Page 59 of Ties of Starlight

Lady Asa returned his grin, and now that she had his approval, she left the tent, holding the flap. “Will you be staying here, or moving to your tent tonight, Your Majesty?”

Nyrunn looked over the tiny cot. He certainly didn’t want to cram himself and Idonea both on it. He brushed a hand over Idonea’s good shoulder. “Hey, little lily, are you awake?”

She blinked her eyes open, a quick flash of panic ripping through the bond before her eyes landed on him and she calmed. What was that about?

She muttered, “I am now.”

“Come on, this cot isn’t very comfortable and we both know it.” Nyrunn slid his arms under her and hefted her up into them as he stood up. Idonea squeaked, grabbing at his shirt with her good hand. Asa held the tent flap for him as he carried Idonea out, a pretty blush spreading across her cheeks as they stepped out into the golden-painted camp.

Every eye in the vicinity turned their way and Nyrunn held her tighter. Thankfully, most of them were looks of respect, given that she’d saved their king and managed not to die, which would have condemned them all in the process. But it shouldn’t have taken such drastic actions for them to give her the respect she deserved.

“You’re making a scene,” Idonea muttered as he carried her through camp.

“Actually, you made a scene during the fight. I’m just carrying my brave but misguided wife to our tent so we can continue our conversation and then go to bed since we head out again in the morning.”

“How badly are we delayed?” Idonea asked, her grip on him tightening.

“Don’t spend a single second worrying about it. I’ve taken care of it. It took all day, but it’s handled. Your only priority right now is healing.”

She didn’t say anything in response. She just kept staring at the buttons on his shirt, cheeks red, and ignoring everyone who looked their way and whispered about them.

He swept her into their tent, carrying her straight to the bed. He tried to move the blankets first, but she swatted at him with her good hand. “I have a bad shoulder and some sore ribs. I can handle a few blankets.”

He was forced to set her down and she managed to kick at the blankets until she slid her legs under them. “Forgive me for trying to take care of you.”

Idonea pulled the blankets up to her chest again as she sat back against the pillows. “Your fussing isn’t necessary.”

“You took a dagger meant for me into your ribs and you almost died in my arms. I think I’m entitled to however much fuss I want to make over you.”

Why was she being so difficult about this?

Idonea just stared at the arm tucked into a sling against her nightgown.

“Don’t think we’re done with our conversation from earlier. If you’re well enough to be difficult with me, you’re well enough for this.” Nyrunn crossed his arms as he stood by the bedside.

“Fine. Say what you want. You won’t let me stop you.”

“Tell me, when you ran out and called my name, what were you trying to do? Were you trying to save me? Or were you trying to die?”

Idonea’s head snapped up and the blush turned into a furious red. “Do you think I’m that selfish? That I would condemn Adastra to weakening again, or increase thecertainty the Moon Elves would attack just so I could skip ahead to my next life? I could do that at any point, but I haven’t. I wasn’t looking for a clever way to die. I saw you were in danger. I weighed our lives. Yours is more valuable than mine, and I chose yours with the comfort that I was leaving Adastra with a capable, strong king who would be able to see them through until I came back and tried again to fix this mess. I won’t pretend my coming back wasn’t in my mind, but your life was first and foremost.”

Nyrunn wanted to believe her. It would be so easy to apologize for his accusation and put it all to rest. But…

“Is that all it was? Making the smart choice? If I wasn’t the king, what would you have done then?”

“I went back to save Asa. Isn’t that answer enough?” Idonea looked back down at the blankets. Something on the other end of the bond flickered. What was it?

“But you certainly weren’t worried about everyone else we left behind. Why Asa?”

“It wasn’t anything about Asa. I just saw her, and I’m the only one in this group who has actually experienced such attacks by the Moon Elves before. Do you think the amount of arrow shaft I left was a happy accident? If you believe me, then you know that’s not the first time I’ve been shot.”

“But you’re Gytha’s chosen. You know you have to be protected.” He was trying to hold back his frustration but it kept seeping into his tone all the same. “Why didn’t you go with the guards like I told you to?”

“You were still there. What did it matter if I escaped if you didn’t? We needed both of us to make it out for the ritual.”

Nyrunn knelt on the ground, reaching for the hand resting on the blankets. She looked over at him. “Was thatreally it? You couldn’t bear the thought of leaving me behind?”

Idonea closed her eyes. “What do you want me to say?”

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