“Not in any way that’s useful on a battlefield.”
“Warriors are easy to find. I have thousands of them. But people who survive this world without letting it make them cruel?” His voice softened. “That’s rare. That’s whatmatters when the fighting stops and there’s nothing left but rubble.”
That slid beneath my ribs, cracking me open.
“You’re not a warrior, Aelie. You’re something far more important. You’re the reason we fight in the first place.”
A soft ball of warmth swelled in my chest, startling in its intensity. Gods, I’d been trying not to fall, and then he said things like that, and the ground dropped away.
I didn’t have words. So I pressed my face into his neck and breathed him in, memorizing his scent. His arms tightened around me. Then he pulled back, and the softness vanished behind the mask of a king riding to war.
I dressed and followed him like a lost puppy. Through the corridors, down the stairs, outside. The courtyard was alive with movement. Warriors checked their weapons, adjusted saddle straps, called out orders. Mairen stamped and snorted.
Uther approached, clapping Kairos on the shoulder. “Ready?”
“Always.”
A scimitar appeared in a swirl of white mist. The blade sang as he gave it a practice swing. He caught my eye, and my heart squeezed.
“Mount up!” Kairos shouted.
Fae swung onto their mairen and the beasts shifted restlessly, eager to run. I couldn’t take it anymore. I elbowed past the warriors to his side. He removed his horned helm, his hair tumbling around his face.
I yanked a ribbon free of my hair, tying it on his mairen’s halter. I needed him to bring something of mine. My fingers fumbled with the knot and then I stepped back.
“There,” I murmured. “Now you can go.”
He smiled and kissed me, a light peck on my lips.
My pulse jumped. “That’s it?”
His eyes blazed, and the next kiss was anything but chaste. His tongue swept in, claiming, devouring. I gasped and he swallowed the sound, kissing me like his soul would tear apart if he didn’t.
Please don’t let this be goodbye.
He tore away, his breathing ragged. His thumb caressed my jaw, and then he shoved the helm on, climbing onto his mairen. The ribbon fluttered against the beast’s dark mane, a splash of blue against all that black armor. Then he kicked the mairen and soared into the forest, the warband following him.
The gates closed with a thunderous boom.
I stood there, staring into the mist.
“He’ll be fine.”
Elwen appeared by my side.
I sighed. “Was the ribbon too much?”
Her lips curved. “In all the centuries I’ve known him, I’ve never once seen him carry a favor into battle.”
My cheeks burned. “I didn’t know if fae even did that.”
“Oh, some do,” she said lightly. “But Kairos always turned his nose up at tokens. Too proud.”
“So…he didn’t like it?”
“Helovedit. Didn’t you see his face?”
A smile tugged at my mouth.
