An entire lifetime.
I am a new person.
I take his hand, and he groans.
“Oh no. What’s happened?” he asks.
I frown. “I don’t only hold your hand when something’s wrong.”
He grins through his split lip. “Yes, you do. You do it when I’m hurt, when you told me you were coming to the mountains, when my fox Friji ran away…” He winces.
And I purse my lips. “Maybe you are right.”
He takes a stuttering breath. “I already know I’m hurt. So the news can’t be that bad.”
“We’re in Enduvida. The Enduar city.”
His eyes go wide. “We aren’t with the elves?”
I shake my head.
He looks so confused. “I… gods I can hardly remember the last few months.”
I think of the witches, who Rholker had said had been tending to him. Smoothing some of the hair from his face, he jerks back, mock annoyed.
“The elves are not so great. Be grateful we didn’t end up there—though I do like some of them. Mikal, we are free, with the trolls.”
He blinks. “We are captives of the trolls.”
I shake my head. “No. We arefree.”
He goes still.
“But the trolls…”
I shake my head. “I am married to a troll—not that they call themselves that anymore. I am…” My voice catches on the words, feeling ridiculous saying them outloud. “I am the Enduar Queen. And we have been liberating the slaves.”
He looks at me like I’ve gone mad, and then his eyes go wide.
I look over my shoulder to see Teo standing in the doorway,carrying the baby. Any fear he might’ve inspired in Mikal is ruined by the rough cloth thrown over his shoulder for spit-ups. He looks between me and Mikal and dips his head slowly.
“Mikal. My name is Teo. I am your sister’s mate,” he says slowly.
Mikal looks at him, and I see the protectiveness there. He doesn’t respond to Teo, just looks back at me.
“You married a king,” he says flatly.
“I did.” I reach down and touch the Fuegorra on display. “You have one, too.”
He reaches to his own breastbone, and his eyes grow wide.
“Hostia puta?1,” he curses.
I smack his arm. “Don’t curse in front of the baby.”
He gives me a lopsided grin. “Do I have powers now?”
Teo cracks a smile. “Perhaps. Your sister does.”
