Page 87 of Chosen By the Fae King

The male shadowed away, returning half a minute later with Liam in tow and disappearing again immediately.

“Liam, sit beside Aeryn and pull up your sleeve.”

The lean male looked skeptical but did as instructed. “Lorne said something about the orb opening Aeryn's well-store?”

“After touching Lorne's skin, Aeryn was able to glean his thoughts and emotions.”

Liam's brow lifted.

“She tried with me and nothing happened. So I'm asking you to allow her to touch you.”

“You're saying I have a choice?”

Nox's eyes narrowed, but he nodded.

“As long as whatever she sees stays in this room, I have no problem. Go ahead, m'lady. Give it a whirl.”

I hesitated for a moment, feeling the weight of their gazes on me. But I steeled myself, laying my fingers on Liam's wrist. And immediately, I was submerged in a sea of emotions.

There was a deep sadness, a longing for something lost. But there was also a fierce determination, a drive to reclaim what was rightfully his ... a spark of something else entirely. A longing for something Nox had found.

I inhaled sharply, pulling my hand back as if burned. Liam looked at me with a mix of curiosity and apprehension, but Nox's dark eyes bore into mine.

“What did you see?” he demanded.

I wet my lips. “I, uh, sensed a lot of things. Fear for your safety. For Lorne's. But most strongly, I sensed Liam's desire for something he's lost … something you, Nox, have found? That part wasn't clear.”

The two males shared a look. Liam looked down.

“Any specific thoughts?” Nox pressed, not addressing whatever had transpired unspoken between them.

I hesitated, unsure of how to put into words what I had just experienced. “Liam, are you sure?”

“Go ahead,” he sighed. “I was going to bring it up after the trials were over anyway.”

I nodded. “He's considering going back to Ephandor.”

Nox's head jerked toward Liam.

“Not permanently,” the head guard assured.

“Why then?” the king demanded.

Liam blew out a breath. “A reset. Her scent took a year to forget. It took a mere second for it to bring all the upheaval crashing back down on me. I can't go more than a few minutes without thinking of her. I can hardly sleep because all I do is dream of her. I–”

“Stop,” Nox said quietly. “Say no more. We'll talk through it after the trials.”

Liam dipped his head. “Thank you.”

“Of course. Return to Lorne and ensure he doesn't do anything he shouldn't.”

Liam was gone before Nox finished his sentence. The King of Falcondale’s expression turned calculating, and I felt a frisson of foreboding.

“I need to have a serious talk with you.”

That got my full attention. “Okay.”

“I'll warn you first that what I'm about to share is privileged information and, as much as I loathe the very idea, it comes with a degree of danger. But, with what you can do now, I’m going to ask for your help so I'm going to say it anyway.”

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