Comparably, I masked myself in lies. But Nicu displayed his authenticity openly, scattering his emotions and desires everywhere like confetti, neither ashamed nor intimidated by them. This Royal hid nothing.
Still, abandoning his parents without a word wasn’t like Nicu. Despite these good intentions, the family communicated everything to each other, and he would rather stake his own heart than violate that trust.
A possible explanation entered my mind. “How long were you planning to be gone?”
“One night,” he answered. “Why?”
My body sagged in understanding. Of course, this made sense. To Nicu, trekking through the forest overnight—in the hopes of finding a sign from nature about his purpose in life—didn’t amount to a fully-fledged desertion. That accounted for his curiosity about why I would ask in the first place.
What’s more, my friend likely hadn’t predicted the uproar he would cause, which explained his rueful blush about the alarm. Ultimately, he hadn’t anticipated the castle would be turned upside down over this.
Nicu cocked his head. “While outside, I saw you and felt a curious spark. You were running very fast from the castle. And why were you tucking yourself from Aire?”
Seconds ticked by, increasing the number of troops crowding the lookout points. Still, I hedged, wary of his gift for memorizing incriminating dialogue verbatim.
But since I drew the line at lying to Nicu’s face, the best course of action required partial confessions. “I took something from the relic vault without permission.”
“Ahh.” Nicu sat on both haunches. “Bad manners. Aire has rules about that. You keep breaking all of them.”
I laughed nervously with him, then glimpsed the perimeter once more. “It’s a harness for my axe, but I’ll bring it back.”
“From where?”
“Never mind that. Listen to me, Nicu. I hear what you’re saying about being a hero, but for now it’s safer if you—”
“You’re following your stars too?” His face gleamed like a constellation. “Then I’m coming with you!”
Fuck. So that part wasn’t supposed to come out, but this was Nicu, the sweetest soul on earth. His enthusiasm buttered me up faster than Aire’s dimples. And aside from a certain Winter king, Nicu had every member of the clan wrapped around his pinky finger.
“No,” I rushed out. “I’ll be gone for more than one night.”
Nicu paused. Not having expected that detail, concern flitted across his features. “Are you in trouble?”
“I’m getting myself out of it.”
“That means yes.” Conflicted, he swung his attention between the stronghold and me, then shored himself up. “Then my stars will follow yours.”
He believed his destiny relied on joining me, that somehow this had become the uncharted path he was supposed to take, even if he hadn’t prepared himself for a longer trip. To that end, Nicu wouldn’t grasp the distance as others would.
I had to dissuade him. Even if it cost me precious minutes, I had to try.
“Nicu,” I stressed. “It’s a long journey. And it’s far. I’m honored by the offer, but this will be a dangerous quest, and I have to accomplish it by myself.”
His eyebrows crimped. “But you need a protector.”
“My axe is my protector.”
“So one is enough?” He opened his coat and patted the dagger strapped to the inner lining. “Or are you allowed to have two?”
Against my better judgement, affection welled through me. No matter how he maneuvered that blade, ribbon-shaped indentations along the handle indicated which direction the tip pointed. A simple but effective design that left the rest up to Nicu’s inherent skills. It was also the first weapon I created for someone I cared about.
As I fumbled for a response, Nicu asked, “What quest?”
“To thwart Rhys,” I said under my breath. “To take down Summer.”
But because I wouldn’t fib to him more than I had to, this confession reinforced the determined set of Nicu’s chin. And well, I wondered who he got that from?
The young Royal squared his shoulders. “I’m coming.”
