. Some see you as cold and mean. Others find you caring and kind.’ He watched the side of her face. Saw the way her eyes dimmed at the recognition of how some saw her, so he continued. ‘But what I see… is you. Only you. That’s what I have always seen.’ Holding her chin between his thumb and forefinger, Rymedur tilted her head to face his. She would not be able to hide from him, not with this.

‘Don’t hide any part of yourself from me. I want to know all of you. The good. The bad. All of it. I want you to see yourself the way I see you. You are strong, brave and kind. You can be ruthless, stubborn and hard-hearted when it comes to protecting the ones you love. It is what I love about you. And darling?’ he purred. ‘If you are sinful, then I am damned, little demon.’

The smile he sent her was as earnest as his words. His heart was hers. ‘I knew from the minute I met you, it would be easy to fall for you. And look at us now—I would burn this world for you. I would cut out my own heart and lay it at your feet if you asked.’ And damn him, he already had. ‘Because you are mine and I am yours. Forever and always. Until we fade.’ Gaze never leaving hers, Rymedur placed his forehead against hers.

Uncontrollable tears tracked down her cheeks as Areanel simply looked at him. Her smile bright, warm and wide, matching his own.

They fell into a comfortable silence. Rymedur guided Areion down a bank, and he let the sound of water sloshing against the horses’ hooves fill the quiet air.

Travelling through the night and into the early hours of morning, Areanel remained silent, leaning against his chest as they trotted through the forest until, at sunrise, Ryyen dismounted, beginning to make camp. A silent understanding fell between the two, and as Rymedur helped Areanel down from the horse’s back, he couldn’t help but wonder if the conversation they had shared had strengthened their bond. The pull in his chest suggested as much.