Disappointment tunneled through my gut like worms. She was saying what I was, more or less. But I didn’t like it.
“There was a time when I saw myself becoming king,” I said. I’d never admitted this to anyone before, not even Nikella. “Back in Pravara, leading the rebellion. I thought we could defeat Weylin’s soldiers and march on Aquinon, victorious. That I would parade through the gate and the streets with my allies. And that when I announced I was Aiden Falcryn, son of the last true king, they would cheer and welcome me with open arms. I would take my father’s crown off Weylin’s head and imprison him for his crimes. I would be the king that Rellmira loved, much as Nikella said they loved my father.”
Kiera shifted, her shoulder pressing into mine. “But then the rebellion was massacred.”
Memories clamored in their cages, but I didn’t let them out. I didn’t need to here in this forest, the crickets chirping softly, the trees swaying. Kiera’s warmth anchoring me.
“And now?” she asked. “After we destroy the mine and kill Renwell, who will you put on the throne?”
I had no answer for that. At least not one I wanted to give her at this moment.
I rose, leaving my canteens by the stream. I extended my hand to her. “The throne can wait. But what I want to show you cannot.”
She hesitated, staring at my bare hand. I vividly remembered a time not too long ago when she would’ve refused to take it.
But now... now she placed her hand in mine.
Chapter 40
Kiera
Tingles sweptover my skin at the warm grasp of his hand.
I forgot all talk of kings and queens, battles past and future. He gently led me to one of the great trees that fed its web of roots from the stream. Long, thick branches extended over us like benevolent arms.
I tilted my chin up and spotted clusters of white, like little moons, hiding under the dense leaves.
“Are those... moonblood fruits?” I breathed, hardly believing my eyes.
“Yes.” Aiden’s smile was clear in his voice. “I spotted these trees when we went to spy on the camp. Normally, they only grow in the heart of Twaryn, but Viridana wanted to spread their sweetness.”
I grinned up at the fruit, excitement trickling down my spine. “I never thought I’d see one in my life.”
“You’re going to do more than see it.”
I dropped my gaze. Aiden slowly backed me up to the tree trunk, our boots shuffling together. His eyes searched mine in a way that made my knees tremble.
Gods, I missed him.
We’d been together every day. Every night. We’d trained together again. We rode and slept side by side.
But I missed him like this. When we both blocked out the rest of the world. When I could forget his last name... and mine.
I missed him because I kept losing him. Yet we also seemed to keep finding each other.
“What are you thinking?” he whispered.
I drew in a shaky breath. “That you’re going to make me do something dangerous.”
“The only dangerous thing here is you.”
His lips were so close. When had I risen to my tiptoes? Perhaps at the same moment I slid my hands up to his broad shoulders.
“That’s not true,” I murmured.
He grasped my hips and spun me around so my back was pressed into his hard chest. His bristled chin teased the sensitive skin of my cheek as he whispered into my ear, “I will never let you fall, Kiera.”
Chills seared across my skin.
