My mother’s eyes snap to mine, the glow beneath them is faint but her irises flare as she watches me.
Clutching my mug, I tip it to my lips and swallow down the rest and avoid her gaze for as long as I can. I hate that my jealousy rears its head as ugly as a sprite. I hate that she sees right through me, and Ihatethat no matter how old I get, I cannot help but feel this way.
“Sam,” Agnes says, shaking her head lightly. “Your brother’s destiny is far greater than?—”
“Yes,” I cut her off, my exhaustion getting the best of me. “I’m all too aware of how importantSorin is.” The bitterness sticks to my tongue. I’ve been told every day of my life since I was seven years old just how important he is. How we must protect him. How he is the true king. And I know I shouldn’t take my frustrations out on my mother, but sometimes the child inside of me takes charge and I’m no longer thirty. I am shrunk down to a seven year old whose life was turned upside down. “What I need is for you to help formulate a plan to help get Sorin into Valebridge safely.”
“Sit down, Sam.” It’s only when my mother uses her most stern tone do I realize that I’ve stood from my chair and have been pacing.
I glance down, picking at my fingers before I rejoin her at the table.
Her eyes scan my face for a moment, before she sighs. “Don’t think for one second, I have more love for Sorin than I do for you.”
Her words jolt me. They hit me so heavily that my body physically pushes away until my back is pressed firmly against the wooden chair in which I sit.
“That wasn’t what I meant,” I whisper.
Damn that inner child.
“Yes it was.” Her tone softens, but her gaze doesn’t. “The reason I have a more…” I glance up as she closes her eyes, breathing in deeply through her nose. When she opens them, there is no spark lining her irises. She clutches tightly to her teacup. “The reason I have a more fierce protection over your brother is because ofwhohe is, Sam.”
I nod, unable to find anything else to say.
“Please stay for a while. It would be good to catch up with my only daughter, because despite what she thinks, I have missed her very much.” She loosens her grip on my arm but her fingers stay atop it.
“Okay, mum.” I sigh, pushing away my cold teacup. “I’ll stay.”
Four
Roman
I wake before dawn,darkness still lining every corner of my chamber and yet for the first time in weeks, I feel rested. Galen’s breaths tickle the back of my neck, his slender arms and legs intertwined in mine. I’m not sure what time he came back to my chambers, I must’ve been asleep already. He’s always slipping away, planning his next move.
Our next move.
I don’t ask questions when he’s away. I suppose that’s cowardly, to not ask questions, but I’ve never pretended to be brave. Even as a king.
“Why are you awake,” Galen grumbles from behind me. He’s always had a keen sense about him, knowing things when maybe he shouldn’t. Like that I’m awake, when I should be sleeping. Or how I’m feeling when I haven’t offered a word. His intuition is one of the first things that drew me to him.
“No idea.” I turn to face him. His eyes pop open, and I scoot forward so my nose brushes against his. “You were gone awhile.”
He nods but says nothing.
I run my hand through his hair, pushing the blonde locks out of his face, then down the side of his cheek until it rests upon hisshoulder. I twist the hair at the nape of his neck. “When do you leave again?”
“After the Autumn Moon.” Galen runs his hand along my bare arm. I close my eyes at the softness in his touch. Savoring it. “If the Guild’s come this time, I want to be here for it. Having their support will change everything. I need you to convince them this time. Make them see our vision.”
Now it’s my turn to stay silent.
I don’t want to talk about what I need to do. How I must convince the Guilds that we need their support to show the people of Valebridge that what we’ve been working toward is dignified. They have denied my invitation to the Autumn Moon for the last four years, have denied their duties to report to Valebridge on the happenings of their respective Guilds. Have disrespected me as their king.
The thought of their rejection yet again makes my stomach clench with nerves.
Galen strokes a piece of hair from my forehead, bringing forth a contented sigh and washing away any thoughts of self doubt. Reading my emotions like a book he’s studied his entire life.
I revel in our quiet moments. His body is secure and strong next to mine. A lifeline through so many painful moments in years past.
Though our time together has been few and far between these days, it’s so easy to get lost in it. To forget what is happening just outside my door, to my people.
