She only made it a few paces down the hall when another door opened. Several guards spilled out, their uniforms wrinkled and their eyes rimmed with purple. Killian was among them, his jaw shadowed in several days’ worth of stubble. He was deep in conversation with Maelor. The king’s clothes might have been pressed and clean, but he looked as exhausted as his soldiers.
Elyse approached cautiously, not wanting to interrupt yet aching to be at Killian’s side. He spotted her and gave her a smile, his gaze lingering on her for a long moment while Maelor spoke. She took that as enough of an invitation to join them.
When she reached Killian, he was locked in a handshake with Maelor.
“Get some rest,” Maelor ordered as he clapped Killian on the shoulder.
“You as well, Your Majesty,” Killian answered.
Maelor waved him off as his attention settled on Elyse. She felt the air in the hallway shift, and the king’s smile faltered but didn’t drop altogether. He flexed his hand like he might reach out and offer her a handshake, but instead, he tucked it into his pocket.
“Elyse,” he greeted her in a quiet voice.
“Your Majesty,” she answered with a bow of her head.
The king would not meet her eyes. He dipped his chin in salute to Killian before ducking back inside the room and shutting the door.
Maelor might have dropped the warrant for Elyse’s arrest, but he hadn’t forgiven her. And that was okay. Killian had forgivenher, and she was beginning to understand that she could love herself despite her past actions.
Killian slipped his hand into hers, the gesture easy and natural. He pulled her in close and planted his lips on hers. He didn’t pull away for several seconds, unfazed by the guards standing nearby. The kiss was more than a greeting; it was a prayer of gratitude.
Even when their lips parted, they remained close. Killian breathed in her hair, and she clung tightly to his tunic. In the wake of all they had lost, she never wanted to let go of him.
“Good morning,” he murmured against the top of her head.
“I think you mean ‘Good afternoon,’” Elyse corrected.
His answering laugh rumbled through her, as if they were one entity—one bonded soul. Then he stiffened. “Are the others awake?”
Elyse pulled back to look Killian in the eyes as she shook her head. She knew what he was thinking of. As long as Manny was in a dreamless sleep, he wasn’t in pain. But when he awoke, the agony would settle in.
“Are you hungry?” Elyse asked.
“Famished,” Killian answered, perking up a bit.
She started to pull him down the hallway, their hands still entwined, and together they descended the stairs. They didn’t speak as they ambled through the inn’s main room, which was packed with limping soldiers and sullen-faced civilians. Elyse kept her head low, eyes trained on the door leading outside, but she still heard the whispers.
“They’re the ones who saved us,” they all seemed to say.
It was sickening to hear, especially when too many had been lost. And when Sera and Zubir had truly been the ones to ensure their victory.
Elyse and Killian rushed out the door and into the street. It was crowded as well, but at least it was more anonymous. They paused, unsure what their next move would be.
“Cream puffs?” Elyse asked.
A half-smile spread across Killian’s lips. He gazed down at her, his golden eyes bright in the sunlight, like he had everything he needed already. “Sure,” he replied, voice soft. Nearly breathless.
Their pace was slower now, an unhurried stroll toward the bakery a few blocks down. The heat barraged Elyse, but she didn’t mind. It was a privilege to feel the sun’s kiss, harsh as it was. She basked in the sensations of being alive—the ache in her arms, the growling of her stomach, the din of the busy street hitting her ears. It was all hers to enjoy and endure.
They were quiet for a bit, content to enjoy each other’s company without words. Until Killian asked the one question Elyse didn’t know how to answer.
“How does it feel to be free?”
Elyse bit the inside of her cheek, pondering. She had asked herself the same thing several times already, but had been too distracted to uncover her feelings. “It hasn’t sunken in,” she replied truthfully. “I feel a sliver of relief, but then it’s quickly doused. Like it can’t possibly be real.”
Killian nodded thoughtfully.
“What about you?” Elyse asked, suddenly excited as she remembered his meeting with Maelor. “How does it feel to be reinstated?”
