Page 54 of Until the Stars Fall

I stepped up beside him, keeping my gaze forward, and slid my hands into my pockets. “Just checking in on you.”

“Isn’t that what you have the healers for? I assume they’ve reported back to you already.”

“‘Trust but verify,’ as our father always says.” I winced. Not the best time to mention the king.

Brennan huffed out a sigh and spun away from me, stomping toward the front room, where he dropped himself onto the sofa. Giving myself time to organize my thoughts and words, I followed slowly behind him. I couldn’t risk another slip of the tongue. I needed him to cooperate.

After getting settled into one of the armchairs, I studied him as he stretched his legs out and leaned against a large pillow. His head fell back and his eyes closed as he said, “Well, you’ve verified. I’m fine.”

He raised his hand lazily, giving me a thumbs-up to emphasize his point, and I nearly laughed. We used to use the gesture often as kids when we didn’t want our parents to know we were about to indulge in a bit of mischief. The last time we’d used it was before the war actually, when we’d devised a devilish plan to put a frog in Mrs. Bishop’s shoe.

We had earned ourselves two weeks of fetching water for her after that.

What I wouldn’t give to have an angry cook as the worst of our worries.

Shaking my head, I urged the memories to fade away.

“You finally ready to come out of your rooms then?” I asked. “Our guests arrive later today.”

He didn’t look at me, didn’t move, except to reply, “If I must, I must.”

“And you’re prepared to do what needs done?”

At this, he reached into his pants pocket, his face contorting into a wince as he twisted his body so he could retrieve something. With a grunt, he relaxed again and held up his hand, a delicate silver ring pinched between his forefinger and thumb.

“Is that how you’re planning to propose?” I asked, unable to hide my smirk.

He sat up, swinging his legs around and planting his feet on the floor. Leaning over, he rested his forearms on his lap and stared at the ring as he turned it around in his fingers. Then his eyes snapped to mine, and he asked, “Maybe. Think it would work?”

“You know Calla better than I do,” I said, shrugging.

“Barely,” he muttered, and I didn’t bring up the fact that he’d spent far more time with her than I ever had. His point was clear enough.

“For what it’s worth, I am sorry,” I said. He didn’t respond, didn’t even nod in acknowledgment, but at least I’d said it. I cleared my throat before I asked, “Do you love her?”

Maybe there was no point in asking, because ultimately it didn’t matter. He’d have to marry Calla regardless. But part of me wanted some reassurance that I wasn’t forcing my brother to abandon someone he truly loved.

“No,” he answered quickly.

“I mean the woman. Lieke.”

“I know who you meant,” Brennan said quietly. “And no, I don’t. Not yet anyway.”

“What does that mean?”

He shrugged, his eyes once again focused on the ring he held. “I wanted the chance to fall in love with her, I guess. As stupid as that sounds.”

I shook my head. “Doesn’t sound stupid to me.”

“She’s not my mate though. Part of me hoped she was, that the bond might form when I kissed her. I thought maybe if she was my mate, the king would have been willing to call the alliance off. Doesn’t matter either way now, I suppose.”

“I’m sorry,” I said again, hoping he could detect my genuine regret.

“You’re just doing as you’re told,” he said. Taking a deep breath, he turned to face me. “Now I guess it’s time for me to do the same.”

For a long moment, I studied him, searching for any sign he was merely telling me what I wanted to hear. Last thing I needed was for him to sabotage the years of work we’d put into securing this match.

“What?” he asked, eyes widening.

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