“We are very different,” I acknowledged.
“Different? That’s the understatement of the year. He is…” She stopped abruptly as the object of our discussion joined us, along with his brother.
At the sight of him, in daylight, my body confirmed what my mind already knew. I was falling for the Gyorian warrior—a prince—like no one I’d been with before.
Heart hammering, his presence ignited every nerve in my body as I imagined him coming over to me, as Kael joined Mev, and claiming a kiss.
Claiming.
It’s what Terran had done, and not only had I let him… I encouraged it.
“Eirion meets with your father,” Kael said to Mev. “Will you join them?”
“Aye.” She tugged on Kael’s hand. “Come with me.”
Though he appeared momentarily confused, Kael did go with her, leaving Terran and I alone, precisely as Mev planned. What she truly thought of us, I couldn’t be sure. But one thing was for certain.
In the dawn before what would likely be a time written about in history scrolls, Balthor’s response to his son absconding with the Stone of Mor’Vallis, the possible reopening of the Aetherian Gate, I had only one thought.
And as Terran stalked toward me, it wasn’t about the fate of Elydor.
I wasn’tfallingfor him.
I’d already fallen, and there was no way back.
28
TERRAN
“You look as if you’re preparing for battle,” she said.
“Perhaps I am.” I stopped just before reaching her.
“Something Kael said upset you?”
I wanted to kiss her. Turn from her. Make love to her. Walk away.
That was precisely the problem. What I wanted when Lyra was near was not at all the same as what was prudent. Especially after speaking to my brother.
“Not what he said,” I explained. “But what he did not.”
The care Kael took, as Lyra had, not to ask me for use of the Stone, as if it were mine to offer, angered me more than anything. My brother was not one to speak in riddles, but he’d done precisely that. When I accused him of being unduly influenced by Aetherian ways, Kael became angry, said I was inflexible. But the brother I knew would have simply told me what he wanted. Why Lyra had been sent to Gyoria.
Instead, he spoke of unity and Unbalance and the fate of Elydor. And, of course, our father’s increasing proclivity to guard Gyoria from all outside influence.
“You are angry.”
“Aye.” I looked into her eyes. They revealed nothing.
“What did Kael say?”
She was back to the calm, collected Shadow Diplomat that gathered information without offering it.
“Not nearly enough.”
I reached for her. Pulled Lyra into my arms.
She didn’t resist, though part of me wished she would.
