Page 37 of Under the Lion Star

If Prince Orin was still in there somewhere, there had to be a way to coax him back out. I imagined what we would have done if one of my sisters found herself in a similar state. Likely, we would have walked on eggshells in her presence, always offering a gentle tone to assure her that she wasn’t alone.

That gave me an idea. Something different to try.

“Honestly, Orin,” I said with a sigh. “Even if you ignore me, you’re still a preferable conversation partner than your asshole brother.”

That did it. While his body remained still, his eyes shifted to mine. If there was one thing my sisters and I loved to do, it was talking shit about one another. Lovingly, of course, but fun all the same.

His head moved to follow his gaze until he was facing me. I did my best not to shudder under the sensation of his stare. While Leor’s eyes carried a dark stain that betrayed some inner demon he was grappling with, Orin’s held nothing. They reminded me of my mom’s eyes after she had died. Empty. Void.

The prince had the same ice-blue stare as his siblings, but there was no light. No pain. Just nothingness.

“I’m rather mad at Leor,” I continued, trying to appear comfortable in his presence. “You know he told me his name was El and befriended me for several weeks?”

Orin didn’t move but kept watching me. At least it was something. Perhaps he would speak to defend his brother. It was one thing to talk trash about your own siblings, but if anyone else were to try, we were quick to jump to their defense.

“He helped me paint my grandma’s house, took me out to dinner, all of that, and never once thought to mention, ‘Oh, by the way, I’m the fucking king.’ Honestly. Who does that?”

The prince’s eyes remained on mine for a few beats. Blood rushed through my ears as my skin prickled. He shifted, looking down at the plate of food before his eyes met mine again.

“Sanna wanted me to bring that to you,” I explained, tipping my chin toward the meal. “She said you’re always filling her plate and ensuring she eats. I do the same with my sisters. Not my cooking, mind you. That would be reserved for someone I didn’t like.”

Orin looked down at the plate, taking hold of a lavender-lemon cookie and snapping it in half. He held one piece out to me.

I opened my mouth to thank him as I reached for the offering but froze in place when the door flew open. Leor stood, studying the scene, as I plucked the cookie from Orin’s hand and took a bite. The king’s eyes met mine, and he seemed angry, immediately setting me on edge. If it weren’t for his brother’s presence, I would have thrown something at him.

Leor shifted his attention to Orin, who was now staring at his brother with the same detached focus he’d used on me.

“Or–,” Leor’s voice cut off with a harsh swallow. “Hey, buddy.”

With a swiftness that even I had to admit was impressive, Leor was crouched next to his brother, their eyes fixed on one another. While Orin’s face was still void of emotion, Leor’s eyes had misted over, and his chin trembled slightly as he gave a weak smile.

“It’s me,” Leor whispered. “You see me?”

Orin didn’t acknowledge his brother’s question but broke off another piece of the cookie and held it out to Leor.

With a muffled sob, he took the offering, popping it in his mouth and smiling at his brother.

“Thanks,” his voice was barely audible. “I haven’t had time to eat yet.”

I suddenly felt that I was intruding on a very intimate moment between siblings and wondered if I should leave or if my movement would break the spell they seemed to be under.

Leor pressed his forehead to Orin’s, cupping his brother’s face with his large hands. The lone tear that tracked down the king’s cheek had my eyes welling with moisture.

What happened to this family?

“I’ll have Liras send up another plate, okay?” Leor said quietly. “And I’ll come back in a bit. Maybe we can read something together.”

With that, he stood and held out his hand for me. The anger in his eyes was gone, replaced with a watery smile and a hint of appreciation.

Standing, I offered Orin another smile, but he was once again staring into the hearth. Leor laced his fingers with mine and gently tugged me out the door, which he closed as quietly as he could manage. He turned to me, his hands holding the sides of my face and sliding down my neck to my shoulders.

“You have to tell me everything you did. I need every detail.”

“I’m sorry,” I started, but Leor shook his head.

“No, you didn’t do anything wrong. That’s the first time Orin’s even shown an awareness that people around him exist. I need to know what you did.”

“Well, I–” I rubbed my hand across the back of my neck. “I sort of called you an asshole.”

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