Page 123 of The Shattered Rite
“Is this… something you do often?” Her voice was dry, threaded with something lighter now. “Waiting in the wings of weak and vulnerable girls?”
Silas blinked, noticed her teasing smile, then huffed a soft laugh. “Only the dragonriders.”
“Ah.” She smirked faintly. “Exclusive clientele.”
“Very.”
He looked down at their joined hands, then back up at her. His tone lost the humor, though his gaze didn’t waver.
“No one would accuse you of being weak, Eliryn.”
Her breath caught—not because she didn’t believe him, but because maybe, for the first time, she did.
“You don’t know me well enough to say that,” she said softly, though her fingers didn’t loosen.
“I know enough.”
Silas said it without hesitation. Without question. And that terrified her far more than the dream had.
Before she could answer, his free hand lifted, hesitating near her cheek.
She surprised them both by leaning into it.
“Just so we’re clear,” she murmured, her voice soft but carrying, “if you’re going to keep saying things like that, you’re going to have to get used to me being confused about how I’m supposed to feel.”
Silas smiled at that, and it was quiet, but honest. “I’ll risk it.”
“Dangerous move, soldier.”
“I’ve faced worse.”
Her lips curved. But her heart was trembling again, and this time, not from fear.
They stayed like that longer than either of them would want to admit.When sleep finally pulled at her again, she didn’t fight it.
Silas brushed her hair from her face once more, gentle as a prayer. He didn’t leave. Didn’t say he would.
She drifted down into sleep knowing that when she woke—he’d still be there.
And this time, she didn’t feel alone.
Only when her eyes closed and opened again without the storm behind them did he rise.
"I’ll come check on you in the morning," he said, voice still soft, still steady.
She nodded, too hollow to speak.
At the door, he paused. Like there was something else he wanted to say. But in the end, he only offered her a small, quiet smile.
Then he was gone.
Only when the fire had burned down to coals did she finally reach inward.
"Vaeronth?"
His presence stirred, low and warm in her mind. Tired. Protective.
I’m here.
