I wanted to be a sword for Tirnanog. For my people, for those I loved. But the conviction I longed for would not blossom when I recalled what my people had done.
If only the world were so black and white.
True Paragons stood before death and faced it without fear. They tended to the wounded even when they themselves bled.
I had yet to accomplish anything. Yet to earn their title.
Whatever path I chose, whoever I became . . . choices for another day.
For now, I’d hide myself beneath a mask and train under Reese until I could be the sword this world needed.
Why had Cierthine chosen me?
Releasing a shaky breath, I leaned back against the tree. Caressed by the cooling balm, the fire burning on my hand slowly faded.
“Mare?”
Reese’s voice startled me. I snapped my eyes open, wondering if I’d fallen asleep.
Beads of sweat ran down his face, and his hair was damp. His black shirt clung to his skin.
“How many died?” I asked.
“Agendra’s taking a count.” He sat beside me and pulled the cloth off my hand to check my burn.
“I suppose,” I said quietly. “The Lecovair will be hesitant to attend your grand wedding.”
He sighed. “This is my father’s doing. I’ve already turned down Siobhan once.”
“You turned down the queen?”
“She’s so young,” he said, meeting my eyes. “Younger still, when she married the last Emperor, when we first met. Fifteen! How would I be any different from them?”
Queen Siobhan’s face had been round with youth, her voice filled with naiveté. She had married as a child and been widowed as one, too.
A crack splintered through my heart. Damn all the saints. Why did Reese have to be perfect?
Why couldn’t he misstep? Give cause for my heart to grow cold?
Why did everything he did make me want him more?
Someone with such a pure soul would turn on Forlaith—they would.
But I’d only have one chance to tell him the truth. Choose the wrong moment, and I’d doom more than myself.
I bit my lip. Vaf had promised me we would always stand on opposite sides, that I would never know the safety of love.
Reese caressed my cheek, eyebrows furrowed in worry. He didn’t ask if I was okay—he knew the answer.
I tried to ignore the tingling warmth on my skin. “We should pretend the night of the ball never happened. It’s for the best.”
“You can pretend—but I won’t.”
“You’re engaged.”
“Not to the woman I love.” His hand shifted to hold my neck. “I have to stay away from you, to keep you safe—but I won’t forget.”
Reese gently kissed my forehead, then pulled back, dropping his hand.
