"I am . . . " I said, voice hollow and dry. "A perfectly respectable lady. But sometimes . . . "
My lips quivered. My knees gave out. They hit the road sharply, fresh pain ringing through my bones.
It had been years since I cried. When Liam came into our little family, I'd sworn off tears. I'd held them back for my little brother, the frightened child so often troubled by nightmares, for the father who looked at me like the last treasure he possessed.
For the world that saw a poor girl who'd lost her claim to wealth and titles. A thing to be pitied.
Tears erupted from me in great, ugly bouts. They poured down my face. I sniffled and choked on mucus. It was the worst, most pathetic I'd ever looked—a display to match the truth inside.
Reese knelt in front of me and wrapped his arms around me, oh so gently. He pulled me to his chest, enveloping me in warmth. Tucking my head under his chin, he pressed a hand to the back of my head and held me tightly.
"I know," he breathed, voice full of sorrow.
I felt the depth of pain in his words. He'd been a Paragon for years. How much death and loss had he seen?
How much would I, given time?
This aching agony would follow me through it all. Through the night. Into tomorrow. Even on the triumphant day I fulfilled my lifelong wish and breached the storms concealing Tirnanog.
Only to find my people's bones.
Chapter 33
Mare
Back when I aspired to become Aenir's princess, being carried through the streets by a Paragon would have been fantastic for my image.
The ladies would all gossip, tinged green with envy. The men would have fawned over me like a poor, wounded doe.
Now? Iwasthe Paragon. Having my mentor carry me through the streets like a princess rescued from the villain was awful for my image. I looked incompetent. Weak.
Strangely, I didn't much care. The people of Muirashi would have never accepted me, anyway.
Fresh pain raked through my side as Reese lifted me onto his horse's saddle. "You'll be riding Lady for the time being."
"You named your horse Lady?" I asked groggily.
"Do you hate it as much as you hate my cat's name?"
"No. I just realized it's never come up."
I'd never given my elk a name. Now, he was gone.
My elk had soft eyes and a gentle temperament like the dragons with butterfly-patterned wings. A note of grief tugged at my heart.
Taking the reins, Reese guided the white mare named Lady down the street.
"Where are we going?" I asked.
"To Aenir," he called back.
"We're leaving?"
"The governor just tried to kill you, Mare. There'll be a line of assassins eager to finish the job."
"What about Diar?"
"She wanted to handle this herself. I would never force another Paragon's hand." He sighed. "Even though I wanted to."
