Page 70 of Fly to Fury
Pretty Face stepped forward and perched on the second chair near the foot of the bed. “Good to see you, Captain.”
A lopsided smile broke across Fieran’s face before he slurred, “Pretty Face. Always liked your nose.” His eyes flicked back and forth as if he was trying to go cross-eyed to see his own nose but didn’t have the muscle control to manage it. “I have a nose. It’s on my face.”
Prince Farrendel gave a small sigh. “Quite thoroughly dosed.”
In other words, Fieran was currently higher than an airship.
Pretty Face pushed to his feet, and Lije took his spot in the chair. “Rest up. You’ll be back in the sky with the rest of us soon.”
Fieran blinked at Lije owlishly before his eyelids sagged shut again. The word he slurred out on a sigh might have been Lije’s name. But it was hard to tell for sure as he sank back into unconsciousness.
Pretty Face patted Pip’s shoulder before he edged past her out the door. “Take all the time you need.”
Lije pushed to his feet and also eased past her. “We’ll be right outside when you’re ready to leave.”
Then Pip was left alone—or mostly alone since Fieran lay on the bed and Pretty Face and Lije lingered in the other room—withPrince Farrendel Laesornysh. Her childhood hero. And Fieran’s dacha.
For a long moment, she couldn’t move as she stared at Prince Farrendel and he stared back at her. Then he gave a small gesture of his hand to indicate the other chair.
Pip inched one foot forward. Then the other. She was here for Fieran. Surely she could do this for him. Somehow she made it to the chair and sank onto it.
More long moments stretched, the time measured by the hammering of her heartbeats in her ears. She sat as stiff as a mouse in the presence of a cat while, at the head of the bed, Prince Farrendel remained just as still, his gaze focused on Fieran. His twin swords leaned against the wall next to him, a polishing cloth draped over the hilt of one of them as if he’d been interrupted while cleaning them.
She should say something. Anything to break theawkward silence. But her jaw seemed locked in place, and if she tried to speak now, all she’d manage would be a squeak.
Prince Farrendel made a noise in the back of his throat. “You were the one who fetched me earlier.”
“Yes.” She got that much out past her constricting throat.
“Linshi.” Prince Farrendel kept his gaze locked on Fieran.
On the bed, Fieran stirred again. This time when his eyes opened, his gaze wandered over the room, drifting past her before snapping back. A large, loopy grin spread across Fieran’s face again. “Pip.”
“I’m here, Fieran.” How she wanted to grab his hand and hold it tight. But she wasn’t about to do that in front of his dacha.
Especially when she wasn’t sure where she and Fieran stood. They’d nearly kissed there in the hangar before the battle, and they’d all but agreed to start courting.
Yet because they’d been nearly kissing, she hadn’t had time to inspect his aeroplane. His propeller had broken, and as his mechanic, a mechanical failure was her fault.
Because of her, he’d crashed. Merrik had crashed. So many pilots of all three squadrons had been lost because Fieran hadn’t been up there fighting with his magic.
Would Fieran blame her for distracting him? She blamed herself, after all. She had been the one to demand to talk to him right then. If she’d been doing her job, maybe she could have prevented all of this.
Fieran’s forehead puckered. “Have something…” His eyes slid closed as he seemed to drift. But then his eyes flickered open yet again, the smile returning. “Pip.”
“Yes, I’m still here.” She curled her fingers in her lap to stop herself from reaching for his hand.
“Love you.” The words were slurred, coming out a childlikeWuv you.
But they were still clear enough that Pip’s whole face flushed. Had his dacha heard that? Had he realized what Fieran meant? She couldn’t bring herself to glance at Prince Farrendel.
“I love you.” This time, Fieran’s words were sing-song, transitioning to a ditty. “I love you. You love me.”
Pip huddled on the chair, her face burning, her shoulders hunched by her ears. There was no mistaking that. If only she could just disappear before she had to face Fieran’s dacha afterthatconfession.
When she risked a peek at Prince Farrendel, his ears were bright pink as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He caught her glance and gave a slight cough. “I do not think he will remember what he is saying in the morning.”
Probably not. But she would remember. As would Prince Farrendel. And while Fieran might not recall what he’d said, he was too drugged to say anything but the truth.
