“Hein has waited forcenturies, Ashe,” Zander said softly. “He’s waited for Kaelith to find her rider. He believes in the treaty, but there is no law that prevents mating, it’s just… considered rude not to wait.”
I pushed up slowly, the sheets slipping from my chest as I sat. “Hein wants tomateKaelith?”
“Yes.”
The word dropped like a stone in my chest.
“He’s coveted her since the time of the Unification,” Zander added gently.
I stared at him, stunned. “Have you… always known?”
The words tasted like betrayal.
He didn’t look away. “Yes. Hein asked me to protect you the moment you stepped foot into the guild.”
I felt the sting behind my eyes before I could stop it. “You were angry,” I whispered. “That day in the courtyard. I thought it was because I was a commoner.”
“No.” His voice was raw. “I was angry because no other rider has ever been asked to protect another. That’s not how it works. Not in our world. I thought it was insulting, like he didn’t believe I could lead.”
I looked away.
“But then,” he continued, voice softer now, “I watched you stand up to nobles who wanted you dead. I watched you survive every trial, every near-death experience, every lie. I saw the way Kaelith looked at you…reallylooked at you.”
He reached for my hand again, brushing his thumb over my knuckles.
“That’s when I realized. You weren’t this fragile thing I had to guard. You were already fighting battles no one else could see. And Kaelith didn’t choose you by accident.”
His eyes met mine.
“You’re special, Ashe. And so is she. Don’t let their history make you feel like you don’t belong.”
But still, the ache lingered.
Because history wasn’t so easy to outrun.
Zander’s hand slid gently over my wrist, grounding me as my thoughts spun like loose leaves in a storm.
“I didn’t tell you this to hurt you,” he said quietly, his expression softening in the candlelight. “I told you because Hein… he’s done waiting, Ashe. You’re here now. And he wants Kaelith to choose him.”
My breath hitched.
“He wantsherto chooseme?”
Zander nodded slowly. “He’s on your side. More than you think.”
“That’s surprising,” I murmured, voice faint with disbelief.
“Not really,” Zander said, his thumb still brushing over the inside of my wrist. “You’re remarkable. It just took me a minute to realize it.”
“Siergen said the same thing. That… if he was compatible, he would’ve chosen me too.”
He blinked, his gaze snapping to mine. “Seriously?”
“Yeah.”
Zander stared at me, stunned. “But he had a rider.”
I gave a small nod. “He said they can choose again. They just… don’t. Not usually.”
