“I think they missedus,” I said, running my fingers across a stem.
We spent hours there. Talking, teasing, sometimes saying nothing at all. He spread a blanket beneath the boughs of a silverleaf tree, where the air smelled of nectar and rain. The world felt impossibly far away.
At some point, his hand found mine. His thumb brushed over the inside of my wrist, tracing my pulse. “Do you think we were meant to end up here?”
“Yes. Even if everything had gone differently, I think I would have still found my way to you.”
He looked at me, his eyes shimmering gold. “You’re my peace, Isi.”
And for the rest of the day, peace was all we knew.
We dozed in the shade, woke to soft kisses and laughter, and wandered among the flowers.
When evening came, he conjured lantern light to guide us back to the castle and we went to the kitchen together, collecting a simple meal of bread, cheese, and honeyed fruit. We ate cross-legged on ourbed, stealing bites from each other’s plates, laughing when crumbs caught in his stubble.
It felt like the world had folded small enough to hold just us.
“I could get used to this,” I said, feeding him the last bit of bread.
“You’re a terrible influence on my discipline.” He released a mock sigh.
“Good. You could use a little more chaos.”
“Then stay,” he said simply. “Stay and be my chaos forever.”
I took in his eyes softened by firelight, the curve of his mouth gentle and content. “I want that more than anything, love.”
As night deepened, I crawled into his lap and kissed him, and the rest of the world fell away.
The firelight turned our shadows gold on the wall, and for a time, there was no past or future, only now.
Later, tangled in warmth and sleep, I listened to his breathing even out. His arm lay heavy around my waist, his hand curled protectively at my hip. I lifted his hand and kissed his knuckles.
I didn’t dream of battles or blood.
I dreamed of loving this man for the rest of my life.
I thought I imagined the knock at first. But it came again, firmer the second time.
Trew stirred beside me, murmuring something incoherent before settling back into sleep. I hesitated, reluctant to move, the warmth of his arms incredibly soothing.
The knock came once more.
Careful not to wake him, I slipped from the bed, the cool air kissing my skin where his warmth had so recently touched. I reached for a robe, tying it around me, my heart still light from the day we’d shared.
The knock came again, sharper this time.
And with it, the first threads of dread curled through my chest.
60
ISI
Ipadded to the door. Cracking it open enough to peer through, I found Lexie leaning against the doorframe, her eyebrows arched.
“I know you’re busy,” she drawled, her eyes twinkling. “At least, I hope you’re busy.” Her gaze drifted over my disheveled hair and flushed cheeks, a smirk playing across her lips.
I stepped into the hallway, pulling the door nearly closed behind me. “Is everything alright?”
