I could never do those things,Kinlear had thought, that night.I could never dance with her like that, never lead her like that, never?—
He’d slumped against the wall, his leg screaming in pain.
Or perhaps that was his heart, as he realized a terrible truth.
I could never give her whathecan.
He loved Soraya. He did. Regardless of what his dreams held...he was going to marry her on the Day of Joining, if he could live long enough to make it there.
If.
His life was full ofifs.
Not that night.
Because the tears he’d caused had been replaced by smiles, and he would be damned if he broke her again.
So, Kinlear had turned around, and left his betrothed behind.
He let herlivewith Arawn.
He let her live without himself and his burdens... for one perfect night.
It was two days later, when Kinlear passed out during his Demonstration with the fledglings. When he had to be put into a runic sleep, and Soraya finally found out just how burdened he was.
And tonight, as Kinlear and Arawn talked, Ezer standing between them...
He was right back in that moment again.
With a woman that belonged to him, and a brother that was utterly committed to ruining it.
Arawn pushed every godsdamned button he had.
“Not quite so healing forher,”Arawn said, as Kinlear’s memory faded and he slid back into the conversation just in time to catch his brother’s slight. “...what with the brutal injuries that Alaris must fix, time and again.”
“The Raphonminder is strong,” Kinlear replied, not missing a beat. “She can handle it.”
More than you know, Brother,he thought. Gods, what she would become later, how perfect a raphon rider she would be. How she would be capable of traveling to a place that so few Sacred would ever see.
The other side.
“May I remind you,” Arawn added as he stepped a bit closer, and Kinlear’s grip on Ezer’s hand tightened even more, “that after she is done with you, she trainshere,in the darkness, with me.”
He was pushing now, and it was far too much.
If he wanted to dig at Kinlear, if he wanted to cause himpain?
Kinlear would give it right back.
“Learning how to protect yourself better than the last you took beneath your wing, I hope,” Kinlear said.
He flashed back to that last night in the infirmary, before their bond broke.You killed her! You killed her because she wasn’t meant for you!
Arawn’s nostrils flared. Kinlear could have sworn his brother’s fist curled, and he readied himself for true pain.
Tonight, he almostcravedit.
“She,”Ezer said suddenly, cutting them both off as she removed her hand from Kinlear’s arm, leaving him cold, “...is standing right here. Between two brothers who refuse to forgive one another for a past that isneitherof their faults. That lies with Soraya alone.”
