And there’s a human prince depending on her not to die.
With a groan of her own, she flops back and lets the water hold her afloat as she gazes up at the stars. Cerian’s stars. They may as well be his, with how much he loves them.
Rominy is unlikely to be the only prince depending on her not to die.
The thought is sobering.
When Rominy surfaces, she glances his way. “How is Cerian? Did you speak to him?”
Rominy brushes his hair away from his face as he wades toward her. He stops out of arm’s reach, but he smiles her way. “I can’t believe I forgot to tell you. Cerian is hopelessly in love. It was shocking. He’s definitely not glaring at my sister these days.” Then Rominy frowns. “That’s not something I want to think too much about.”
Elowyn finds her feet again as happiness swells in her heart. “And is she in love with him?”
“I’m going to say yes.”
Without thinking, Elowyn throws her arms around Rominy’s neck, and he catches her.
“Yeah, that didn’t last long,” he mutters.
“What did he say? What did he do? Tell me everything.”
“Well, I was focused on breathing and you not dying at the time, but he played with her hair. And the way he looked at her. Stars above. He’s got it bad.”
Elowyn lets go to search Rominy’s eyes. “He played with her hair? In front of you?” She leans her head back and laughs. “What magic has she worked on him?”
“I’m guessing the magic of the heartbinding. And you should have heard the way she said his name, El. I’ve never heard Sanna talk like that. He’s not nearly as harsh as he seemed when we met, is he?”
Elowyn shakes her head. “You’ve only met terrified Cerian. The real Cerian isn’t harsh at all.”
“I think I met the real Cerian. Briefly. Though he’s terrified for you, so you need to get better, all right? For Cerian.”
Rominy’s mouth twitches, and Elowyn laughs again. “Are you attempting to guilt me into getting well for my brother?”
He laces his fingers behind her back beneath the water. “I might be. Is it working?”
“I’m not sure how much control I have, Rominy. I’m doing my best.”
“I know. At least thinking of my sister in love has cooled my own fire a bit. Cerian’s a fire wielder, too, isn’t he?” Rominy shakes his head. “Stop, brain. We don’t need those thoughts floating around in there.”
Laughter gets the best of Elowyn before she can help it.
“Yeah, I’m having regrets about this conversation now,” he says. “Though neither of us has caught fire, so I suppose that’s good.”
“So next time you’re about to have a lapse in judgment, I should remind you that Cerian is in love with your sister?”
Rominy eyes her for a moment before responding. “I’m not sure I like that idea. But it would probably work.”
With a contented smile, Elowyn rests her cheek against Rominy.
“Hey, love,” Rominy whispers.
“Hmm?”
“I thought we came here to swim.”
“Are we not swimming?”
“Is this how you normally swim? I doubt you’d win many races.”
