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They lounged in her bed that night, freshly washed and warm under her blankets. His arms wrapped around her, the desire to have her close overwhelming. The members of the court that could be trusted took over the clean-up transition, Lord Cofsi being of great help. There stood much to fix. Much to clean. Much to assist with. And Mara and Evrardin would do their part, but not until tomorrow.

Her eyes were heavy as she clung back to him, her head resting on his chest. “What did Acastus mean when he said you two were once friends?”

Evrardin stared at the ceiling, his hand instinctively rubbing against her exposed shoulder. “Just as he said.”

She tilted her chin, narrowing her eyes.

He sighed. “We were friends before all this. Grew up together. I became captain and we drifted a bit, but he was always there. I had no other family. No one else besides the Genoivres and Crowrot.” He cleared his throat. “Cas went down a path I could not follow. It corrupted him for years.”

She absorbed what he said, likely trying to process how Cas could place a subservient curse on his friend. How dark magick could break someone so intently that he’d betray the person closest to him in life. “Is it bad that I felt like forgiving him in the cathedral? That I wanted him to live?”

He shook his head against the pillow. “No, liten rev . I may have once thought you naive and petulant, but you’re far more than that. You’re caring. And you see the good in people. Something I can’t do myself.”

Her hand found his and he interlaced their fingers, his heart never steadying as he held her close. This feeling was new to him, something he was still learning not to be bashful over.

“Aevum is to be king,” she mused quietly.

He hummed in acknowledgment.

“What is to come of you?”

He sighed. “I don’t really want to think about it.”

She squeezed his hand. “Ev,” she scolded. “I must know. Please.” He looked down, her sudden pleading concerning him. “Are you to be with me? Or is this just one of your escapes….” She couldn’t finish the sentence.

His eyes darkened, rolling her onto her back, his body pressed to hers, his arms holding himself up on either side of her head. She gulped. “That is not what I mean when I say I wish not to discuss it right now. Do not be mistaken, I am to be yours, Princess. If you’ll have me.”

She looked like she was about to burst into a fit of giggles, but instead, she just smiled, and a tiny, strangled sob made her choke. “You look so angry before you say such romantic things,” she hiccupped. “Yes. I want you. I want to be yours, too.” Her chest and cheeks began to pink and Evrardin smirked in amusement.

“Then we shall not worry about the in-between. Where you go, I go.”

“So you’ll come with me if I leave for Wrens Reach? To return to my father and brother? I’m sure they’re worried sick, not having any correspondence.”

He fell back beside her. “If you’ll have me, yes. I don’t think I’m keen on staying in Kairth for a while. Too many poor memories.” Images of the day flickered in his mind. All the years he spent bound to the prince, killing and hauling bodies. The execution of his friend.

“Yes. But also so many good ones.”

“I suppose you’re right.”

Mara sat up and adjusted her nightgown, her stomach growling.

“But all I have to do is look at you to be reminded. I don’t need these godforsaken walls for that.”

He mirrored her, sitting, his shirt gone, but his washed trousers loose on his waist.

“You’re quite romantic, you know that?” she teased.

He reached for her and scooped her into his arms. “Don’t remind me,” he mumbled. She held onto the back of his neck as he strolled across the room. “Grab that,” he commanded as he stood before her wardrobe, one of her dress cloaks on display. She did as she was told but looked at him confused. “I’m taking you to eat and I can’t have anyone seeing you like this.” Just the reminder that Acastus had once seen her in her sheer nightgown all those nights ago stirred his chest with jealousy.

She wrapped the fabric around her, and he readjusted his hold. “And I’m supposed to be okay with people seeing you like that?” she asked, referring to his exposed chest. The faint scars were something she was sure to inquire about with time, wanting to know every little detail about his prior life, and he wanted to let her.

He stopped moving. “Would you like me to put a shirt on, Princess?” He almost seemed astonished. He didn’t think he’d ever had someone jealous over him before.

She nodded timidly, her face heating at the confession.

“Cute.” He placed a delicate kiss on her forehead before settling her beside him. She donned her cloak and Evrardin grabbed the shirt one of the handmaidens had left for him.

He stuck out his hand expectantly and Mara interlaced their fingers, letting him lead her down the decrepit, but no longer shadowed, halls.

Everything was so messy. The confusion on Acastus’ council. Who was to lead? Where to go from here? But all he knew was that he was to be at Mara’s side. The rest they could figure out later.

THE END