She nodded. “Marstyn and Evar. They’ve made quite the scandal everywhere.”
Aye, they had. Especially given the hatred between their kingdoms. The merfolk hated nereids almost as much as the centaurs hated unicorns.
“Wow.” He shook his head. “Where did you hear this?”
She gestured toward the dock. “Everyone’s talking about it. How have you not heard it?”
“I guess news doesn’t make it to my rock.”
“Apparently not.” She wiped her knife off on her breeches before she returned it to the sheath at her waist. “Are you really going to be so heartless as to break up a love match?”
He leaned back on his arms. “I would never be so cruel. Xaydin…”
“Needs to leave them alone and find his own happiness.”
If only she knew how close to the truth she was.
Ronan touched the tip of his boot against hers. “How have you been, Missy?”
A hooded darkness descended over her eyes, making him ache for her. “Been a little rough. My father died and no one bothered to tell me.”
He winced at the news. She’d always had a…capricious relationship with her father. Much like his own. It was hard to explain to those who didn’t understand. The love you could have for someone who betrayed you. It was complicated always, but when it was a parent…
Hard to cut those ties.
“Anything I can do to help?” He didn’t really expect an answer from her. She never needed anything from anyone.
So when she slid across the deck to embrace him, he was stunned. Closing his eyes, he held her against his chest and savored this moment. Mostly because he doubted it would ever come again.
I love you.Those words hung on the edge of his lips because he knew better than to say them out loud.
Mischief believed she was unlovable. That no one would ever be able to care about her. But the truth was, he’d been in love with her since they were kids.
For him, there had never been anyone else.
There never would.
If only she felt the same. But he knew better. They were friends. Nothing more.
It was all they’d ever be.
Gisela had just finished rinsingher hair when the door behind her opened. Without looking, she knew it was Xaydin. She could feel his presence like a physical touch.
They were heading to some northern dock city that she’d never heard of before. But she, Candara and Masakage had all agreed that he didn’t need to push himself. Mostly because his wounds were taking longer to heal than they should given Candara’s magic. Apparently, the blade Garyn had used to harm him had also been charmed.
Magic healing magic always took longer than normal. It was also why they didn’t dare portal. Candara wasn’t sure if the magic still in his body would harm him or how it would react to going through a portal.
So against his protests, they’d stopped at an inn that was about a day’s ride from the docks.
Irritated at them for “bullying” him, Xaydin had gone off to run errands while she’d stayed behind to bathe. His pouting demeanor had been strangely adorable to her.
Even now, he appeared peeved.
“Did you have a nice time?” she asked.
He answered her question with one of his own. “Are you trying to anger me?”
“Never.”
