And he realized she was not alone.
She was withKinlear.
Of course she was with Kinlear.
And perhaps that was for the best. His brother was Unmatched, now that Soraya was gone. He was unchosen, unreserved for any true crown. Kinlear and Ezer were going to cross the Expanse together, ride into darkness together on the back of a raphon...the first duo to ever do it.
They’d forged an unbreakable bond already. He could see it by the way she was laughing, delicate and free, how her eyes shined with life behind her mask as she looked up at him.
It was a brightness that Arawn could never give her, because he had no fire left.
He’d be Matched soon with another. And even then, he wouldn’t give his Matched his heart. To do so would be to open himself up to brokenness again.
Arawn planned to do what his father did, and close his heart away. Because someday, sooner than later, he would stand before the gods’ veil, the Diadem on his head...and offer something through it.
He’d be damned if it was her.
So... why did he still dare tohope?
The song shifted, and the dancers moved, and then,oh, gods,he was walking towards Ezer.
As if his feet had already betrayed him.
The crowd parted as if the Sacred sensed their Crown Prince’s presence, people nodding their heads in admiration...and suddenly he felt like a damnedfoolin his outlandish red.
A beacon for all to see, especially Ezer, as he paused before her and Kinlear.
The silence that hung between them was palpable.
The tension, like a true dark power.
He swore it could have raised the dead.
“Kinlear,” Arawn said tightly, for he wouldn’t dare be second to speak. Not now. Not withherears listening, and her eyes—oh gods, her eyes were boring into him through her red mask, a color hesuddenly realized matched his own, as if Izill had played another one of her clever little tricks on him again. “You look...well.”
Kinlear lifted his chin, handsome as ever.
And then he slid his bare hand atop Ezer’s, holding her even closer to him. Touching her skin...as if she were his.
As if he were claiming her already.
Arawn forced his gaze to remain calm and collected, as cool as the icy wind beyond the wall of windows, but he knew Ezer caught the aggression in them.
Help me, Vivorr.
Give me strength.
“I think it’s all the time spent in the outside, with our dear Raphonminder,” Kinlear said. For a moment, Arawn forgot what he’d even said aloud. He forgot where he was, forgot everything but the feeling of her eyes on him. “She has been quite healing for me, in more ways than one.”
Arawn felt his own gaze drop to Ezer’s lips, and he wondered...
But of course, Kinlear wouldn’t have made a move yet...would he?
Of course he would.
Kinlear had a long list of lovers, and the gods only knew how far he’d gone with each one of them. He cared not for penance.
Not when he was dying.
