His.
She. Was.His.
He would sooner kill Arawn Laroux than watch her do that with him again. And he could see it all play out in his mind. He could see the way he’d take a blade, how he would...
No.
No, that was his darkness thinking. That was his jealousy, and hesworeit was his monster, deep inside, somehow placing its claws against his waking mind. He could sense that it was there...alive, after all this time. After he’ddefeatedit.
He would not be controlled.
He would not let it affect him like this.
So, Kinlear held his tongue. He was silent as the sun rose, and he followed Ezer out into the snow. He remained so, as she climbed onto Six’s back, anger turning her features as cold as the forest around them. Kinlear wrapped his arms around her middle, and held her as if he were holding the pieces of her together.
You’re awful,he told himself.You’re a liar. A manipulator.
A monster.
And somewhere deeper in his mind, he swore it hissed at him, and whispered,yes.
They left Arawn in the woods, alone.
It was the very same way Kinlear imagined Soraya had been when Arawn soared away and left the wolves to feed upon her.
He prayed the same would happen again...that his brother would never return home. That Kinlear would get to rise in his place, despite how forbidden it was.
Stranger things had happened, in his days.
Even stranger, in his nights.
When Six landed in the Eagle’s Nest, Izill was there to greet them. It was a flurry, a frenzy of shouts and servants rushing forward when they saw the state of their prince.
His vial was empty. His body...nearing the end of its strength.
“Wait!” Ezer called out, as the servants took him away from her.
She rushed towards him, and the sight of her face, so worried for him, ignited hope in him. She would still be on his side. She would still fly with him across the Expanse.
He would never tell her the secret of Ervos. He would carry it with him to the grave, and endure the pain, and take the guilt, because at least he’d still have her in the end.
At least it would all be worth it.
He felt it in his very bones...and then she sealed it when she pressed a soft kiss against his cheek.
He burned.
Oh,gods,he burned beneath the press of her lips, even though they’d just been on Arawn’s.
Surely, she’d just experienced a fling with him. A lapse in judgement. Kinlear would move past it, forget about it, forgive her for it, because in the end...
She would give her heart tohim.
“Thank you,” Ezer whispered against him. He wanted to hold her there forever, and for one moment...he almost did tell her the truth. But then she pulled away, leaving him cold once more, and the moment passed. He could feel it, falling through his fingertips.
“For what?” Kinlear asked.
He knew he looked weak, with the blood dried to his dark curls and the shadows that had surely gathered beneath his eyes. But she did not shy away from him.
