Talon, however, was a different story. ShelovedTalon. Throughout the second day, Emmeric and Talon rode side-by-side, and she sensed the easy comradery between them. They talked and joked with each other, more brothers than friends. Tal made an effort to loop Iyana into the conversations as well. Soon she was laughing with them both. And though she’d only met them a few days before, she felt as though she belonged.
“So, Smalls,” said Talon. “How was your trip through the Aula Pass?”
Her face heated thinking of the ‘hot springs incident,’ but she tried to hide it with a shrug. “It would’ve been better if wolves hadn’t attacked me.”
Emmeric stiffened behind her. “Wolves?”
“How did you escape unscathed?” Zane asked.
“Well, one of them managed to scratch my ankle,” Iyana said. She felt Emmeric leaning over behind her to look at her foot. “It’s better now. I put a poultice on it. Really, I just got lucky there was a cave system nearby too small for them. It pays to be petite every once in a while.” They didn’t need to know about Altair fighting them off with magic, but she was certain Emmeric knew she wasn’t telling the entire story.
Tipping her head back to address Emmeric, her hair brushed against his chest, and a small tremor passed through him. It gave her a smug satisfaction seeing how much she affected him, no matter how hard he tried to deny it. She’d definitely noticed his ‘affection’ the day before when he had ground against her, and gods,it had made her flush all over. Clearing her throat, she asked him, “How did you make it through the Pass alone? Those wolves were gigantic.”
“I didn’t,” he said. “I went around.”
“That was an option?” she yelled.
“Sorry if your boyfriend made you go the long way, but yeah, there’s a ferry across the Sea of Stars.”
“That motherfucker…” she muttered. Emmeric chuckled behind her, the sound vibrating through her chest. In front of them, Zane turned, watching them curiously. Iyana could tell he wanted to ask about the man she had been traveling with, and she wondered why he hadn’t yet. As he dropped back to ride side-by-side with them, she knew it was time for her interrogation. Emmeric slid an arm around her stomach, holding her close to him. Either he was unaware of his actions, or he didn’t care about her feelings on the matter. She felt safer, though, so she let it slide this once.
“My lady,” Prince Zane said, nodding his head in greeting.
She couldn’t help but smile. “I am no lady.”
“That may be the case,” he said, matching her small smile. This was the womanizer side of Zane she’d heard of. “But I’ve only now realized I never caught your name.”
Emmeric squeezed her hip in warning, but she ignored him. “It’s Iyana, Your Highness.” She bowed her head in a semblance of a curtsey. Any ally she could potentially sway to her case would be worth the risks. Especially for one as powerful as Zane.
“Iyana,” he said, “in an effort to be transparent, I do not know why my father wants you.” The blood rushed from her face, causing a small bout of dizziness. Emmeric held her tighter. “But I assume it involves the star that fell while we were in Imothia, and now with rumors circulating of someone performing magic…”
“I’m a healer,” she said meekly. “Of course I possess magic. So do all the others at the university in Athusia.”
“It was not my intent for you to believe I think it’s you,” Zane replied. “Only to warn you, when you’re in an audience with the emperor, it would behoove you to be honest with him. Uther wants the star. If you have any shred of self-preservation, you’ll give it to him.”
Iyana wanted to sigh in relief, but she held it inside. Zane was under the impression the star was anitand not ahe. Hopefully, Uther was working with the same assumption. The prince was being…kind by giving her a warning. Unless this was a ploy he played to have people give up all their secrets without a fight. Make Uther out to be worse than he actually was, so people got spooked the second he looked at them and they immediately spilled all their secrets. She refused to make it that easy. But, on the chance he was being genuine in his concern for her, Iyana took his warning to heart.
Shaking her head, she said, “I don’t have the star.”
Zane frowned. “For your sake, if that’s true, then I hope you know where it is. Things won’t end well if you can’t give him information.”
Emmeric’s arm squeezed her tighter, like he’d be able to protect her against the world if only she stayed attached to him.
“Can’t, or won’t?” she asked.
“With my father,” Zane said sadly, “it won’t matter either way. He’ll still have his fun.” And with those harrowing words, he kicked his horse into a trot back to the front of the party.
“Mouse,” Emmeric said into her ear, “please tell me Altair is coming for you.”
“I wish I could, but I don’t know if he is.”
That sad admission stayed with Iyana throughout the rest of the day. When they stopped to camp for the night, Emmeric left her unbound, spreading her bedroll out near his. Was it because he trusted hernotto run, or because he wanted her to try? Either way, she stayed put, hoping Altair would come for her. Surely he wouldn’t let her get into Athusia. Out on the road, with only five people, it would be easy to sneak her away. Especially if he had enough magic to do his super-sprint trick. But once they entered the city, there would be too many people, too many guards. Too close to the emperor for him to reveal himself. Iyana would never ask him to put himself in jeopardy for her.
Dawn woke her the next morning, Emmeric snoring lightly next to her. Disappointment coursed through her again. Maybe she needed to wise up and realize that Altair was not the man she’d hoped he was. Then she reminded herself that he wasn’t amanat all, and she couldn’t hold him to human standards. Iyana resolved to expect less from everyone in order to decrease her chances of disappointment.
The delicious smell of bacon enticed her out of the warmth of her bedroll. Talon was cooking, and it appeared the others still slept. She sat next to him, wrapping her cloak tightly around herself. Autumn appeared to be coming on strong, and the further north they traveled, the colder it became. Talon wore light breeches and a short-sleeved tunic, as if the chill didn’t touch him.
“Bacon?” He offered her a piece from the pan. While she ate, she double checked the others were still sleeping—especially Zane.
