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“It’s not enough,” Rythos said.
“I know.” I had to stifle the grief that wanted to swallow me whole. If I could turn it to fury, and turn fury to action, perhaps one day I could look Piperia in the eye.
* * *
Since the bed in my room was rumpled, I’d followed Asinia into hers. Madinia was nowhere to be found.
“She probably went to get something to eat,” I said. “Let’s just wait for her.”
“Good idea.” She slumped onto her bed, gesturing expectantly. “Why don’t you tell me what happened between when we arrived and now? You can skip the sex if you’d like. Or not. One of us should be enjoying ourselves.”
I choked out a laugh. And then I told her about the mating. When I was done, my eyes were hot and my throat burned.
“I accepted the mating. I love him. But some part of me is still afraid he doesn’t really feel this way—and it’s all just fate.”
“I’m sorry he didn’t tell you. But…I can also see why he didn’t. You’ve been so busy worrying about all of us—and by all of us, I mean all of the hybrids. And whatever you have with Lorian, even though it’s difficult, it makes you happy, Pris. He makes you happy. I’ve been watching you since the castle, and some days, he has been the only person to make you smile. He knows you inside out, and he knew learning you were his mate might make you doubt if any of it was real. He didn’t want that for you.”
I sighed. “I’m scared, Asinia. Because if I lost Lorian…I think it would break me.”
She got up and wrapped her arms around me. I sank into her.
“You’re braver than this, Pris.But I saw what happened to him when you were missing. There was nothing left of him except death.”
I sighed, squeezed tight, and pulled away. “Why do you always sound so reasonable?”
“It’s much easier to give advice about other people’s lives than it is to navigate your own.”
“Is…is there anything you want to talk about? Perhaps with Demos?”
Asinia shrugged. “Demos is Demos.”
Uh-huh. I hesitated. Part of me wanted to try to help. I didn’t want either of them to get hurt. But the worst thing I could do was get involved, even if I wanted to lock them in a room together until they’d figured it out.
“You’ll be careful when you travel to Tibris.”
She nodded, but a slight frown had appeared between her brows.
“What is it?”
Asinia sighed. “It’s fine, Pris. I’m just tired of being a liability.”
All of my muscles went tight. “Who called you a liability? Demos?” He often bullied Asinia into training, but if he’d said such a thing, we would have words.
“No,” she said instantly. “But once again, I was the reason we had to spend a night at that fae woman’s house. Because I got hurt in the caves. What if that night had been the difference between you living and dying?”
My heart ached. “It wasn’t. Is that why you’re going with Demos? You have nothing to prove, Sin. Just promise me you’ll look after yourself. And Demos.”
“You know I will.”
The door swung open. Madinia’s gaze met mine. “Good. You’re here. While you and Lorian were reuniting, and everyone else was shoveling badly cooked stew into their mouths, I made a few plans of my own.”
My lips twitched, and I waved my hand. “By all means, fill us in.”
She closed the door behind her. “Wars aren’t only won with armies and magic and iron. In Regner’s court, I saw firsthand just how much damage could be done with a few carefully worded rumors.”
I nodded. I was also sure Madinia had done much of that damage herself.
“When I was younger, my father told me one thing that has stayed in my mind for all these years. ‘Swords may clash in battle, but words shape the destiny of kingdoms.’”
