Page 161 of The Duke and the Disciple

“So many denials.”

Aesylt swatted them both with the backs of her hands. “I never said I wasn’t interested in him. He was the one who needed to come around.” She tugged on her dress, a little too tight around her hips. She’d gained a few pounds in the past months, since they’d done the fitting. Her appetite hadn’t been so healthy since she was a child. “You’re going to dowonderful,Nikky. I selfishly wish you wouldn’t, because I will miss you so, so much.”

Niklaus reached for her hand with a quick squeeze. “You can always come visit the kyschun for a dose of wisdom into the past.”

“Eh. They like to yell.”

Niklaus chuckled. “All part of the experience.”

Aesylt looked at the two men who were her oldest friends, her first true confidants, and on one terrible winter night, had been witness to her greatest suffering while still reeling from their own. It was with love they’d withheld the full truth, but their watch was over.

She slid one arm around Niklaus, the other Valerian, and gathered them close. They wrapped her tight, squeezing the air out of her, and she laughed, sputtering melodramatically.

“You are my truest friends.” Aesylt choked up. “And the most magnificent pains in my ass.”

Valerian snickered. Niklaus grinned.

“And I love you both so dearly. Nikky, you havealwayssupported my dangerous ideas, always kept me safe when I wasn’t nearly concerned enough with consequences. And Val, my champion. I know...” Her chest shuddered. “I know things didn’t turn out between us the way... but losing you would break my heart. I need you to know that.”

Valerian’s hand shot out and cupped her face. “I’ll always be here. And I’ll always call you my ex-wife whenever the scholar is nearby,so I can relish the stormy look he wears so well.”

Aesylt laughed, glancing back into the crowd to search for the man in question. He was chatting with Jasika and Anton, but he caught her gaze and smiled. “I hope you do, because it gets himsoriled, and?—”

“I cry foul, Aes, at hearing about your bedchamber escapades.” Niklaus pretended to retch.

She was still laughing when she saw a brief commotion near the door. Guards were whispering to other guards, until one walked swiftly to Drazhan to whisper something in his ear. He startled and said something terse in return, and one of the guards made their way to Tasmin with a message. Her response was far less measured. She looked positively green.

“What?” Niklaus followed where she was looking.

“I don’t know,” Aesylt said. “Something’s happened, maybe.”

Drazhan ran his hands against his face with an apprehensive scowl. He nodded, whispered something back, and marched to the raised area of the observatory, followed by Fezzan.

“Aye! Shut it! Your steward has something to say!” Fezzan boomed, and the silence was so immediate, it drew nervous chuckles.

Drazhan shot him a bemused look and waited for everyone to settle. “Tonight is a special night.” His voice was strong, carrying all the way to the back of the crowd, where Aesylt was growing increasingly disconcerted. “Tonight,we celebrate the rare and treasured occasion of consuming a Barynov wine and surviving to tell the tale.”

Everyone tittered at the joke. Aesylt wanted to laugh at her brother’s uncharacteristic humor, but it was only putting her further on edge. She exchanged a glance with Valerian, who seemed as apprehensive as she was.

“And my sister’s nameday, of course.”

More laughter.

“Something’s happening with Tas,” Niklaus said distantly and slipped off, following Tasmin on her swift exit from the observatory.

“What is going on right now?” Valerian muttered.

“Wish I knew.” Aesylt saw Rahn standing with Jasika Voronov, his arms crossed and his brows joined.

“Aesylt is... Well, you all know her. She’s more fiery than any flame. More cool than any glacier.” Drazhan shifted, looking down. He folded his hands over his torso. “And when she was eight years old, she became the ruling leader of Witchwood Cross, a role she wasn’t supposed to have—never asked for—and was forced to take on because her surviving brother had only vengeance on his mind. Yet she was a natural, one of the best stewards the Cross has ever had. Tonight, when you offer her your felicitations, don’t forget to thank the girl who became a woman overnight so our village, our people, could rise once more from the ashes of another’s war.” He accepted a mug from Fezzan and raised it. “Hvala, Aesylt. And Blessed Nameday, cub.”

“Hvala!” the crowd cheered. “Blessed Nameday!”

Aesylt wiped a tear on her arm and turned away. Valerian put a hand on her shoulder, sighing. She’d had no inkling Drazhan was going to make his speech so raw and personal. Their bond had never been more solid than after they’d talked about that night, but he’d not acknowledged any of it publicly.

“Cub.”

Aesylt turned toward Drazhan. “Are you unwell or something? Feverish?”

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