“I’ll try not to,” I told her, my voice dry.
She laughed. “There are a lot of people out there, Poppy.” Her arms were slow to loosen. “If it gets to be too much, just look above them. Okay?”
“Okay,” I told her.
Giving me one last squeeze, she let go. I turned to where Valyn waited.
I joined him. “This feels familiar, doesn’t it?” he asked.
My mind flashed to Oak Ambler. “It does.”
“You will do as amazing as you did then.” He ducked as we passed under the archway. “I have complete faith in you.”
“Thank you.” I took a sip of the dry wine. “It will be easier with Casteel here.”
“Perhaps,” he said with a half-smile so similar to his sons’, his gaze finding them standing with Kieran. A sweet, almost bubbly emotion rose in him as he stopped. Noticing my stare, he laughed softly. “Sorry. I’m still not used to seeing them together. Much to my shame, I had accepted…” His voice faded, taking his smile with it.
“I understand.” I touched his arm lightly. “I’m glad what you expected didn’t come to fruition.”
“Me, too.” He exhaled heavily. “Eloana knows Malik is alive and well. I wish I could’ve seen her face when she learned the news.” A wistful smile appeared. “She would’ve cried and then got upset with herself for crying.”
Taking another sip of wine, I nodded. Despite the complicated history between his wife and me, I could sympathize. “I know the feeling.”
Resting his hand on the hilt of his sword, he looked down at me. “Eloana loves both of them with every fiber of her being. More than she loves Atlantia. She…” He angled his body toward me, his voice lowering. He appeared like he wanted to say more, and I had a feeling I knew what it was. He swallowed and lookedat his sons, then returned his gaze to mine. “I spoke to Malik last night.”
“How did that go?”
“Surprisingly well,” he said. “Come to find out, he already had his suspicions.”
My brows rose at that. He did? I looked at Malik. Even though he was with Cas and Kieran, there was a distance between them that went beyond the physical. He was silent as he stood close enough to be included in whatever they discussed, but something about him felt absent. It made me think that his silence might be due to having nothing to say but also because his focus was elsewhere. On Millicent.
“Where is Attes?” I asked.
“He was here, but I think it was a bit overwhelming,” he shared. “The attention.”
Tawny’s comment immediately came to mind.
“He’s around. Where, though? I have no clue,” he added. “But I believe they are ready for you.” Valyn bowed slightly as Casteel stepped away from Kieran and his brother. “I will be right behind you all.”
I started to turn but stopped. “Valyn?”
He inclined his head.
“I try not to hold grudges,” I told him, aware that even though I spoke low, Casteel could hear. “I’m not always good at it, but I…” I let out a long breath. “I understand why Eloana lied. It’s not something I will hold against her. I don’t think her sons will either.”
Valyn nodded, his smile tight as he blinked rapidly. “That’s…” He cleared his throat. “Thank you.”
When he stepped away, I didn’t stop him.
What was that about?Casteel’s voice came through thenotam.
I met his eyes.I was just telling him something he needed to hear.
He tilted his head as he took my hand, then pressed his imprint against mine as he brushed his lips across my forehead.Malik asked if we planned to bring up the Ascended.
Gods, that had entirely escaped my mind.
I told him it was something best left to the town halls so our message would be clear, and we could answer their questions.
