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Liam's eyes widened briefly.

"Now," I said, chest aching. "If you don't mind, I'd like to walk in silence for a while."

We caught up to Tye, then walked in silence until the land began to turn from forest to red rock.

"Let's stop for water." Tye gestured to a small stream to our right. "The rest of the way is mostly stone and brush. This might be the last water before —"

Before we met with Frexin. Those were the words he didn't say. But I heard them nonetheless.

Nodding, Liam and I pulled out our flasks and refilled them with the fast-running water. At least we'd be hydrated when we were punished …

Tye wandered off down the stream, searching for gods knew what.

"Mind if I ask you a question?" Liam asked, voicebarely a whisper — audible only to me over the babble of the stream.

I looked at him, brow cocked. My temper had cooled, but his poking at my history with Lynk still stung. "Do I really have a choice?"

He just grinned. "That attendant told Lady Valtru something that saved me. Hypothetically," he continued, glancing warily in Tye's direction, "What do you think he could have said to get Lady Valtru to ruin the deal for a — agemlike me?"

My cheeks heated, and I shrugged. "Likely just something dumb. It doesn't matter, does it, if it got you free from that place?"

"I know. I know … you had nothing to do with it," he rushed to say. "I'm just saying, what do you thinkmighthave been said?"

He grinned over at me, the smile wide enough that his damn dimple showed, and I looked down at my water.

Gods —it was so much harder to ignore him when he acted like his old self … and I really shouldn't have told the attendant that lie. Liam probably deserved to know. Especially if it came back later to haunt his love life.

I took a sip of water and made sure Tye was still far enough away before turning to face Liam.

"I'm guessing he just … might have reminded Lady Valtru of your bond to the cursed dragons," I whispered.

His brows drew together, and he took a sip. "Okay.Perhaps. But everyone knows that. Why —hypothetically— would that freak out Lady Valtru?"

I looked away, wincing and wishing I could be anywhere but there. "Well," I forced the words out. "Maybe he also said something about how the stone sickness was passing to the dragon rider clan mages, as well."

His eyes widened. "And that was enough?"

Cheeks burning, I rushed to finish.

"He alsomighthave hinted that the sickness affected reproductive organs first … and that maybe …itwascontagious." I closed my eyes tightly, anticipating his reaction.

"What — I — but that's not remotely true!" he said, voice higher than normal.

I nodded, looking anywhere but at him.

"So," he said, voice oddly tight. "You — I meanhe— told my ex-fiancé that I had a contagious stone disease on my dick?"

"Yes." I winced, preparing myself for the coming, well-deserved scolding I was about to receive.

He let out one chuckle. Then another. And then a deep, rolling laugh.

I looked over in shock to see those green eyes sparkling in the moonlight, and a wide grin splitting his bruised face.

"Gods," he said, between laughs. "I never thought I'd be grateful to someone for spreading rumors about me having a terrible sexually transmitted disease … but I thought I was a goner in there." He wiped the tears from his eyes and directed his suddenly serious gaze at me. "You know … if the crazy attendant were here, I would thank him. He quite literally saved my life today."

I nodded, throat suddenly tight.

Liam's expression softened, and he leaned closer. "Kaiya — I know you're trying to be good and obey Frexin, but are you sure that's the best option? What if instead you —"