Cerian frowns. It looks beautiful. Certainly not deserving of the panic filling her eyes.
“You...you live among elves now,” he says. Hopefully, she understands. His words stick in his throat, making it difficult to speak.
She slowly stops fussing with her gorgeous locks. “Yes. Yes, I’m married to an elf. I am married to an elf.”
“Arisanna, what is going on in there?” the queen calls through the door. “I need to see Rominy, but all anyone will tell me is he’s sleeping and something about fire magic.”
“I will explain it to you again, Yalisa, but please remain calm. We need to keep Rominy’s heart rate steady.”
That’s Father. Perhaps they can hide in here and let him deal with the anxious queen.
“I’m sorry,” Arisanna murmurs as she heads for the door.
Apparently, that isn’t an option.
Cerian eyes the vase holding the vomit and the nearly full bowl of stew before dumping both in the hearth and obliterating the disgusting glop with his fire magic as Arisanna pulls the door open a small amount.
“Mother, you’re here. Is Father with you?”
“He had a meeting he couldn’t reschedule early this morning, but he’ll be here as soon as he can. Will you tell me what’s going on?”
“Elowyn is sick, Mother. Her fire magic is…out of balance.”
Cerian frowns. That’s one way to put it. Not that Tharios used those words.
“Rominy’s heart is beating for both of them while she recovers,” Arisanna continues. Cerian edges along the room away from the queen’s line of sight while Arisanna speaks to her mother. “He’s in a magical sleep to keep his heart as steady as possible.”
“As I tried to explain,” Father says gently.
“All your talk of magic sent my head spinning,” Arisanna’s mother says. “I just want to see my son.”
“He’s sleeping, Mother. Why don’t you wait here until Father arrives? Then you can both see him together.”
And King Gerault can keep his wife calm. Surely that’s what Arisanna is thinking.
Did she just invite her mother to wait here? With them? Horror fills Cerian as he glances at the window again. There’s no way he’d make it without them seeing him.
Don’t run.
“Very well,” the queen says. “If you’re sure he’s all right. The telegram made it sound as though he were on death’s door.”
“He’s stable now,” Father says. “If that changes, we’ll let you know right away. I give you my word.”
“Thank you. I suppose I can live with that. And how is Elowyn? I don’t know her well, but after the shock ofher existence wore off, I find myself with the unexpected blessing of another daughter, and I don’t want to lose her either.”
“She is strong,” Father says, though he doesn’t elaborate. “I’m grateful for your fondness toward her.”
“Yes, well...she is easy to like.”
“As is Rominy,” Father says. “And Arisanna has stolen all our hearts.”
The truth of Father’s statement warms Cerian. She’s certainly stolen his heart.
“I will leave you to her care, Yalisa,” Father says. “If you require anything, please let me know.”
Cerian freezes.
Whistling wind. Maybe no one will notice him behind the wardrobe.
