I shake my head, still laughing. “Sure. Of course you do.”
Kieran grins. “I do! The emotional pain of brooding Warlords everywhere weighs heavy on my heart.”
“And yet, somehow, you bear the burden.”
“A true martyr,” he says, placing a dramatic hand over his chest.
I roll my eyes, shaking my head, but my chest feels lighter.
Kieran watches me for a second longer. And this time, he just nods. “Well, if you do figure it out, try not to ascend into some divine celestial being while we’re still on the road. That’d be really inconvenient.”
I grin. “I’ll do my best.”
Kieran’s easy conversation fades into silence, a natural lull settling between us. I shift in my saddle, exhaling, my thoughts already moving ahead—toward the capital, toward what waits for us.
The bond pulls tight, sharp enough to steal my breath. I glance up—and Thane is already looking back. Not at me. At Kieran.
Kieran meets his stare without flinching. Behind his smirk, something flickers—curiosity . . . or a challenge. I can’t quite tell.
Then Thane slows, dropping in beside me—on the side Kieran isn’t.
“Ride with me,” Thane says, his voice calm and steady. Butunderneath the command, there’s something else. Something only meant for me.
Kieran raises an eyebrow, mouth twitching. He watches, his gaze flicking between us like he’s noting every unspoken word, every charged pause.
And gods, I know he is enjoying this.
I let the silence stretch. Then in a dry tone, “Is that an order, Warlord?”
Thane’s jaw tightens. His fingers flex on the reins, a grumble sitting low in his throat.
Then something flickers across his face—a twitch at the corner of his mouth, the ghost of a smirk he’s trying to suppress.
I grin, guiding my horse closer. Despite the teasing, something in me steadies as I near him.
Thane nods once, sharp and decisive. Then, without a word, he nudges his horse forward, guiding us into the trees.
Kieran watches us go, his usual smirk nowhere to be seen. He doesn’t say anything else—just lets his gaze linger for a moment longer before focusing on the path ahead.
Thane leans closer, his voice low, edged with quiet amusement. “You looked awfully comfortable riding beside him.”
I blink, turning to find his smoke-gray eyes already watching me, the faintest glint of something smug in them.
I scoff. “Oh, please.”
His smirk deepens. “You sure? He does have that golden-boy, Air Clan charm. Wouldn’t blame you if you found yourself tempted.”
I roll my eyes, nudging my horse closer until our knees almost touch, heat pulsing between us like a second heartbeat.
“You’re jealous of Kieran, aren’t you?”
He doesn’t answer right away. Just tightens his reins, eyes forward, that half-smile tugging at his mouth—the silence sayingeverything. And I remember Kieran and I sitting under the oak tree, the way Thane kissed me in front of the whole outpost. The way he’s interrupted us from the start.
“Gods, has anyone ever told you how infuriatingly smug you are?”
“Mm.” He tilts his head like he’s mock-considering, his smirk refusing to fade. “But I’m still your favorite.”
I scoff, ready to throw it back at him, but he leans in—close enough for his breath to brush my ear. “And if I’m not,” his voice drops, low and dangerous, “I’ll remind you tonight.”
