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“Also rigged,” he said. Air crystals hidden between the rows of bottles would blow any ring close enough to winning off course. “You know, you two are more than welcome to go do your own thing. I don’t need babysitting.”

“See, that’s where you’re wrong.” Skye reached up to tap the bottom of a lantern as they passed underneath. A pulse of his aether set it flickering. “The moment we look away, you’re goingto sneak off to the healing camp. Never mind that you already worked the last two shifts.”

That… had been his plan, actually. Not that he didn’t need a night off, but—

Aiden bit back a growl when someone clipped his shoulder, not even bothering to apologize. “There are better ways I could be using my time.”

Taly craned her head to watch as a man with a pet harpy[v] perched on his shoulder ambled by. “Aiden, we’re worried about you.” Skye nodded grimly. “If you don’t occasionally remove that stick from your ass, it will become permanent.”

Aiden resisted the urge to roll his eyes. “Funny.”

“She has her moments,” Skye murmured, kissing her hair, and Aiden barely resisted the urge to vomit.

Not that he wasn’t happy for them—he was. They’d loved each other for as long as he’d known them, and after so many years of denying that love, they deserved every bit of joy they could find. But he was also tired of finding them in closets, tired of the long looks and subtle touches and every other silent way they found to say,I love you. It was sickening. Sappy and uncomfortable, and would it really kill them to have slightly more consideration for those less lucky in love?

“What about that one?” Taly said, pointing to a booth with a long row of targets.

“Nope. I’m vetoing that one,” Skye said. “It’s no fun competing against you at the archery range.”

“This is about prizes, not fun.”

“No. This is about getting Aiden to experience that ever-elusive thing calledjoy.” Skye shot him a glance over Taly’s head. “Seriously, have you tried smiling?”

Aiden smiled.

“Now maybe less like you’re in pain?”

Aiden took a deep breath. “I—”

“Hey, is that Mina?”

Aiden looked to where Taly pointed.

Shit.

He jumped behind them.

Shit, shit, shit.

“Hey, itisMina,” Taly said and waved. “Hey, Mi—”

Aiden snatched her hand back down.

“Oh, yeah, that’s right. You two are still fighting. Sorry, I forgot.”

No, she hadn’t.

Skye said, “Would someone please explain why Aiden looks like he’s about to pass out?”

“That’s Mina,” Taly answered, popping another puff of sugar floss into her mouth.

“And who’s Mina?”

“She’s the person we don’t talk about ever since he royally fucked up.”

He hadn’t… okay maybe he had.

Maybe—key word—Aiden had let exhaustion and stress get the better of him. Maybe he’d gone looking for that fight.