Cerian glances at Arisanna sitting beside him on the end of the bed. He may have forgotten that part.
She looks apologetic, and he wraps his arm around her shoulders. The thought of putting her in danger turns his stomach.
“So, what do we do now?” Elowyn asks.
“You sit here and rest,” Rominy says, and Elowyn groans.
It’s not as if she could do much else. She wouldn’t even make it to the door.
Cerian keeps that thought to himself, though.
“Someone should tell Corivos,” Elowyn says. “Did Pera send anyone back to Darlei?”
“I don’t know,” Cerian says. “They refused to tell me anything.”
Elowyn meets Cerian’s eyes across the bed, and Arisanna shakes her head.
“Cerian, no. Your parents said to stay here.”
She’s clearly getting better at reading his mind.
“I’m not an elfling, and I’m not helpless.”
“I didn’t say you were. But—”
“I can’t just sit here doing nothing.”
She leans her head against him, and he sighs. It isn’t her fault.
“Forgive me,” he whispers. “This entire situation has me on edge.”
“I think we’re all on edge,” Rominy says. “I need to send a telegram to Father, but he’s still on the train. I’m not even sure what to tell him.”
Elowyn catches Cerian’s gaze again. She doesn’t need to tell him what she’s thinking. He reads it in her eyes.
“I havea bad feeling,” she eventually whispers. “Please, Cer.”
Like the feeling he had about her? It’s a good thing he trusted his instincts that day. It saved her life.
Perhaps he should trust hers now.
He takes a deep breath before exhaling slowly and nodding.
Let Mother douse him later.
“Cerian,” Arisanna says softly as she sends him a pleading look.
“I need to do this.” He leans near her ear so only she will hear. “You promised to follow me anywhere. Follow me now?”
When he gazes into her eyes again, indecision fills her face. But a resolute determination sweeps over her, and she nods. “Anywhere.”
And before he can talk himself out of it, he slides his hand along her jaw and kisses her.
“Hmm. Yeah. That will take some getting used to.” Rominy clears his throat, and Cerian pulls away.
Arisanna’s cheeks are flushed, but she doesn’t look horrified. “On one condition, Cerian. You need to eat breakfast first.”
He struggles not to smile as he nods. “Fair enough.”
