And now?
Now...Kinlear knew he never should have left her behind.
He’d broken a part of her that night.
He’dabandonedher in favor of his illness.
He’d made it halfway up the stairs, sweat beading across his bow, when a little whisper in the back of his mind had hissed,“What if she’s already found someone else? It’s Absolution, after all. Betrothed or not, she could decide to choose another man to be free with...and she’d face no true punishment. She could lie to you about it, too, Little Prince...and you wouldneverknow.”
He had vomited in a potted plant, the work of a Realmist, no doubt. He hoped, at least, it was his mother’s.
And then, despite himself, Kinlear had turned back around that night, wincing with each step. He knew he would regret it, because what if he passed out right there in the stairwell?But he couldn’t justleave her there, all alone.
He’d burst through the doors, breathless and aching, ready to apologize and explain himself, as best as he could...
But he paused the moment he saw her.
He noticed her shimmering gown first, admired how well he’d chosen the fabric for her, because it moved like liquid gold in the torchlight. His eyes slid up and down her slender figure, her dark hair tied up so that only a few loose curls framed her face.
Breathtaking, his betrothed.
And... she was being led onto the dance floor byanother man.
And not just any man.
It was his twin brother.
He was going to be sick again. Kinlear had seethed with jealousy, with a sudden burningrage. A servant walked past, and he’d grabbed another goblet of winterwine, washing away the taste of his illness.
But it did nothing to cover up the raw emotions he’d felt.
Strange,he thought.
For...he’d never felthatredbefore. Not for Arawn.
They were brothers,twins,closer than anyone else in the Citadel. Arawn had bled for him, lied for him, paid penance in his place.
But when it came to Soraya...
Somehow, Arawn’s hand closing gently over hers seemed to overshadow everyounceof Arawn’s noble past.
Kinlear had always known Arawn loved Soraya, even when they were kids. And Arawn loved her evenmore,now that they were in the same aerie together, flying their war eagles into a nightly dance with death. She was his Second, for the gods’ sake.
Kinlear was no fool. He had never once missed the way his twin looked at her during training exercises in the Eagle’s Nest, as she flew her mount with effortless ease. With all the determination that only his beautiful Soraya could give.
The two were together all the time.
Too muchof the time.
Even more than Kinlear was with her.
And what if...
What if thingshappenedbetween them, while Kinlear was ill? While he was in runic stasis – dreaming of someone else, someone with a trio of scars. A woman that was to comeafterSoraya, if it even came true at all.
But that night...he doubted it. That night, as he stared at Arawn and Soraya...Kinlear wondered if his Veilborne power was all just some wild, untamable thing that also lied to him. It twisted his reality, and threatened his care for his betrothed.
He needed to ignore his dreams.
