Oh.Suddenly, I was glad I wasn’t in Lierick’s place, because while I might not be good enough for Hayle, at least I wasn’t the son of my Line’s greatest enemy.
Fifteen
Lierick
Iwasn’t normally prone to panic, but as we walked through the heavy stone arch that led to the courtyard of Hayle’s home, panic started to crawl along my skin. Avalon held my hand tightly, the warmth of her anchoring me from my anxiety, even though I knew she was anxious too. I could feel it through our connection.
The only person who seemed excited was Hayle. He seemed a hundred percent certain that his parents were just going to accept this little polycule he had with open arms. I loved his confidence. If I’d learned anything about Hayle in the last few months, it was that he didn’t borrow trouble before it landed on his doorstep.
He hugged all the Third Line guards on the way down the echoing halls, smiling and laughing, and the hounds raced ahead of us, like they too were meeting with old friends. Like they could finally relax.
They were home.
A woman met us in the hall, and I didn’t even need to ask who she was. The resemblance between her and her sons was uncanny. The same wild brown hair, the same green eyes. She was Hayle’s mother, Ora Taeme.
She smiled warmly at her son, opening her arms wide. “Hayle,” she breathed. “You’re home.” It was a mother’s relief. She’d sent Hayle off to the relative safety of Boellium, and I’d dragged him into a revolution.
“Hey, Mom.” Hayle hugged her back, though he must have been at least a foot taller than her. “I’ve missed you too.”
It made me homesick for Ozryn. For my own family, and people.
Hayle reached back and grabbed Avalon. “Mom, this is my Soul Tie, Avalon. She’s the most beautiful and brave woman in all of Ebrus.” he said, his voice smiling as much as his face. “And this is Vox Vylan, Avie’s other boyfriend and my friend.” Finally, he turned to me, his grin widening even more. “And this is Lierick, Vox and Avie’s boyfriend and Heir to the Second Line.”
To her credit, Ora Taeme didn’t drop into a dead faint. “It’s lovely to meet… you all. I might need you to explain all that to me again later. Right now, there seems to be a rather important meeting waiting for your group.”
Lucio cleared his throat. “Hayle forgot to mention Shay Vylan and Iker Hanovan. Probably because he hasn’t seen them naked.”
“Lucio!” Shay chastized, and Avalon flushed so red, I was a little worried about her blood pressure. Hayle punched his cousin in the arm, but Lucio just grinned, completely unrepentant.
Ora pinched the bridge of her nose. “Really, Lucio? I swear, your mother dropped you on your head as a child.” She smiled politely at Iker and Shay. “It’s very nice to meet you both. Come inside, they’re waiting.”
I sucked a deep breath and straightened my shoulders. Brushing my hand against Vox’s, I wrapped my pinky finger around his. As my heart pounded inside my chest, I wondered ifmy father could hear my racing thoughts already. I locked down my mental shields, just in case.
Iker patted my back reassuringly. “It will be okay.”
I wasn’t sure it would be. What I felt was a betrayal of my Line, but I couldn’t help it.
As soon as I stepped over the threshold, my father’s face was the first one I saw. He was stoic, as always, but I could see the subtle strain in the lines around his eyes. The true scope of my failures were reflected there, though he would never lay the blame at my feet.
I’d outed us to the rest of Ebrus too early, to save the life of an Eighth Line Baron.
I hadn’t managed to garner the support of any of the Barons myself. Instead, it had been Vox and Hayle who’d secured the support of the Fifth and Sixth Lines, and Avalon who’d garnered the loyalty of the Baron of the Eighth Line.
I’d fallen in love with the enemy.
Fuck.
I looked around at the large table that took up the woodpaneled room. There was the Baron of the Third Line, of course, as well as Hayle’s brothers. There was my father and his second-in-command, Harry. He was my uncle—not Iker’s father, but my aunt’s husband. He commanded the armies, along with my father.
Zier Tarrin was there, his face impassive, though his eyes were fixed on Avalon, like he hadn’t just seen her less than an hour ago. Maybe he could sense her anxiety; it was written in every muscle of her body, and in her thoughts, if you were Second Line. And probably her scent, if you were Third Line.
Viktor Taeme broke the silence. “Son, it’s good to see you safe and whole. I hear you had quite the adventure this morning in Fortaare.”
My eyes flicked back to Zier. You could still see the bruises around his throat. Calling his near death an adventure seemed a little grotesque.
Hayle shrugged. “It was fine. Foul in some places, and a little tight in a few spots, but we made it out with Zier’s life.”
Viktor grunted. “So you did. Reckless as it was, the results speak for themselves. Baron Hanovan, this is my son, Hayle, and his Soul Tie, Avalon Halhed.”
