Only when Killian had finished with the reports, and joined Loran where he leaned against the table, arms crossed over his chest, did the lieutenant ask in a low voice, “Why did you never tell me you had a brother?”
Killian had been expecting the question.
“It wasn’t a secret,” said Killian. “It just never came up. You never asked.”
“I never knew to ask.”
“You think you’re entitled to my life story?”
“Am I not?” Loran challenged. “We may not be true lovers, Killian, but I thought we were friends at least.”
“We are.”
“Then why didn’t I know? Why don’t I knowanythingabout you?”
“That’s not true. You know me. Just because you don’t know what my life was likebefore, doesn’t mean you don’t know menow. It’s—” Killian searched for the words. He didn’t like the open hurt that shone in Loran’s eyes. He bumped their shoulders together and leaned close. “It wasn’t pretty. I don’t like to think about it. I don’t like to talk about it.”
“It was that bad?”
“Yes. It—”
Their bubble of conversation burst as the others began to shuffle out of the keep, the time for lingering ran out.
Kade stood where Killian had left him. There was a storm brewing on his face. He glared, his eyes pinging back and forth between Killian and Loran, angry and assessing.
“We’ll finish this later,” promised Killian. “But know it’s not a lack of trust. It was never a lack of trust.”
Loran pursed his lips. Nodded, and then he too was gone.
Kade’s face seemed to scrunch more and more, as if he were sucking on a lemon.
Confused at the sudden shift in Kade’s mood, Killian rocked back on his heels. “We can try the city now. I’m sure we’ll find you a master in no time.”
Strangely, that was the wrong thing to say.
Kade sniffed haughtily and turned away. Then, he declared, “I need an audience with the king. Today.”
Bile burned at the back of Kade’s throat at the thought of what he was about to do. Who he was about to see. He twisted his hands in his robes to keep them from trembling.
Gods, he was going to throw up.
Killi stood at his shoulder, tall and strong and sturdy beside him, not a hint of nerves marring his face. A reassuring warmth in the face of a daunting, horrible, awful task.
When Kade had made the decision to leave the only life he’d ever known behind and chase after Killi, he hadn’t known what to expect; from Ingara, from the palace, from the king.
The farthest he’d ever gone from Turell was the neighboringprovince to deliver shipments of specialty wines. He’d been shocked at how different it was from home. Compared to that, Ingara—the palace—felt unreal, like something out of a legend.
Terrifying and unknown.
Wondrous and full of opportunity.
And Killi, he…fit. Navigating the halls with ease, the Guard and palace staff nodding their respect as they passed. He belonged, Kade could see that now.
Kade wanted to belong too, if only by Killi’s side. He wouldn’t go to the city. He wouldn’t let them be separated again. He wouldn’t let anyone else come between them. He’d do anything to stay, to keep this, to keep Killi, even if it meant appealing to the elf that ruined his life.
He could do that.
“You don’t have to do this,” Killi said for about the millionth time since Kade had demanded this audience the day before. “There are plenty of prestigious masters in the city. It doesn’t have to be Hokda.”
