His body instantly felt overheated again. He slipped further, searching for a safe footing in the darkness before he let go of the window frame.
He needed to memorize this route so that he could navigate it easily with the princess by his side in the event they needed to rapidly escape.
The princess. Meena.
He wanted to feel guilt for walking away from her conversation, but she didn’t understand. She couldn’t understand. He wanted to talk her to, but he could not burden her with his worries. She had never experienced what it was like to live on Istroya. To lose someone you loved. To feel the betrayal of attachment.
Yes, they had proven to be helpful to each other thus far. And his mind was already including her in his constantly prepared escape routes. She was someone he would take care of. She was like his family now. But that did not mean he could love her.
He felt a solid stone ledge beneath his feet.
Just before he dropped his hands from the ledge, he thought he heard her whisper.
“You don’t have to carry it alone.”
It was likely just his imagination.
Chapter 23
“You must have your union dedicated by a Sophist,” Jules insisted. He and Ezra had once again pounced on them the moment they showed their faces the following morning.
“Union?” Meena asked.
“Sophist?” Sol said at the same time.
“A wise woman. Her name also happens to be Sophie,” Ezra explained.
“Why don’t they just call her Sophie the Wise?” Meena asked.
“Oh, you’ve heard of her, then?” Jules jumped in.
“No, it’s just that her name seems complicated—”
“Her name isn’t important,” Jules spoke over her.
Meena glanced up at Sol, raising her eyebrows. They had not yet seen their host lose his temper.
Sol shrugged, but a small smile played on his lips.
Meena relaxed, turning her attention back to Jules, who was still speaking. Even if she and Sol were at odds, they could still laugh over the same things.
“Every union in Falqri is dedicated by her. It’s a must-have experience.” Jules smiled benevolently.
Meena had little desire to spend the morning focusing on her supposedly real marriage, but Jules’s benevolent smile made it clear he would not be refused. “Did you have your marriage dedicated by this Sophist?”
“Of course.” Jules took Ezra’s hand, gazing at her fondly. “And see how it worked for us. Two people have never been so happy.”
Meena bit her upper lip for a moment. The adoration on Jules’s face made her chest inflate with jealousy. “And remind me how long have you been married again?” she asked, her voice a little sharp. She knew the answer, but wanted them to say it out loud.
“Three perfect months.” Jules’s eyes were still on his wife.
Ezra rolled her eyes, but she didn’t pull her hand from his.
Neither seemed to notice the irony that Meena had pointed out. Their devotion clearly stemmed from their newfound infatuation with each other. She glanced at Sol again.
“Three months is a significant length of time.” Sol’s face was serious, but his loud whisper was clearly meant to be heard by everyone within earshot.
“To Sophie’s it is.” Jules turned back to them.
