His throat bobbed. “I hadn’t realized how important this was to you,” he said.
Wiping away the lone tear that slipped out, I said, “Being incapable of wielding my powers as the spark has weighed heavier on me than almost anything else. For so long, I believed there was something wrong with me. Like I’m defective. Like…”
Taking a step closer, he said, “Like you don’t deserve to be the spark.”
Another tear slid down as I nodded. “Yeah.”
We stood there in silence, the sounds of the valley falling over us.
“Commander, Lady Nyleeria,” a stranger’s voice called out from the distance. In an instant, Artton let go of the vision, and sand took place of the soft ground.
“What is it?” Artton demanded of the messenger, who had a warrior look about him, and I couldn’t help but sense something was off.
“It’s Tarrin. He’s awake.”
Chapter 33
It’s Complicated
“Tarrin,” I croaked when I saw him, his name getting partially caught in my throat.
“Ny,” he whispered.
I stood in the doorway, frozen, one hand on my chest, the other now covering my mouth. He was sitting up, which was good, but I hadn’t been prepared for how frail his animated body would look. Although I’d come to terms with what he looked like lying there, a part of me had envisionedhimwhen he woke up—not the hollow version of him that stared back at me.
“It’s really you,” he said, the baritone in his voice coming through, and something about it finally let me understand that he was alive. Here. Okay.
A half-sob escaped me. “It’s really you,” I echoed, finally stepping into the room. I took the seat next to him, the one I’d spent countless hours in.
Looking down at me with a soft expression, he said, “It’s good to see you.”
“Gods, Tarrin, it’s so good to see you. But, do you have any idea how much trouble you’re in for scaring me like that?”
He laughed, wincing a little.
Myron took a small step forward and addressed Tarrin. “It’ll take another day or so for you to be up and about pain-free.”
Tarrin nodded, then turned his attention back to me. “How did I end up in the Summer Court?”
“Luca and I found you half-dead in the Autumn Court. I pulled you over the border and we brought you here to mend. Myron is responsible for your care, but Tarrin, you…” My voice began to shake. “You almost died on me.”
A tear ran down my cheek and Tarrin reached to wipe it away. I jolted back so fast that when I stood up the chair toppled over. Hurt and confusion flashed across Tarrin’s wan features. He flinched as he sat up straighter, finally taking all of me in for the first time. I braced myself as his gaze roamed over me, and I could almost hear him cataloging the differences he saw as he processed it. When his focus landed on my fae ears, he blinked several times as if he didn’t trust his sight. I stood there in silence and held my breath as he put the pieces together. There was nothing veiled in his expression as it shifted from confusion, to disbelief, to horror—finally settling on anger.
Slowly, he turned his focus toward the door, and it wasn’t until then that I noted Caius, Sidrick, and Kaelun had joined Artton, Myron, and myself.
“What did you do to her?” Tarrin’s words were a cold accusation that held a deadly promise—one of a commander who would claim retribution.
I stepped forward. “Tarrin,” I said, trying to soothe his ire. I continued speaking even though he remained focused on the summer fae. “It wasn’t them. They didn’t do anything to me, I promise. They’ve done nothing but keep me safe. Please, Tarrin, they saved your life.”
Slowly, like a reluctant predator not wanting to take his eyes off another, he returned his focus to me. “Isthatwhy you flinch from me, becausethey’ve donenothing?”
I cringed at the cold venom in his words.
Artton bristled, and our focus shifted to him. “No, you can thank your precious king for her aversion to touch. Or maybe you can thank your perverseconnection.”
Tarrin narrowed his eyes at Artton but spoke to me without looking my way. “You told them?” Something like hurt and anger in his words.
“She didn’t have to,” Artton spat.
