“I feel that if it led me here to this moment with you, then I’d happily play along with the Sources’ plans for me a hundred more times.”
A knock sounded at the Egress door. “It’s just me.” Emmerick’s muffled voice carried into the room.
When I trotted down the hall and opened the door, I found that he’d already changed out of his formal wear. He’d come to see my aunt.
Who was not here.
Ugh.To think they all believedmeto be the naive one.
Dritan stepped up behind me, and the King’s attention landed on him over my shoulder, conflicted about what to do or say. His quiet unease left a bitter taste on my tongue.
“Is your aunt back?” Emmerick asked.
I swallowed hard and shook my head. “I thought she was with you,” I lied.
The pit of his spiked despair rocked me on my heels. “Your parents are ready to speak with you in the morning. Go home to Luz. Both of you.”
I huffed a laugh. “I don’t believe that for a moment.”
Emmerick crossed his arms; his expression grew unyielding. “Go home,” he repeated, this time looking past me. “I’ve spoken with them. It’ll be alright.” The way his tone softened for Dritan’s comfort made my heart swell.
“They will just yell and get worked up,” I sighed out.
I knew my parents would be angry at my withheld truths, but I hoped they would accept the North Corridor Prince.
“They won’t,” Emmerick answered plainly. “You dealt them a shock, and they’ll recover. Their love isn’t conditional on you doing everything they wish you to.”
My eyes welled, and I launched myself at him, embracing him. He stiffened at first before I felt a light pat between my shoulders.
“We still plan to go to the cave in Eros tomorrow afternoon?” Dritan asked quietly as I released his father.
Presently, we had one ally and one member of our family supportive—we needed no more, though I longed for the others to warm to our decision.
“Yes, let’s meet at noon in Helos,” Emmerick said. I felt his uncertainty—he didn’t want to put us in danger. “After I speak with your aunt and after you tell your parents the plan. No more secret excursions.”
We said farewell and closed the door behind us, leaving him alone with the quiet reflection that the halls of Lamoreaux offered.
Chapter 56
Emmerick
How could Elsedora see what grew between us and still walk away?
The easiest choice tempted me: retreat to Helos.
There, I could pretend I didn’t know Elsedora had been out all night with Sources-know-who, and doing things that made me grind my teeth. Before leaving Helos, I’d stood in the shower until the coal-heated water ran cold, thinking about what to say to her.
I’d planned to arrive, whisk her off to that bed upstairs, and hold her there until she’d sobered up. I’d thought surely she’d have made it home.
Instead, she so willingly and easily spent the night with another. My own damned fault for trusting a wildflower to want to root herself to me and not wander.
Krait’s words hung heavy at the front of my mind.“She is worthy of someone fighting for her.”
And when she returned, we’d fight.
Despite my aversion to squabbling, I’d make her understand how her actions hurt me. It would end one of two ways: She could admit her error, or she could push me away once more.
If she wouldn’t stay my advisor, I could understand. But I grew exhausted with denying that I wanted so much more. We’d reach a conclusion. It might break my heart, but I had to know where this led.
