Both men mumble “good” at the same time.
“Such high praise,” I say with a laugh. “I’ll be sure to pass on your appreciation.”
Roshan looks up, his gaze softening. “It is delicious and very thoughtful of you, starling. Thank you.”
Darrius visibly bristles at the nickname, but I send a warning pulse of magic toward him. “Yes, thank you, wife,” he says, in a tender tone that both titillates and annoys me, mostly because he knows how cruel it is to flaunt that status in front of Roshan.
The king of Oryndhr sets down his fork to take a sip of his wine, a flicker of hurt flashing over his face before he conceals it. “It still astounds me that you are married.”
“Soul-fated,” I say softly. “We exchanged vows, but we have one more rite to complete before it is sealed.”
He opens his mouth to ask what the rite is and then snaps it shut when he sees Darrius’s smirking expression.
“If you don’t stop acting like a child this instant, I will refuse to seal this bond,” I growl at the Night King, erasing the leer from his face.
“You wouldn’t,” Darrius says.
I set my jaw. “Try me.”
We resume eating, though Roshan seems to have gained a little more vigor to his movements, and Darrius has been suitably chastened. At least enough for us to dine in less fraught silence. When the servants clear the course, dessert and sweet wine are brought in.
“Will you stay in the castle?” Roshan asks. “When we ride out to meet Anahima?”
I lift my brows, spoon arrested halfway to my lips. “Why would I?”
Darrius lets out a deprecating laugh. “She’s the Starkeeper,” he scoffs. “The most powerful magic user in all of Endara. Why would we keep her here?”
“You would put her in danger and let her fight in front of you? What if she gets hurt?” Roshan asks. “What kind of man are you?”
“One who recognizes the might of his queen,” Darrius shoots back. “And yes, she will fight beside me on the battlefield, where she belongs.”
“If you love her as you claim, wouldn’t you want to protect her? To keep her safe?”
“By suffocating her? She’s not a damsel or a weakling.”
“I never said she was,” Roshan volleys.
Darrius laughs. “That was always your problem, Acharia. You can’t shackle a creature meant to soar.”
Dead silence blankets the room at the allusion to my old bracers. A muscle flexes in Roshan’s cheek as he stares at me with so much remorse brimming in those gold-flecked brown eyes. “I know, you’re right.” He swallows hard and faces me. “And I am deeply sorry I had any part in that. I will beg your forgiveness every day for the rest of my life if I have to.”
“I’ve already forgiven you, Ro,” I say softly.
He shudders visibly. “I don’t think you’re weak. You’re magnificent. What you did with Morvarid and Vogon, no one else could ever do. You saved Oryndhr. Savedme. I suppose I just want to protect you like you protected everyone else.”
“I understand,” I say. “I feel the same about you and Darrius. I want you safe, too. And the idea of either of you in danger or getting hurt is something I refuse to contemplate.” I wink at him. “And by the same token, no, I will not remain here. I will stand between the two of you on the battleground, protecting both of your sexy but lesser asses.”
Roshan blinks owlishly at me as if trying to parse the sultriness in my voice.
“We are soul-fated,” Darrius says arrogantly, making me want to kick him. “She is meant to be at my side.”
I open my mouth, but Roshan beats me to it, a smirk spreading on his full lips. “And shechoseme. I’ll always be her first love.”
“And I will be her last,” Darrius growls, shooting to his feet.
Roshan does the same. “That’s not your decision.”
Runes flaring, I stand slowly, extending my magic in silvery ribbons toward each of them. “Enough, both of you!”
