Briar entered with Arion, the wrapped star metal weapons in his arms. The pendant lay cool against her chest, hidden beneath her cloak.
She'd barely taken three steps when Eliam strode in, Thaine close at his heels. He moved with that controlled stillness that meant he was furious.
"I returned to our rooms and you weren't there." His voice was perfectly even, which made it worse. His eyes tracked over her, checking for damage, before fixing on her face with an intensity that made her stomach tighten. "I thought I told you to return there."
The phrasing wasn't a question.
"She was helping me retrieve the star metal weapons," Arion said before Briar could respond, setting them down with deliberate casualness. "For tomorrow's journey. You know, the one where we all try not to die?"
Eliam's gaze never left Briar’s face. "I wasn't aware my instructions required your interpretation, princeling."
"Instructions?" Arion stepped slightly closer to Briar. Not touching, just... present. "Interesting choice of words for someone who claims to care for her wellbeing."
"My words are my own concern."
"As are Briar's choices." Arion's light flickered with that newer, sharper edge. "Or did you forget that she's a person, not a possession to be ordered about?"
The temperature dropped a degree. Eliam's shadows didn't surge or writhe—they went perfectly, unnaturally still.
"Careful," Eliam said softly.
"Of what?" Arion's tone was mild, almost curious. "You're in my court, you have no titles, your power is diminished, and Briar..." He paused, letting his words sink in. "Well. She's here by choice, isn't she? Her own choice?"
Eliam took a step closer and Briar moved to intercept, placing a hand on his chest to still him further. He looked down and for a moment she thought he might back down.
Briar's cloak fell open and the star metal pendant caught the light. Eliam's eyes locked onto it, and for just a moment, something raw flashed across his face before the mask slammed back down.
"What is that?"
"Protection," Briar said quickly. "For the journey. Star metal repels corruption—"
"I am well aware of what star metal does." His voice had gone even flatter and his gaze shifted to Arion. "Star Court royalty doesn't share such treasures lightly."
"No," Arion agreed, unbothered by the implication of Eliam’s words. "We don't."
Around the room, everyone had gone silent, watching.
"How generous of you," Eliam said, and there was something underneath the words that Briar couldn't quite identify. Not just anger. Something more uncertain. "To mark her with your court's protection."
"Someone should protect her," Arion said quietly. "Properly. Without conditions or consequences."
"The way you protected her at the border?" Eliam's hand clenched at his side. "With your mouth?"
"It worked, didn't it?" Arion's light brightened slightly.
Briar felt the warmth in her chest pulling between them, not violently but insistently, and she pressed her hand against it.
"Stop," she said. Both men looked at her, and she saw something almost identical in their expressions—want, fear, and something else neither of them seemed able to fully grasp.
"We leave tomorrow," she continued. "We need to work together."
"She's right," Sian said, relief evident in her voice. "Save the territorial displays for after we prevent the apocalypse."
Eliam shifted, his hand finding the small of her back. Not grabbing, not dragging, but the pressure was unmistakable.
"We should go," he said. "You need rest."
It wasn't a command, not quite. As he guided her toward the door, Arion's voice followed them, quiet but clear.
