Flooded with warmth, all Vera could do was grin up at him. “Why?”
He huffed a hoarse laugh. “Because you are utterly intoxicating, and I can’t afford to forget that you were bleeding out a few hours ago. And there are small children in the room.”
Fates, she’d almost forgotten. Her cheeks burned. “Did we wake them?”
He glanced toward the children. “No.”
Her hand flexed against the side of his neck; she couldn’t seem to let go of him. “Are they truly all right?” she asked.
Venn focused back on her. “They’re fine. They were scared for you, but they’re unharmed. I had the physician look at Finn’s bruising, but it’s nothing to be worried over.”
At the mention of the physician, a memory hit her. “Was Zander there?”
Venn nodded. “He was in the common room when Sarah entered with Rebecca. He heard the fight, and he came running out. You were already hurt, so he ran to get a physician.”
“That was kind of him.”
“It was. He even offered to pay for the physician, and he assured me that he would no longer be traveling with those men.” Venn frowned. “Something is different about him, but I can’t decide what it is. He’s definitely not the typical refugee.”
“With the way he talks and carries himself . . . do you think he might be a noble?”
“Maybe. If so, he’s not one I’m familiar with, so he isn’t in court often.”
The Zander mystery would have to wait. Vera’s eyelids drooped, and Venn leaned in to press a soft kiss to her forehead. “You need sleep. Will you drink the medicine now?”
The corner of her mouth lifted at his casual touch. “I’ve missed this,” she admitted softly.
“Missed what? Your medicine?”
She rolled her eyes at his teasing. “No. I’ve missed this.”
His expression softened. “I’ve missedyou.”
The raw edge of honesty in his words made her wince. “I’m sorry.”
Venn shook his head. “No more apologies. No more second-guessing the past. No matter what happens, we have each other.” His fingers brushed her cheek and he said something in Zennorian.
Though Vera was quite sure she didn’t need a translation, she still asked.
He met her gaze and whispered, “You are a gift I will treasure for the rest of my days.”
A warm heat curled through her chest, and she could not stop her smile. Not even as she pulled him down for another kiss.
Chapter 14
Venn
Though Vera insisted she was ready to travel after only five days in bed, Venn insisted they stay in the small Mortisian village for the full week the physician recommended. He would take no chances with her health, and Vera seemed to accept that—though she did roll her eyes when he wondered aloud if they ought to stay a few more days.
“Venn, I’m fine. And we need to get to Zahdir.”
He knew what she wasn’t saying; they also needed to get to Duvan. It had been over two weeks since they’d left Krid. If Bennick and the others had made it to the capitol with Clare, he knew they’d be worried about them.
They needed to keep moving. A fact that became even more apparent when news of the serjan’s death reached them on the road. Serjan Saernon Cassian had died during the final night of the Dawn of Eyrinthia celebration, finally succumbing to the illness that had plagued him for months.
The more disturbing news to Venn followed quickly after—Rydenic princes had attempted to assassinate Serjah Desfan, Princess Serene, and Princess Imara at the betrothal signing, which had apparently been held the morning after the serjan’s death.
Thank the fates none of the royals had been killed, but it was a terrible reminder that the princess needed him. Especially because men on the road speculated if Ryden would strike again at Desfan’s coronation. It was a deadline in Venn’s mind—no matter what happened at the refugee camp, he needed to be in Duvan in time for the coronation. Even if that meant dragging Finn away from his desperate search for his father.
