“Someone was at your home,” Alwin said, not moving an inch. Otto’s heart stopped beating. “Someone tried to get inside.”
Otto pushed Alwin into the nearest alley between two shops, only stopping to make sure no one else was around before he took Alwin’s hand in his and ran for the next shadow, closer to the forest. He didn’t stop until they were far away, in a secluded alcove where firewood was stored, between a few larger houses on the outskirts of the village.
The cramped space pushed them together, the scent of lumber mixing with the earthy, damp tones of Alwin’s natural scent as his chest pressed into Otto’s.
“What are you talking about?” Otto whispered, his breath ghosting over Alwin’s face and making his lids flutter.
“Someone tried to break into your house,” Alwin said, voice clipped and scared.
“Are you all right?” He mimicked Alwin’s movements from earlier as he tried to look him over to see if he had been hurt.
“I did my best to make noise, hoping it would scare them off, and it succeeded. They didn’t take anything. I didn’t let them,” Alwin rushed out. “I wouldn’t let them take anything from you. I had to come and find you to see that you were well. I wasn’t sure if it was just an everyday thief or something more nefarious…”
Otto stared at Alwin, listening to his words and barely believing what he was hearing.
“You risked your safety?” Otto asked quietly. “For me.”
Alwin shifted on his feet, looking like he didn’t want to answer as he stared at the point of contact between them, avoiding Otto’s eyes. Otto could feel his chest expanding with each breath against his own and he flushed at the realization that he was so much broader than Alwin. He was shielding him from view, and it made a wave of protectiveness surge inside of him.
Sometimes Alwin seemed so big. His presence was enough to fill an entire room, his princely demeanor commandingattention. He was learning that behind that mask was someone smaller, but no less impressive. Someone smart, who acted bravely and fearlessly but was so vulnerable to damage in the process.
The idea of him being hurt made Otto want to smash something.
“Alwin, look at me.” Extraordinary green eyes met his. “Thank you.”
“It was nothing,” Alwin said, but Otto shook his head.
“It wasn’t. You risked your own safety, but you can’t put yourself in danger like that, and you can’t wander around the village. If someone sees you, you’ll be lynched. Or worse.”
Alwin squirmed under his scrutiny, and Otto felt his face heat from more than worry.
“Promise me.”
“What?” Alwin asked.
“Promise you’ll take better care of yourself.”
“I…” Alwin paused. “I promise I will try.”
Otto figured it was the best he would get. Alwin didn’t want to make a promise he couldn’t keep, so Otto made a silent promise in that moment that he would do it for him.
“Did you happen to see who it was?” Otto asked.
“Only a glimpse of dark hair,” Alwin said quietly, flattening his wide mouth. “They were quick. Quicker than even my extra eyes in the grass could see.”
“Not Henne then,” Otto muttered to himself. “Not that he’d have had time, I don’t think.”
“I’d know if it were your mentor,” Alwin said softly, and Otto’s brow creased immediately in question. “I know him.”
“What?” Otto braced one hand on the wall next to Alwin’s head.
“Henne.” Alwin’s eyes flashed to the side for a split second to look at Otto’s arm. “Several years back he came to me with a request.”
Otto began to put the pieces together immediately. It should have been obvious, but he’d skipped over it in his panic. Henne’s insistent fervor and insane obsession with Otto’s whereabouts came together, and it could mean only one thing. “You refused him. He asked for a deal and you said no.”
“Yes.”
Otto snorted, then laughed mirthlessly. “I’ll bet anything he asked to be the richest healer to ever live, tending to kings and queens and rolling in gold and silk with his name known far and wide.”
