I laughed, and more flowers bloomed—hopeful things that glowed in the darkness.
Tomorrow would bring plans and strategies and the weight of impossible choices. But tonight, I’d danced with a corrupted prince, toured a miraculous hollow, and been kissed like I was worth dying for.
For now, that was enough.
Even if it wouldn’t be for long.
21
Elle
The morning of our second day at the Thornwood Throne dawned with that same impossible beauty—petals shifting from deep burgundy to violet in the early light, pollen lanterns drifting lazily through the air like sentient fireflies. I’d barely slept, too aware of Kaelren’s presence in the adjacent chamber, separated only by a wall of living wood.
“You look like hell,” Peeble announced, landing on my shoulder with their usual grace—which is to say, like a small drunk person falling off a barstool.
“Good morning to you, too, asshole.”
“I’m just saying, the dark circles under your eyes are approaching corpse territory. You look like you haven’t slept since we got here—which, judging by the amount of sighing and pacing I heard through the wall last night, is accurate.”
I threw a pillow at them. They dodged with insulting ease.
“Come on,” they said, once they’d finished laughing at my expense. “I found something yesterday you’re going to want to see. Trust me, it’ll distract you from all that unresolved sexual tension radiating through the walls. Kevin and I could barely sleep with all the pining.”
“I’m not pining.”
“Sure. And I’m not devastatingly gorgeous for an insect. We’re both liars, let’s move on.”
I dressed quickly, pulling on the clothes someone had left for me—soft fabrics that felt like wearing clouds, in shades of green and gold that somehow matched my marks exactly. The Thornwood rebels had been nothing but kind since we’d arrived, but there was still an edge of uncertainty in how they looked at me. The human. The prophet. The walking apocalypse.
No pressure or anything.
Kaelren was already awake when I emerged, because of course he was. Did the man ever sleep? He stood on the balcony of our shared common area, looking out over the Hollow with that statue-still quality he had when he thought no one was watching.
“Going somewhere?” His voice was carefully neutral.
“Peeble wants to show me something. They won’t tell me what it is but insist I’ll love it.”
“That’s code for ‘I’ve found something potentially dangerous but entertaining,’” Kaelren said, the barest hint of amusement warming his tone.
“Probably.” I hesitated, then added, “Want to come?”
His marks pulsed once, that quick tell I’d learned meant he was surprised. “If you’d like company.”
“I would.” The words came out softer than I’d intended, carrying weight we both felt through the bond.
He turned to face me fully, those silver-shot eyes catching the morning light. “Then I’m yours.”
My breath stuttered. The way he said it—like a vow, like a promise, like something that meant more than just accompanying me on a walk.
“Great! Perfect!” Peeble chirped from my shoulder, sounding far too pleased. “Let’s go, team emotionally-stunted-but-sexually-tense! Adventure awaits! We’re going to need Kevin for this one,” Peeble announced, already making the complicated whistle-buzz combination that summoned his favorite bee.
Kevin arrived moments later, his fuzzy body catching the morning light as he landed on the balcony with surprising grace for something the size of a horse.
“Where exactly are we going?” Kaelren asked, eyeing the bee with his usual wariness.
“You’ll see!” Peeble sang out. “It’s a bit of a flight, but trust me, totally worth it. Kevin, be a gentleman and don’t let them fall to their deaths. It would really ruin the mood I’m going for.”
Kevin buzzed something that might have been agreement or might have been sass—with Kevin, it was hard to tell.
