Nyssa’s arms crossed over her chest. “At least—”
“Whoa—” Nadir paused in his approach, his gaze narrowing at the sight of Nyssa’s knives and daggers strewn out atop the table. “Is there a reason we’re comparing iron? Should you like to see my collection?”
“You gave her most of these, didn’t you?” Bala asked.
Nadir paused at Nyssa’s side, picking up his favorite one and balancing it on his finger. “I gave her all but two of these. Of course. Can’t have my Princess walking around not strapped after what happened, can I?”
Bala looked between Nadir and Dorian then, and she shook her head. “You two are ridiculous. I am actually quite glad Dorian did not have the chance to join your little gang. The four of you together would have terrorized Haerland with your nonsense.”
“Four of them?” Nyssa asked.
Nadir grinned. “Draven, Hagen, myself, and I suppose she’s including your brother in this little band now.”
“The three of you were enough for towns to handle together,” Balandria continued. “Adding the Prince in would have meant more trouble than you all could handle.”
“Sounds like a grand time,” Dorian mocked.
“That sounds terrifying,” Nyssa stated. “I do believe Draven would have been the only reason the four of you wouldn’t end up dead.”
“You’re absolutely right,” Nadir agreed. He ran his hand against his neck then, and Nyssa could see the clench of his jaw. “Dammit, I miss him,” he muttered.
She reached out for his hand and gave it a squeeze, but it didn’t do anything to deter the sadness from his gaze. He straightened up from the table and stepped flush to her, kissing her forehead hard with an audible sigh.
"My people are preparing a bonfire to mark tomorrow's spring arrival," Nadir announced. "Get changed into something comfortable."
CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT
Nyssa couldn't stop watching everything around her. From Nadir playing with some of the children in the sand to her brother taunting Lex and parrying her to the point, she chased after him. Reverie sat in a chair behind Corbin, taking the quiet time to re-twist his hair which was getting out of control. She kept smacking his arm when he would complain, and Nyssa couldn't help but laugh. But when they weren't arguing over that, they were watching Dorian as intently as Nyssa was.
"I wasn't aware he could smile like that," Reverie noted after a while.
"It's been a while," Corbin sighed.
Nyssa frowned and hugged her knees. "What do you mean?" she asked them.
Reverie met her with a smile. "Free of burden," she said. "That’s the Prince I didn't know existed. He's skilled at hiding his pains."
"You know he hasn't had a drink since we left for the Bryn," Corbin said, glancing back at Reverie.
Reverie looked surprised. "Really? How did I not realize that?"
The words Gail had said to Nyssa rang in her ears. "That bad?" she managed, and Corbin met her with a solemn gaze. The look made her stomach knot.
But Dorian's laughter rang over the air, and Nyssa smiled as she watched him.
"He needed this," Corbin said before then looking at Nyssa again. "He needed you. And Lex. He needed his family. Being without such familiarities this past cycle after what happened... I've tried, but. You know him."
Nyssa sighed. "I do," she breathed. "But you're his family too," she said, looking between them. "Not just me. All of us. Us. Lex. Bala. Nadir. Dorian. This is the family we can choose. Not bound to one of lies and treachery. But one of earned trust and love. This family, all of us, was what kept me from falling into the void when I escaped. It was what kept me alive and pushing forward in that camp. Knowing I would do anything to protect any of you. This is the family our King and Queen made for us. And it's the family I will fight for until Haerland takes it away. I hope you two feel the same. My brother needs that around him."
Reverie had stopped toying in Corbin's hair. "Dammit, I need my sword," Reverie uttered.
Corbin frowned back at her. "Why?"
"So I can take a knee and give her my life, obviously," Reverie said.
Nyssa shook her head, almost laughing. "None of that," she insisted. "I'm not a Queen. That was my sister." She turned then, looking up at the sky, and she found Aydra in the stars. She remembered the way her sister had looked at her in that void, and her stomach knotted. Pointing up to the sky, Reverie and Corbin followed her finger.
"There's your Queen," she told them. "Everything in this war is for them and the sacrifices they made. You want to bow, bow before her."
