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“And because you’re a pompous ass!”

A knock at the door shattered the charged silence, and for a moment, neither of us moved. We stayed locked in our silent battle of wills until I finally turned and went to open the door.

Elaina stood there, her eyes downcast. When she looked up, her gaze flicked to Clay, then back to me. “I’m done,” she said. “Camilla will need rest, but she should be fine.”

Relief washed over me, and I exhaled a shaky breath. “Thank you. ”

Elaina’s lips lifted in a faint, fleeting smile, and she held up her bloodied hands. “Is there somewhere I could wash up?”

Clay’s presence loomed behind me, his heat radiating as he brushed past us both, muttering something about needing to fly to clear his head.

Elaina and I watched his figure disappear down the hall, his steps heavy and unyielding.

The sound of them eventually faded down the hall, but the weight of his words stayed.

He was furious with me but beneath the anger, there was something else - a fear I couldn’t quite name.

“Of course,” I said to her, my voice quieter now. “Follow me.”

“ T he manor doesn’t currently have any staff,” I explained, setting the pail of water down in front of Elaina in the washroom. I pulled fresh washing cloths from a nearby closet, setting them beside her. “Emeryn told me I could hire some, but honestly, I prefer the solitude.”

Elaina raised an eyebrow as she glanced up at me. “I suppose that’s not surprising.”

She had a measured tone, but there was something unspoken in the way she watched me.

I turned away, busying myself with tidying the space as she stripped off her soiled clothing and began scrubbing the dried blood from her hands and arms. The sound of water sloshing against the basin filled the silence.

“What do you mean by that?” I asked, finally breaking the quiet.

She met my eyes briefly before returning to her task. “I know they kept you under careful guard during your first months in Athenia. If I’d spent that long being constantly watched, I think I’d savor every moment of privacy I could get.”

Her words hung in the air, the truth of them cutting sharper than I’d expected. I busied myself with pulling together some extra clothes—a simple skirt and long-sleeved tunic—and handed them to her. She accepted them with a small, appreciative smile that felt almost too kind.

“Aren’t you carefully watched in your own kingdom?” I asked, trying to shift the focus away from myself. After all, she was high-born enough to be engaged to the future King of Athenia.

Elaina shrugged lightly. “I spent most of my childhood away, studying in private academies. Later, I trained with the healers. They treated me like any other acolyte—no guards, no special treatment. It was freeing, in a way.”

Her words surprised me. I’d assumed her life would have mirrored mine—structured, scrutinized, suffocating. Instead, there was a quiet strength in her tone, one that hinted at a life lived on her own terms.

I stayed silent as she finished washing, her movements methodical, and glanced around the room.

It wasn’t grand like my suite at Hyrax Hall, but it was functional: a copper tub in one corner, shelves of cleaning serums and cloths, and a large window overlooking the ocean.

The morning fog blurred the horizon, muting the world in a gray haze.

Faintly, I could make out the shape of two massive golden wings cutting through the mist.

“He’ll be back soon,” Elaina murmured, her voice soft but certain.

When I turned, I found her watching me, now dressed in the borrowed clothes. A playful smile tugged at her lips as she dried her hands. “He can’t stand to be away from you for long. He practically worries himself into a frenzy.”

I froze, her words catching me off guard. My chest tightened, unease coiling low in my stomach. This was not the conversation I had expected, nor one I was prepared for. “I’m sorry—”

“Don’t be,” she interrupted, raising a hand to stop me. Her tone was gentle, but there was a firmness in her gaze as she gestured toward the adjoining bedroom. Reluctantly, I followed her, settling onto the chaise she indicated. It felt strange, like this was her space and not mine.

“This isn’t exactly how I imagined I’d finally get a private moment with you,” she said, folding her hands neatly in her lap. Her voice was light, almost teasing, but there was an undercurrent of seriousness that set me on edge. “But I’ve been hoping to have a conversation with you for some time.”

My pulse quickened as I swallowed hard, her words stirring a mix of anxiety and curiosity. Elaina laughed softly, clearly picking up on my unease. She reached out, taking my hands in hers, and gave them a reassuring squeeze.

“I’m sure Clay has told you that our relationship is one of friendship and nothing more,” she began gently.

I chewed my lip, unsure how to respond. “And how do you feel about that?”

Elaina chuckled, her eyes glinting with amusement. “Oh, my dear, I am no scorned lover. Trust me.”

“But he is to be your husband,” I pressed, my voice hesitant.

“A fact neither of us had much say in,” she said simply.

She looked toward the window, where we could see the faint silhouette of the Dragon circling closer to the manor.

“Theadora, I want you to know that I hold no ill will toward either of you for your feelings. Quite the opposite, in fact. I’ve known Clay since we were children, and I’ve never seen him so devoted to anyone. ”

Her words struck something raw in me. I pulled my hands from hers and stood, putting distance between us. “It doesn’t matter,” I said, my voice breaking as tears stung my eyes. “It can’t matter.”

“Doesn’t it?” she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper .

I pivoted to face her. “How could it?”

Elaina rose slowly, her movements deliberate.

Her gaze softened as she approached me. “Theadora, what you’ve done tonight changes everything.

” She reached for my hands again, her touch grounding.

“You and Clay have both endured more than anyone should, and the depth of your feelings for one another is painfully obvious to anyone with eyes. Why not allow yourselves a chance at happiness? Don’t you want that? ”

Gods, I wanted it. I wanted that happiness more than I wanted my next breath.

Tears slipped down my face, and my voice cracked as I whispered, “How can you say this to me?”

Elaina’s laugh was warm, almost amused. “As much as Clayton Vail may seem irresistible to you, he’s far from my type.”

I blinked, the words taking a moment to register. “What?”

She smiled, her expression wry. “I prefer my lovers a bit more… feminine.”

Oh. Oh.

The realization settled over me, easing some of the weight pressing on my chest. “Why wouldn’t Clay just tell me that?”

Her smile turned knowing. “It’s not as accepted in my kingdom as it is here in Athenia. I imagine he wanted to give me the respect of sharing that information myself.”

Before I could respond, a heavy boom shook the air—the unmistakable sound of a beast landing outside. We both startled, turning toward the window as the Dragon’s shadow loomed closer. The tension between us shifted as we turned back to face each other.

“He’s here,” she said simply. Her voice was steady, but there was a quiet finality to her words. “I'd give him some time to brood. He'll come to you when he's ready. In the meantime, I can raid your cuppards and make everyone something to eat? ”

My smile was small, but genuine. "That would be very kind."

With a gentle squeeze, she released my hands and started toward the door, but I called after her before she could leave.

“Elaina!”

She paused, glancing back with a raised brow.

“I’m sorry I hated you for so long. You’re actually… really great.”

Her smile widened, her laughter soft and warm. “Of course I am. Great people are often the most hateable.”

With that, she slipped out of the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts. For the first time in what felt like forever, a small, tentative smile pulled at my lips as I waited for Clay to arrive.