“Let me know that you made it safely.” Tempest leaned into Vexxion’s arms for comfort.
“I’ll find a way.”
I knew why I was rushing out of here, though it would soon be dark, and the shipwouldset sail shortly after sunset. The crew wouldn’t leave without me. After all, I was the soon-to-be bride to their king and the only reason the ship had made port.
I hated saying goodbye. This one would be for a very long time.
“We’re coming to visit as soon as we can,” Tempest called out as I opened the door and stepped onto the wide expanse of stone along the front of the building. Yellow spears now jutted up through the setting sun’s orange and red, a portrait of sorrow.
They joined me on the stone landing.
Vexxion growled. “We’ll visitwhenwe wish.”
No one could hold my brother back except my friend. And maybe me.
“The king specifically said you can’t come until his birthday.” He’d be thirty in two months, and his court must be planning a big celebration.
No guests were allowed before that time.
“I don’t listen to foreign kings,” Vexxion drawled.
Or any king, for that matter.
I placed my hand on his arm. “Listen this time. I mean it.” Itried to act stern, but inside, I was falling apart. I’d lost my parents when I was a child. I was raised in a border fortress alongside other orphans. Only my friends stood up for me until I met my brother.
Yet it was past time I found a new way to walk on my own.
“I’ll try,” he finally said.
I couldn’t ask for more than that.
“Bye.” If I could’ve gotten away with it, I would’ve slipped out the back door without them noticing. Anything to avoid the sobs I knew could be coming. Probably not from Vexxion. Maybe from Tempest, though my friend’s resolve had been forged in flame.
From myself.
Because Iwasscared. Nothing new about that. I’d battled fear all my life, standing with my head high but faking it because there was no way I’d ever let anyone know I trembled inside.
Kinart knew. Only with him could I be me.
My throat closed off, and while I couldn’t force air through the tiny gap, I could still lift my chin and meet their eyes.
Tempest wrapped her arms around me. “Farewell. We’ll see you soon. The time will rush by.”
“Love you,” I croaked, my eyes stinging. Not doing so good at faking it now.
“Love you too,” she whispered.
When she stepped back, I met Vexxion’s scowl.
“You don’t need to do this,” he snapped. “We’ll work something out.”
“We can’t go back on our deal.” We’d needed King Merrick’shelp, and in exchange, he’d asked for a bride. I volunteered, and there was no turning back on that now. “They’re waiting. I have to go.”
Because I worried he’d stand there stoically, unable to give his feelings action, I barreled into him, hugging him, whispering against his tunic. “Love you, Vexxion.”
He patted my back before his arms went around me, and nothing felt better than the love of my older brother.
Finally, I had to leave. It would take time to reach the ship on foot, and I didn’t like keeping anyone waiting.
