Page 30 of When the Moon Met the Sun

Quickly, I slammed the book shut and pulled it closer to my body, but left it flat on the table.

Ezra, not put off in the slightest, smiled.

Does anything make this male uncomfortable?

“Southern nobility and their lineage. Interesting choice of subject to study,” he said after glancing at the cover of the leather bound tome.

When I made no effort to respond, he motioned to the couch across from me and asked if he could sit. I hesitated, but nodded after a heartbeat, slowly lowering myself back into my own chair as he took his place at the table across from me, where Laurence had sat just hours before.

“I came here to talk to you on behalf of all of the Valwain,” Ezra stated, sinking into the couch further, as if he couldn’t be more comfortable.

I arched an eyebrow as I questioned, “Valwain?”

Ezra looked at me in muted surprise. “Robyn hasn’t told you about us yet?”

“Seems there’s a lot he doesn’t tell me,” I mumbled.

“The Valwain were a sect of highly skilled warriors of the South that lived many centuries ago, at the beginning of the war. There weren’t very many of them, but just one of those warriors made up for a dozen regular soldiers on the battlefield,” he said before carrying on. “Years ago, when Robyn, Quinn, Teagan and I were just learning to properly wield a sword, one of our instructors told us about the Valwain. We decided we’d be the new Valwain for the people of the South, just in a slightly different way. Pretty much, it’s Robyn and his close circle—at least nowadays. You’re part of that, now, too. Well, if you’d like to be, that is.”

Ignoring his offer, I asked, “Who all is in your little group?”

“Well, there’s Robyn, who is, of course, our king and leader. Then there’s Teagan, a skilled warrior and our main diplomatic fae. Quinn, who I believe you’ve had the pleasure of meeting, isthe general of all our Southern armies. There’s also Chess, who is our royal trokav, and a great one at that. Drayven, or Rayven, who is our top spy and a fantastic shadow wielder, though I don’t think you’ve met him yet. Then there’s me—the male with too much knowledge in here.” He tapped his temple, smiling, then shrugged when he saw my quizzical look. “Swords didn’t suit me, and I never developed any zirilium, so I found my strength in a vast, deep well of knowledge. Aside from that, there’s Margo, but she’s an unofficial member,” he said with a wink.

I nodded in understanding. I’d always found books to be an escape, a comfort, and a constant within a world full of chaos.

Before I could respond, he made anoh!sound and turned, reaching into his satchel. A second later, he pulled out a small leather book tied shut with a piece of twine. He slid it across the table to me.

“A book, for you. It’s about the history of the Valwain, in case you were curious,” he said, sounding excited to be sharing this with a fellow book lover.

Slightly stunned at his generosity, I replied, “Thanks…” then, not exactly knowing what to say and feeling awkward, I said, “Anyways, sounds like you have a well-rounded group. Where has Robyn gone, anyways? Run off with his mistress already?” I jabbed, though I immediately regretted it.

I knew I shouldn’t be so harsh, but I couldn’t help it. I thought we’d had a moment, and then he was justgone. How could I trust, or let alonelike, a male who was never around and only gave me vague answers to my questions?

Ezra’s smile faltered slightly, his calm composure slipping just a bit, though I didn’t think it was a mask like Robyn and I seemed to wear. It appeared like Ezra genuinely was a laid back kind of person, not letting much bother him.

And I just got under his skin.

“Despite what you seem to believe about us Southerners,my queen, Robyn is the most loyal person you’ll ever have the pleasure of meeting. He is devout to a fault, and would never betray your trust like that. You’re hiswife. He’s yours as much as you are his. Plus, you’re the reason he decided to head the mission he’s currently on.” As he spoke, I could clearly see all of his emotions—frustration and hurt, mostly—written across his features.

“What mission?” I pressed, ignoring the rest of what he said, and suddenly feeling a pang of worry as my stomach did a small flip. “Is he alright?”

Ezra, seeming to find my reaction satisfactory, forced a smile as he said, “I’m sure he’s fine. It was a stealth mission, not combative. But you should ask him yourself. You two have to learn how to talk to each other for any of this to work.”

I made a smallhuffsound, then leaned back in my chair, careful not to press against my wings.

Ezra sighed, his white hair falling into his face, then placed his elbows on the table, resting his chin on his hands.

“Listen. The Valwain and I are all heading to Robyn’s family’s secluded cabin at Echen Bay to relax and recharge. Since you two are married now, we shouldn’t be needed quite as much here, seeing as we should, in theory, have peace with your father from here on out. We all talked, and we want you to come with us. What do you say?” Ezra’s voice was back to normal, no hint of the frustration he had harbored moments ago, and a small smile played on his lips.

I looked up into his soft, honey brown eyes, searching them, as if this was some kind of trick.

Why would they wantmeto come?

“Am I required to? Am I the Valwain’s prisoner?” I asked, my tone snarky.

Ezra shook his head as he said, “Not in the slightest. We’rerequestingyour presence, if you’d be so kind as tograce us with it.”

For a moment, I pondered. It wasn't like I had anything more important to do here at The Haven. There were only so many books I could find to study. Plus, if everything Laurence said earlier was true, the Southerners aren’t the villains of this war. At some point, I was going to have to learn to trust them.

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