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“You bet your ass I am.”
The two men glare at each other.
They must have an interesting relationship. To be best friends, to grow up as brothers, and to have an uneven social status where Torius technically serves Kirian… that’s complicated enough. But now, Torius is also fated to Kirian’s daughter, so he’s actually his son-in-law, too.
I’m not sure how it went over when Torius and Danyetta got together, but it’s obvious the family is in harmony now. Kirian and Torius might be mad at each other in this moment, but there’s a lot of love between them.
The nuances of their history are complicated and unique. Armand couldn’t have possibly nailed it so precisely.
Which, again, just proves to me that this is real.
This is the future.
Back in Valora, a catastrophe is headed their way, and they don’t even know it.
And somehow, we’re supposed to stop it from happening.
Kai
“We’ll talk about it.” In true Torius fashion, my fellow warrior gruffly gives the non-answer before stalking up the stairs.
“There’s nothing to discuss,” King Kirian calls after him. “I’m putting my foot down.”
Without looking back, Torius dismissively waves him off.
Despite the seriousness of the situation, I find myself wanting to smile at how they bicker like siblings.
I wish I could talk to Torius now. I’d tell him to obey King Kirian, and I think he’d listen to me.
He’s among the most honorable men I’ve ever met, and I don’t blame him for wanting to stay to defend his kingdom, but I have to agree with the order he’s been given. Not just because King Kirian is my leader, but because saving Princess Danyetta and their daughter is the right thing to do.
I think he’ll come around. He’ll choose his wife, just as I’d choose mine.
“Stubborn bastard.” Huffing, King Kirian looks around to find that he and Queen Quinn are alone out here.
During the tense exchange, King Keryth, Queen Zella, Prince Caspian, and Prince Cassidy retreated to the formal dining room across from the grand hall where they’re gathered in a tight group. They’re already talking about the battle plan—how many people should be in the sky and who will stay on the ground.
King Kirian and Queen Quinn start that way.
“We need to be in there,” I tell Ro urgently, placing my hand at the small of her back as I jog in that direction.
Unfortunately, we’re not fast enough. We don’t make it to the door in time before it’s shut in our faces.
“Fuck,” I bite out.
The dining room is where private military discussions take place, and I’d really love to hear what’s being said in there.
Pressing her ear to the door, Ro tries to listen in, squinting so hard an adorable little wrinkle forms on the bridge of her nose.
“It’s no use.” I tenderly smooth the scrunched skin with my fingertip. “The room is soundproof.”
Distraught, Ro starts pacing, and it’s disturbing that her slippers don’t even scuffle audibly against the smooth floor. “We’re supposed to fix this. You realize that, right? That’s the challenge, but how can we do that when we can’t touch anything, and we can’t talk to anyone? We have no way to contribute.”
I wish I had a solution, but I don’t.
For most of my life, I’ve tried to be as unnoticeable as possible. I’ve been quiet and inconspicuous, never calling attention to myself.
But now that I can’t be seen, I hate it.
