Tairna’s knowing gaze flickers between the two of us. Mayah clears her throat. The glow fades from her palms. “I—I told Sura I’ll meet her for lunch. So I better, um—”
Still, she doesn’t rise, just keeps staring at me. There’s so much fuckinghopein her eyes, it rents my heart in half.
“We’ll see you later, Mayah,” Tairna supplies softly. “I’m sure you and Sura have much to discuss.”
She nods softly. Her gaze drops to my chafed wrists once more, hands clenching in her lap before she leaves.
Don’t hurt her anymore. Don’t hurt her anymore. Don’t hurt her anymore.
When I glance at Tairna, she’s watching me carefully, eyes glassy, her lips offering a fraction of a smile.
My hands grip the armrests. “Tell me a lie.”
“Leading the Rebellion has been the joy of my life.”
My neck prickles, sharp pinpricks radiating down my spine. A ragged sigh escapes me, equal parts relief and pain.
“Vayru—”
“Swear to me you’ll do everything in your power to protect Mayah.”
Grief brims in her dark gaze. Her chin quivers, but she says, “I swear to you, I will do everything in my power to protect your wife.”
Truth.
“You’ll put her life above everyone else’s. Your own.”
“I swear it.”
Truth.
“When she’s queen, you’ll advise her justly. She won’t be a puppet monarch. You’ll let her make her own decisions.”
“I swear it.”
Truth.
“You’ll—you’ll do your best to ensure she’s happy.”
Tears fall freely down Tairna’s cheeks.
“I swear it.” It’s a broken whisper.
A sense of cold numbness envelops me, even as my heart pummels my chest in protest.
“The men are well-trained. You have more than enough supplies and weapons. The Volcans have made land. You don’t need me.”
Tairna sniffles, scrubbing a shaking hand across her face. “You’re right.Idon’t need you to stay. Butshedoes. I’ll do my best to protect her, but no one can protect her as well as you can.”
No one can hurt her like I can, either.
She leans across the table, cradling my face. “Stay, Vayru. Stay forher.”
“I can’t.” My voice cracks. “I can’t let myself be with her. I’ll keep pulling her close, then pushing her away. I’ll keep hurting her because I can’tfucking forget. I can never trust her again.”
“Vayru, please. Non-truthwielders manage to have happy, healthy relationships without knowing if their partner’s every word is true. Even when trust has been broken, they repair, they forgive, they—”
“Ican’t,” I snap, jaw clenched. “I just … can’t.”
