He says nothing.
“This won’t work if you aren’t open to all of us connecting.”
He sighs. “Fine.”
It’s not great, but it’s progress. That’s all any of us really needs. Progress.
The rest we can figure out.
11
Harper
Gareth has fallen asleep,but I’m nervous about leaving Sevrin alone at the academy. So I carefully slip out of his arms, dress, and try to leave. I stop, staring at Gareth. He looks like a painting, lying on the bed asleep. His dark hair is still a little damp from his bath. I smile, my chest warming. He’s such an incredible man. Even after all he’s been through, he has such a good heart.
I don’t think I’ve felt this hopeful about my future with the princes before.
There’s just something about all of them seeming to sincerely want to connect with me. Before my conversation with the three of them, I wasn’t even sure if they wanted our marriage to be anything but sex. And even though they did a terrible, awful job of explaining what they imagine for our future, and what they want of me, it’s enough to know that they do want more than just sex. That they want something real, even if they can’t quite articulate what that is.
Releasing a slow breath, I slip out of the hall and slowly close the door behind me. I turn around, gasping when I see Alaric standing across from Gareth’s door looking upset.
“Prince Alaric–”
“Alaric,” he clarifies, and I realize just calling them by their first names is really important to the princes. “If you can call that Hollowborn by his name, you can call me by my name.” And, apparently, that was a sticking point for them too.
I try again. “Alaric, are you okay?”
He folds his arms in front of his chest and looks at the ground. “Is it me? Is there something about me you don’t like?”
“Wh-what?” I ask, confused.
His intense brown eyes meet mine. “You know we can all feel when you have sex, right? I went to all of our rooms before I realized you were at Gareth’s. I realized you could be at any of their places, since you’ve been with all of them. It’s just my room you couldn’t be at.”
I don’t know what to say. “I’m sorry.”
He shakes his head. “Don’t say sorry, explain it to me. I’m a man accustomed to criticism. If I need to fight better, I’m told as much, and I do better. If I have to be faster, go harder, survive on less, I can do it, I just need to know what I need to do. So, tell me what I need to do to get you to care about me the way you care about my brothers. The way you care about the Hollowborn.”
A couple dragon riders come around the corner, and I have to step back to let them walk between us. We fall into a tense silence until they disappear around the corner, and it’s awkward, but I’m honestly glad to be given a moment to get my thoughts sorted.
“Maybe we should go on a walk in a less busy part of the academy and discuss this,” Alaric says, his back stiff, his words even stiffer.
I nod, and we walk next to each other, through the busier part of the academy, then go out a doorway to a walkway along the outside of the wall near the ocean. It’s a little windy and cold, but it’s definitely quiet. There’s not a soul in sight.
“So,” he begins, clearing his throat. “What is it that I need to do or change to have you feel as close to me as you do to my brothers? And the Hollowborn?” he throws in with unconcealed anger, before stilling his face once more.
“Alaric,” I try again, trying to choose my words with care. “It’s not that I don’t care about you. Our relationship has just been… unconventional.”
“How so?” he asks.
“Well, if this were a traditional relationship back at Pennyvale, we would’ve met. You would’ve asked to court me. You’d have taken me out to meals, made me picnics, gone for walks with me–”
“We’re going on a walk right now.”
“Yes.” He’s technically right. “But it’s not… a romantic walk.”
He turns to face me, looking confused. “How is this not a romantic walk?”
I smile, feeling flustered. “I mean, we’re not even holding hands.”
