He had no clue when that day would be, when the Five finally called his father home. But when it came? Arawn would be ready. He would be a Firemage worthy of each merciful flame Vivorr allowed him.
He would become a king worthy of his kingdom.
“Help me, Vivorr,” Arawn prayed, ignoring the knock as a second, more insistent one sounded. They could come back a different day. “Help me to always keep my thoughts pure and my heart true and?—”
A third knock came, and then a desperate voice.
“Arawn?”
Soraya.
He leapt to his feet so fast he almost knocked over the coffee table. He winced, sucking in a breath at the pain that ran through his knee as he leapt over the chair and rushed to the door, ripping it open before he realized his shirt was missing.
And her eyes were wide as they looked at his bare, sculpted chest.
“Arawn,” Soraya gasped. “You’re here!”
“I’m here,” he said, catching his breath. “In...my room. Yes.”
“Shirtless,” she said, and her eyes slid back to his chest.
So, he panicked.
And slammed the door in her face.
Fool,Arawn thought, as he grabbed a tunic from the wardrobe, and quickly threw it on. It was freshly pressed, thanks to Izill.
Quickly, Arawn smoothed his braid, ensured his room was spotless, adjusted the rug at the base of his bed – he couldn’t stand when it shifted – then went back to the door and opened it again.
Slower, this time.
They hadn’t spoken of their Descent, of the sacrifice she’d made...not since that day in the woods, a few months ago, when Kinlear had returned.
She’d run to him, and Arawn had watched her go...his body frozen. His heart, already half-broken in his chest. Because if she’d wantedhimshe would have stayed.
What happened,he often wondered,in those letters the two stayed in touch with?
What sort of words had his brother used to make Soraya, Arawn’s best friend, a woman who’d just sacrificed her First Rider spot forhim...run to someone else?
He didn’t know.
And he’d never ask, for it was better this way, perhaps.
Better for Arawn not to fall for someone he may not end up being Matched with. Still, he could hope. He could ride into the skies with her at his side, and in the back of his mind...
He could beg Vivorr that maybe, someday...he would be hers, and she would behis.
“Soraya,” Arawn said now. “What are you doing here?”
And now that he thought better of it...howwas she here? The door at the bottom of their tower was freshly runed, meant to keep anyone out who hadn’t been given permission.
Unless, of course...
Kinlear had probably given that access to her. Which meant she’d probably beenin hisroom.
But then, if Arawn spent too much time thinking of that...his stomach twisted, and he felt sick. He wondered if perhaps Kinlear had used his new tricks on Soraya, ones he’d bragged to Arawn about through their speaking stone, when he was still in Touvre.
The girls are so fun to kiss.
