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“So why did you not?”

Crossing his arms, much like Marek might, Rowan waited for me to work out that answer myself. Instead of acknowledging that he chose to remain here, locked away, in order to be with me, I flung an accusation instead.

“You’ve been too often with Marek, I think.”

He laughed and uncrossed his arms. “You may be right. I broke my fast with him.”

“You did?”

Rowan nodded. “He came here, looking for you. I told him you’d sent me a meal and failed to retrieve me this morn. Which pleased me very little, given what occurred last eve.”

Twisting my fingers, I dropped a silencing mist.

“Did you tell Marek?”

Rowan waved a hand through the air, collecting a bit of its moisture. “I did. He left to find Caelum and apprise him of the situation. We also spoke about the possibility of you staying with Aneri until the festival.”

When the topic arose at her house, I had dismissed it, wishing to remain here in order to learn as much as possible of her intentions. “If we both leave now?—”

“You should go. I will remain, to listen and observe.”

I shook my head. “You will be given a new escort.”

“Perhaps one that will reveal something to me. I like it not, you sleeping under the same roof as the queen.”

Caelum and Marek had said the same, and though I didn’t disagree, the thought of being separated from Rowan, even given what he said at The Moonlit Current…

He was beside me before I could respond. Rowan was like that, able to move like a shadow. Sometimes, I swore he must be part Aetherian. One finger lifted up my chin.

“You have a duty to Thalassaria, one I fear may be in jeopardy if you are to remain here. I don’t trust the queen and am not free to help defend you. Take Marek up on his offer and go to Aneri’s with him. It will be safer.”

There was simply no other way to say it.

“I will miss you.”

Rowan leaned in, kissing my lips so very softly. Reverently.

“I will miss you too.”

I thought of another reason to stay. “I don’t know who they will assign to you. It will likely be one of the queen’s spies. Without protection, you?—”

“I will be fine, Nerys. She will not have me murdered, if for no other reason than doing so would start a war with Aetheria.”

“She could claim it an accident.”

“Against which I’ve made safeguards. Ones in place before I stepped foot in the palace.”

“But… you did not know she was a threat then? Even now, I do not believe the queen capable of murder.”

Was Rowan even aware that, as he spoke, he’d taken both my hands in his and was rubbing his thumbs in circles along my palms?

“Nay? It was you who told me of Caelum. Surely, he is not the only one the queen thought to sacrifice for the greater good of Thalassaria.”

He was right, of course. I just refused to believe someone capable of such a thing.

“If she sends a spy, even better.” Rowan’s eyes, now full of mischief, held my own. “I know something of spies and how they operate.”

My mouth fell open. “You do? Who do you spy for?”