Iowyn in The Hollow. Surrounded by my elite. All those eyes on her. All those people close enough to look at her, to breathe near her, to reach for her—
"No."
"Then come without her and leave her here with guards."
"No."
"Then we don't have a meeting and Coin eats us alive."
I want to kill him. Just wrap my hands around his throat and squeeze until he stops being right. Watch his eye’s bulge, red veins pulsing. It would be easy. Quick. Then I wouldn't have to leave this room.
Iowyn clears her throat.
"I'll come."
Both of us turn. She's still by the desk, still holding herself wrong, but her chin is up.
"I'll come," she repeats. "To the meeting. If it helps."
"It doesn't help." Too sharp. "You're injured. You shouldn't be walking—"
"I can walk."
"That's not the point."
"Whatisthe point?"
"The point is I don't want people looking at you." The words come out flat. True. "The point is I don't want anyone breathing the same air as you. The point is I'm barely functional when you're in a room with just me and Renan, and if I put you in a room full of my elite I might do something everyone will regret except me." She stares at me. "So. Rest."
She stares at me.
"Breathe the same air?"
"Did I stutter?"
She blinks. Just once. Her lips part—Loss of words? Shock? I don't know. I don't care. She heard me. That's the point.
"I've been resting. For days." She takes a step toward me.
"I'm coming."
Stubborn. Reckless. Mine.
Iowyn is still looking at me.
Fine.
"You stay next to me. The entire time." My voice comes out flat. Good. "You don't leave my side. You don't talk to anyone unless I'm there—"
"I understand."
"I'm not finished."
"You're being overprotective."
"I'm being reasonable."
Renan snorts.
