Page 40 of Under the Lion Star

“You’re annoying,” she scoffed.

That’s my girl, I thought to myself, pleased that despite everything, she was still treating me as she always had. It was a relief; one I hadn’t realized I was in desperate need of. Even as a prince, most of my relationships had been transactional. People saw my title as a means to further their interests. Atlas and Liras were the only two I could think of who had never sought to use me for their own gain.

“I really am sorry,” I held her eyes with mine, needing her to digest my words. “But if I’m being honest, I think I’d do it time and again. I liked that you saw me for who I am, not what I am.”

“It’s fine,” Z let out a long sigh. “Now that I have a better idea of how shit the rest of your life is going, I get it.”

“You’re a better friend than I deserve,” I smirked.

“Don’t you forget it,” she gave a curt nod.

We both broke out into quiet laughter. Things were easy with Zialda. I didn’t need to be a king; I could just be.

A silence stretched between us, lingering as she studied the comet that hung over the mountaintops. It was something that I appreciated about her. She never tried to fill the air with pointless, inane chatter as many did. My eyes continued to study her profile, wondering how it was possible that she’d slipped so deep beneath my skin in such a short period of time.

“How do you know Atlas?” I asked, remembering our short words with one another.

I would need to apologize to him, but I’d been so panicked at the thought of Zialda alone with Orin. As much as Z was important to me, Atlas was everything. I didn’t want him to think I’d ever choose a woman I’d only known for a few months over everything we shared.

“Oh, that’s right. You two are friends.”

I nodded, waiting for her to explain the nature of their relationship.

“He found me,” Z frowned. “The day my mother died. He stayed with me while I broke the news to my sisters. After that, he would pop in and visit all of us at the Helners’ house whenever he had time off. I guess he’s sort of like our older brother.”

“He seemed protective of you,” I offered. “Just wanted to ensure that the time we spent together wasn’t causing any issues.”

“You know, Leor,” Zialda raised an unimpressed brow. “Even if Atlas and I were fucking every other day, I’m allowed to be friends with whomever I want.”

“Sorry,” I laughed, holding my hands up in surrender as I tried to bury the uncomfortable feeling at the idea of her and Atlas together intimately. “I just hadn’t seen him like that over a woman. He’s a love ‘em and leave ‘em type. His words. But brotherly… that seems to fit the warning he gave me.”

“Men are so stupid,” she sighed.

I nodded, trying my best to hide my grin. Her face lit up with her own smile as she shook her head in disapproval.

“I talked to Sanna a bit,” she offered. “If I could offer some advice… one eldest sibling to another.”

“Please.”

“You’re sheltering her,” Zialda frowned. “She needs you to recognize her strength until she believes it for herself.”

“She’s fifteen,” I countered.

“And? Is that not how old Orin and Liras were when they literally went to fight in a war?”

“It’s different with Sanna,” I ran my hand over my face, trying to figure out how to articulate the protectiveness I felt for my little sister.

“She’s the baby,” Z shrugged. “I get it. I’m the same way with Zara. There’s this desperate need to shelter her from anything bad in the world.”

“But you don’t approve?”

“It’s not about approval but recognizing that part of protecting her is preparing her for the realities of the realm. I don’t want Zara to have to defend herself, but I still tell her what I can to prepare her if she ever has to.”

“How do I do that without risking her optimism?”

“That’s just who Sanna is,” Z smiled. “I could glean that from the short time I spent with her. Unlike you, she shows whatever emotion she’s feeling. I like it about her; it’s enviable.”

“I’ve always wondered what it would be like to willingly make yourself so emotionally vulnerable.”

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