Esi sat on the bed with Iskra. “Meaning I will marry Dominik, even if my parents disown me.”
“Jasyn?”
“It’s not my place to say.”
Iskra nodded, frustrated to not get answers but also understanding. Then, Iskra asked the second question she had been dreading. “What has Kryth said?”
Esi eyed her. “Do you truly not remember?”
Iskra shook her head, trying to think back, but it was still too fuzzy.
“You killed him.”
Iskra blinked, not believing the words. Kryth couldn’t be dead. Could he?
“I told you to get me as soon as she woke up,” Jasyn snapped as he entered the room.
Iskra’s heart stopped and restarted at the sight of him.
“You don’t own her,” Esi said, but her voice was lighthearted. “I wanted to speak with her, too.”
Jasyn stilled but bowed his head. “Of course. Thank you for making sure she didn’t awaken alone.”
Esi pointed at Jasyn. “That’s the respect I deserve.”
Then, she was out the door with a quick wink at him.
Iskra tried fixing her hair slyly—she had no doubt it was a tangled mess—but Jasyn immediately clocked her movements. He shook his head, and she anticipated disapproval and anger, but instead, a soft smile lit his face.
“The color suits you,” he said.
Iskra dipped her head in shame. “I’m so sorry for lying.”
Jasyn put his hands out, and she immediately silenced herself.
“I’ve already spoken with Esi. She explained everything, and…” Iskra worried her bottom lip. “I understand why.”
Iskra released a deep breath.
Jasyn kept talking. “I understand why you two decided to switch lives. Esi deserved that time with Dominik. You deserved freedom.”
“It shouldn’t have come at your expense,” Iskra said.
“Reflecting on the whole situation now, it’s a blessing.”
Iskra scrunched her brows, but it caused a headache, so she relaxed her face again. “In what way?”
Jasyn sighed as he sat on the edge of the bed. The mattress dipped from his weight, and Iskra suddenly had the urge to tug him to her, to wrap her arms around his body.
“Esi loves Dominik. There’s no changing that. If we married, she would be miserable, and I don’t want a loveless marriage.”
“So…”
“So she should marry Dominik. She has the future king’s blessing. That should appease her parents.”
The words hit her: Jasyn would soon be king. He fought and almost died, but he came out of the Undertaking alive, the Heart in his hand. He did it. Pride swelled in her chest.
“And you? What do your parents think about ending the engagement?”
