Iskra snorted. A colorful butterfly flitted past her and landed directly on Jasyn's shoulder.
He must have noticed her longing expression, because he asked, “Do you ever get out?”
“Not often.” She smiled sadly. She didn’t know if she should be this vocal about the isolation she had personally experienced. After all, Lady Esi no doubt lived a life filled with parties and other social responsibilities.
“We can change that.Ican change that.”
Iskra raised her brows. “What do you get out of it?”
“Getting to know my future wife like I promised I would yesterday.”
“Right…”
She liked the sound of it, but in practice, she feared what it would do to her when it came time to leave this all behind. This luxurious life would spoil her, but it was an opportunity to experience something new before it all ended, and she would claim it.
“Let’s do it,” she said more confidently, right as the butterfly flew away. “Maybe we’ll even find you some new friends. A king must have allies in his court.”
“I’ll have you and your family’s side,” he reminded her.
“Of course, but this court is larger than me and you. I’m ready to see it and for you to embrace it.”
He nodded, as if he could find no other argument against her statement. “To learning about each other as we learn about the court we will rule together, then.”
He extended his hand, and this time, Iskra didn’t hesitate as she took it. He smiled at her, and Iskra’s breath hitched at the sight. Right then, she promised herself not to get attached to the man in front of her. It would only break her when she had to let this all go.
Dirt was caught beneath Jasyn’s nails. The afternoon sun blazed heat on his back, but it never bothered him. Perhaps the sun recognized the innate light within Jasyn, how they were one and the same, despite how death and grief had stolen the core of his full potential.
Jasyn heard the rumble of wheels before he saw his father.
“Another day with your plants?” his father asked, and although he meant it in a teasing manner, it grated on Jasyn’s nerves. “What have they told you today?”
It was an ongoing joke, one started by Jaymes, his oldest sibling. When Jasyn was a child, he would talk animatedly to the plants. Every night at dinner, Jaymes would ask what the plants told him.
“Is there something I can do for you?” This was the second time in one day someone had disturbed him. His days had been a lot quieter with his siblings now dead, and he had grown accustomed to that silence. He had liked when Lady Esi had appeared, though. Their conversation had been vulnerable, and he saw a potential of a future with her, which was both relieving and terrifying.
His father pushed the wheelchair over so he had a view of what Jasyn had been working on. The small pile of weeds didn’t scream interesting.
“I heard you had a visitor during training.”
Jasyn swallowed; he should have known word would have spread about his encounter with Lady Esi. “Yes.”
“Does she know about your light?”
“Yes.”
His father sighed deeply. His parents had kept his power a secret since he was a babe. He was only a few months old when he shined so brightly, his mother almost dropped him. They weren’t ashamed of Jasyn’s power, but they feared the court wouldn’t take him seriously since he didn’t have fire. The light that poured from his hands was like sunlight, blinding and bright—though more dim now. It was different from the powers of the lightning court, the electricity that buzzed with energy.
“She’s to be my wife. I think she has a right to know,” Jasyn explained.
“I still would have preferred waiting until the marriage was sealed.”
“She doesn’t seem turned off by it.”
“No?”
“She seemed intrigued,” Jasyn continued. He wanted to tell his father they already had a deal to spend more time together. Jaymes and Dahlia would be proud of him; as much as they joked about how the plants were Jasyn’s only friends, they were genuinely concerned he would never be able to lead because he didn’t have the charm. He hoped spending time with Esi would help him gain confidence.
“You still have a lot of training ahead of you,” his father said seriously. “Without fire, you’ll be relying on your sword more to slay that beast and win us the Undertaking.”
