Page 67 of Grave Situation

“Can you do that to me?” His face lights up like a small child’s. “Please?”

Nobody has ever asked me that before. I don’t know what to say.

“Not indoors,” Jaimin says firmly. “And not while you’re wearing your sword. Maybe tomorrow.”

Coryn pouts but nods. “Okay.” He looks at me expectantly.

“Okay,” I echo, then pull myself together. “We expect there will be further attacks. Our plan was for Leicht—the dragon—and Tia to be our protectors, but?—”

“That’s not a good plan,” he interrupts. “Dragons are perfect for battle, but traveling on the highway…” He shakes his head. “There’s too many villages and trees. How’s a dragon gonna do his job if he needs to worry about not setting things on fire?” He looks over at Tia. “And no offense to you, Rider, I’m sure you’re deadly, but one fighter woken from sleep against a dozen attackers? Those are bad odds.”

Relief floods through me. He may not be the smartest person I’ve ever met, but clearly he knows what he’s talking about in this situation.

Tia smiles at him, her thoughts following the same path as mine. “We learned that the hard way.”

“That’s why you need me?”

I nod. “That’s why. When the next wave comes—and it will—we can’t be weakened again. We lost two days of travel time waiting for the escort.” It pains me to say that, because I enjoyed those two glorious days at the inn, but it was time our enemy has been using for ill. We need to stop themfast.

“I can do that,” he assures me confidently. “With Rider Tia’s help.”

“Just Tia is fine.”

He grins at her. “I’m Just Coryn!”

Tia’s confusion is delightful, but I explain anyway. “Coryn is the Duke of Kelter’s son, but he prefers to be just Coryn.”

“Mm,” Jaimin says. “I’ve met your father. He’s a great man, but I can understand needing some distance from the title.”

The stars that appear in Coryn’s eyes as he gazes at Jaimin with newfound hero worship make me… something. Irritated. Because we don’t have time for him to develop a crush.

That’s all.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

“Letme tell you about our mission,” I say a little louder than necessary, determined to drag Coryn’s attention away from Jaimin.

“Do you have to?” he asks.

The stone thrums, so I ignore what I really want to do and instead say, “Yes. You need to know what we’re facing so you’ll be prepared.”

Again, his face immediately becomes alert. It seems the secret to managing Coryn is to speak to his sense of duty. “I’m ready.”

“A month ago”—has it been so long already?—“the life stone returned to the continent and made itself known to the combined councils of mages, healers, and riders.” I pause for the usual gasp of surprise.

He just looks at me blankly.

“You do know what the life stone is?” I prompt.

“The source of all creation,” he replies, and I swear, Jaimin sighs in relief.

“Yes. You probably also know that it disappears from the world except when there are situations of great need.” I decidenot to go into the vagaries of the prophecy. Let’s not make this more complicated than it needs to be.

“And now’s one of those times? It has to be if the stone’s here, right?”

I nod. “Right.”

He beams.

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