Page 66 of To Kill a King
She stepped out of his grip. “Twice.” Telling him about her bruised wrist from the first dream wouldn’t accomplish anything except upsetting him further.
“Valek.” He covered his eyes before dragging his hand down his face.
“I’m sorry. I should have told you. But I didn’t want to…” She swallowed. Seem like a whiny baby who can’t handle her own problems? Make him panic about something he couldn’t control? “... worry you.”
He tilted his head to the ceiling and sighed. Taking a few deep breaths, he turned to her. “Please, Aliya. Worry me. I can’t help you if I don’t know what we’re facing.”
“I know.” She stared at the ground and traced a circular pattern in the grass with her foot. “It’s just that you’ve done so much already. I’m afraid to drag you down with more.” Meeting his gaze, she rested her hand on his bicep. The warmth of his skin radiated into her and something in her core settled. “I would never forgive myself if you got hurt because of me.”
He glanced at her hand on his arm, covering it with his as the silence lingered between them. “I’ll protect you as long as you need protecting. Regardless of the cost.” He winked and smiled, lightening the mood. “Besides, I’m not so easy to kill.” His focus drifted to her lips.
Someone cleared their throat behind them.
They both took an involuntary step backward.
Lindir stood in the doorway, a platter of food in his hands. His face flushed. “I, um, thought you might want some lunch. Then, I’d be happy to show you around. If you want?” With a clatter, he set the tray on one of the “tables” growing out from the wall. He frowned at Elessan. “Assuming I’m not interrupting anything?”
Aliya swallowed to keep from drooling. A personal tour? Yes, please. She eyed Elessan.
He waved at her. “Go ahead, you may as well enjoy the sights. But eat something before you leave.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to come along?”
He glanced at Lindir and shook his head. “No, thank you. I have some things I need to attend to here.”
She raised her eyebrow. What could he possibly have to do in a city where he wouldn’t be allowed if not for her?
He turned his back to them, heading for the second cubby.
Well, if that was how he was going to be, then fine. With a shrug, she walked to Lindir and his food tray. More of the starfruit and fizzleberries from earlier tempted her. “What’s this,” she asked, pointing at a red-skinned orb with green scales.
“Dragon fruit,” he said.
Taking the scaly globe, she snagged a fistful of the other items and followed him out of the room.
The sun warmed her back, just enough to be pleasant without her needing to worry about overheating. A cool breeze that smelled of petrichor tickled the tiny hairs on her arms and tugged at her hair.
He turned left. The white-tiled path drifted downhill, weaving around colossal trees whose leaves scattered dappled shade across the road.
“Where are we going?”
“I thought we might start at the gardens in the Glade of Shadows.” He peeked at her and glanced away as a flush crept across his cheeks. “Lady Brightleaf says you’re not an elf?”
She shook her head as he studied the pointed tips of her ears.
“Then you’ve never been to an elven settlement before? They’re quite stunning.”
A flash of guilt cut through her chest. “I’m sorry I lied to you. Zadé said if I didn’t look like an elf, I wouldn’t be allowed into Filathas.”
The edges of Lindir’s mouth tightened. “She was right. But now you’re here, and my aunt pulled some strings so you can stay as long as you need to train.”
“Lady Brightleaf’s your aunt?”
He nodded.
“That would make Zadé your cousin?”
He swallowed and focused to his left. “Technically, second cousins. We don’t like to talk about her.”