Page 20 of The Curse Between Us

Victor laughed, clapping Edric on the back with enough force to make him stagger. “Unlikely.”

Marsh shook his head slowly, arms crossed over his chest. “You’ll not be rid of us that easily.”

“Very well, then.” Edric stretched his arms over his head, sighing with relief as his muscles loosened after his uncomfortable night on the chaise. “Let us proceed.”

As the morning wore on, more and more members of the Guard and the regular army filtered in, the courtyard graduallyfilling with the familiar clang of weapons and the sharp bark of commands. Most soldiers seemed surprised to see Edric among them but were too polite — or too wary — to comment on his presence. He threw himself into the exercises, focusing on the burn of his muscles and the way the hard-packed dirt shifted beneath his feet as he grappled with Victor. They fought to throw each other off balance, sweat slicking their skin as they twisted and turned, each movement honed by years of battle.

With one quick twist, Edric escaped Victor’s grip and danced away, grinning as he wiped his brow. “You must have had too much to drink at the feast last night,” he teased. “You’re slower than usual this morning.”

Victor just laughed, holding up his hands in surrender. “Whereas you are full of energy and enthusiasm,” he said, a sly glint in his eye. “Marriage agrees with you.”

Edric’s smile faltered, his stomach twisting at the words. He couldn’t tell if Victor was baiting him or genuinely pleased on his behalf, and he wasn’t sure which option would be worse. Fortunately, he was spared the necessity of a reply by Alec’s arrival, the older man’s sharp gaze sweeping over the gathered soldiers before landing on Edric like a hawk spotting prey.

“What are you doing here?” Alec demanded as he crossed the ground, his frown deepening the lines around his mouth. His hair was pulled tightly back, emphasizing the tension in his shoulders.

Edric cast a wary look at their audience, then stepped closer, gripping Alec’s elbow to steer him aside. “Might we not discuss this so publicly?” he muttered.

“You’re already making it a topic of public discussion merely by being here,” Alec pointed out, voice low but cutting.

Fighting the urge to roll his eyes, Edric nodded, brushing dirt from his hands. “Very well. What would you suggest I do,give up all my usual routines simply because I am now married? Or simply because I am now king?”

Alec’s scowl softened, but only slightly. “No, of course not. I’ve always admired the way you do not put on airs, Edric, and it’s good that you are continuing to be visible and available to the people. But have you not considered the way those same people will talk, seeing you apart from Zephyr so soon? If they do not have faith in your marriage, they will not have faith in the alliance.”

Edric had been prepared for a lecture on treating his new husband with more courtesy. He had not been prepared to be scolded for threatening the treaty that had landed him that husband in the first place. His jaw tightened, and he scowled at Alec. “Of course. Nothing can jeopardize your grand plan. Not even my need to cling to some semblance of normalcy in the face of the enormous changes I’ve had to accustom myself to over the past few days.”

To his credit, Alec flinched at the accusation in Edric’s tone and held up his hands in a conciliatory gesture. “You’re right,” he said softly. “I’m sorry, I should have considered how difficult this could be for you. But you and Zephyr have been getting along so well, and…” He trailed off, eyes narrowing. “Did... did something happen last night?”

“What?” Edric shook his head fiercely, raking a hand through his damp hair. “No. Nothing like that.” He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. He could tell Alec the truth — explain how he and Zephyr had spent the night as distant as strangers — but it would feel like a betrayal, somehow. Unconventional as their marriage might be, Edric’s first loyalty needed to be to Zephyr now.

“I’m just learning how to be a king and how to be a husband while also learning what it means to no longer be at war,” he admitted. “It stands to reason I may struggle at times.”

Alec let out a deep breath, nodding slowly as he surveyed the training ground. His fingers curled and uncurled at his sides, as though restless with unspent energy. “I know,” he admitted, his voice rough with the weight of it. He swept a hand around to indicate the barracks and the soldiers scattered across the grounds, sparring and laughing as they honed their skills. “I don’t know what to do if I am not here. It’s like... if I stop, I might lose my purpose.”

It was an apology and a peace offering all in one, and Edric took it. He clapped Alec on the shoulder, grounding him with the touch. “I think you’ll find many people in a similar position,” he said. “So you’ll do what you always do, Alec. You’ll lead them. Except this time, it will not be into battle but into whatever comes next.”

One corner of Alec’s mouth lifted in a small, tentative smile. “Thank you,” he said softly. “Now, if you’ll allow me to offer some advice”—he paused, his smile growing—“you ought to go greet your husband. If this is a difficult adjustment for us to make, consider how it must be for him.”

Edric winced, rubbing the back of his neck. He had not intended to stay this late, truly, thinking he would sneak back into his chambers— their chambers, now — before Zephyr woke. But the sun was higher in the sky than he had realized, and Zephyr was surely awake by now, wondering where Edric had gone.

“Make sure to beat Victor on my behalf,” he said, reaching out to grip Alec’s shoulder once more. “I will see you at the council meeting this afternoon.”

With a brief nod, Alec waved him away. Edric lifted his hand in acknowledgment of the farewells from the other guards and soldiers, then hurried back through the castle towards his rooms, boots echoing loudly against the stone floors. He passed a pair of maids carrying linens, who quickly dipped into curtsies,eyes averted, but he caught the curiosity flickering across their faces.

By the time he reached his chambers, his heart was hammering harder than it had during the morning’s training. He knocked lightly before entering, not wanting to startle Zephyr. Though his voice was muffled by the door, he clearly heard Zephyr call out, “Come in.” Edric took a deep breath, steeling himself, and pushed open the door, already mentally composing an apology.

Zephyr was seated on the edge of the bed, neatly dressed in a light linen shirt and trousers, his posture rigid. His hands were clasped before him, fingers laced together tightly, and he looked almost like a statue, elegant and unmoving. But when he saw Edric enter, his eyes widened, hands dropping to clutch at the mattress beneath him as though he needed to anchor himself.

“Oh,” he said, surprise evident in his voice. “I thought it would be...”

“I’m sorry,” Edric said in a rush, closing the distance between them. He stood in front of Zephyr, whose eyes flickered downward to Edric’s bare chest before quickly returning to his face. The quick, sharp movement of it sent a jolt through Edric’s chest, and he fought to keep his voice steady. “I should not have left you alone this morning, but I did not want to disturb your slumber, and then I lost track of time while training...”

He trailed off as a small smile began to spread across Zephyr’s face, soft and amused. “Did you imagine me pining away in your absence?” he asked, raising one elegant eyebrow. “Forlorn without you after not even one full day of marriage?”

Edric frowned, opened his mouth to reply, and then laughed. The tension that had been coiled tightly in his chest loosened, just a little. Zephyr, it seemed, had an endless capacity for surprising him. “Perhaps,” he admitted. “And that waspresumptuous of me.” He dropped to the bed beside Zephyr, turning slightly to face him, their knees nearly touching. “And what did you do this morning, my lord, if not wail and gnash your teeth in distress at my absence?”

“I performed some light exercises, meditated, and had a wondrous bath,” Zephyr replied. “I was about to leave the room in search of breakfast when you entered. Truthfully, I thought perhaps you were an attendant bringing me a meal.”

“Alas.” Edric clutched at his chest in exaggerated dismay. “My apologies for disappointing you.”

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