“He stopped when you made him a better deal.”
I glared back at him. “He got nothing out of that deal. I was the most inconvenient thing he had to deal with for months.”
“And yet, here you are, ready to rush back to save him.”
“I rushed here to save you.”
He set the spoon down. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
I took a slow breath. I came here out of love. I needed to remember that. He needed to realize it. I reached across the table again and took his hand. “I know the last few months have been hard.”
“I’ve spent the whole time trying to save you.”
“I know. And I’m so sorry I didn’t realize it.” I let a smirk steal across my face. “I told you to leave. I should have realized you’d ignore me.”
He chuckled. “I’m nothing if not predictable.”
My smirk faded. “I might not be the most helpful sister, but I’ve never liedto you.”
“I know.”
“When Guyan told us that you would be at the border, ready to open it for me, Aedan wanted to bring me back. It was that simple. He does not deserve to die at Guyan’s hand. It would be the cruelest betrayal.”
He stared at me, held my hand, and stared longer. After a minute, he sighed and let go of my hand. “What do you think he’ll do to you if I go with you?”
I shook my head. “Nothing.”
He raised his brows in a skeptical expression.
“Really. I’m so sure of it.”
He sighed again. “Fine. But I’m going to eat my soup first.”
Really? After all that arguing he was just going to agree? “Does that mean you’ll help me?”
“Yes. You should eat too. It’s been a long day.”
I picked up my spoon. I would not complain about that. “Thank you.”
He rolled his eyes. “I suppose I asked for it by going into Hemlit in the first place… and leaving a trail of magic I knew you’d follow.”
I chuckled and swallowed a bite of soup. “I never would have guessed that following you would have led me on the journey of a lifetime.”
“Really. The journey of a lifetime? See, I spent most of my time doing odd chores for elves and pacing along an invisible wall of magic.”
I grinned, my own anticipation mounting fast. “I cannot wait to take you back to Sirun and introduce you to people properly.”
Chapter 32: Aedan
Guyan met me in a corridor minutes after sunset when I strode inside the castle. “Aedan!”
“Guyan.” Why was he hiding in a hall? “What are you up to?”
“I was looking for you. I couldn’t find you earlier, so I took the liberty of arranging for another party tonight. Do you mind?”
I raised a brow. I’d never said no to my cousin, but— “Why do we need two parties in a row?”
“There were a lot of people who wanted to come in last night and celebrate me getting through the barrier, but they didn’t have time. We’ve been getting visitors from the nearby towns all day—people wonder if we’re finally going to get outside of the barrier. We might not have the answers they want yet, but I think it would be good for them to see their king alive and well, despite the curse persisting for so many years.”
