“You’ve probably all heard by now why Nervii, our Keeper of the Edge, is at court,” Luther addressed the large audience that had gathered on the palace’s esplanade. 

The wind blew hot specks of sand on the assembly. Behind the Demon King, Voke’s flags flapped furiously, mirroring the crowd’s restlessness. The Dryns stood around Luther, each one more grim than the other. 

I sensed Gaia tense up next to me and squeezed her hand. She had forgiven me for the fiasco of her History Soiree after I had shared details of Cleta’s relentless insults, but it would take time until I regained her entire trust. While I longed to ask her about Luther and Cleta’s past history, divulging how I felt towards our king would only serve to push her further away. I was sure that she wouldn’t approve. 

“We have reason to believe that Thornland is preparing to go to war against us,” Luther let the severity of his statement settle. “I urge all of you to carry on with your daily lives. Keep training, and keep taking care of your loved ones. Don’t give Thornland any reason to believe that we are scared of them. We will not answer their threats with an escalation of violence,” Luther added. “For now.” 

I swelled up with pride, contemplating Luther in his emerald cloak. He was the epitome of a leader, fierce and charismatic. For a handful of seconds, I let myself daydream about standing at his side. The din of the crowd’s conversations snapped me back to reality.

“Why aren’t we fighting back?” someone chimed in to my left. 

“The human witch is corrupting his mind,” accused a middle-aged demon with pale blue eyes. I recognized him as one of Amer’s friends. 

“Don’t listen to them, Tatiana,” Gaia stated. “They don’t know what it’s like to live in the fear that your child will grow up without parents,” she glared at the demon, who shrugged and turned away. “This war can’t happen,” she added, eyes filled with tears. 

I wanted to assure her that I would stop the war, but was held back by the memory of my last, failed promise to her. That I wouldn’t cause any stir at court. 

“I will continue to keep you informed as the situation unfolds,” Luther declared to disperse the crowd. 

“Come,” Gaia said. “We’ve heard enough.”

As we headed back into the palace amongst the animated court, I tried to ignore the hostile glances from faces I knew, burning my cheeks. 

“Too bad Luther’s maintaining the tournament,” I recognized Cleta’s slithery voice before seeing her. “I can’t wait to make you beg for mercy in front of everyone at court.”

She was blocking the entrance to the palace. 

“Your time as a Dryn would be better used finding a way to make Thornland beg us for mercy,” Gaia snapped back. “Now move out of our way unless you want to explain why you’re preventing a pregnant woman from seeking some shade,” she ordered. 

I glanced at Gaia, impressed. She and Cleta stared at each other defiantly, and I wondered who would back down first. 

“Tatiana!” Luther caught up with us. “Could we have a moment alone?” he asked Cleta and Gaia. 

Cleta glared at me, venom pooling beneath the veneer of the smile she gave Luther. “Of course, Luth,” she stepped aside with one last look towards Gaia, who made her way inside the palace. 

“I’m going to inspect the dam tomorrow,” Luther informed me. “And I want you to come with me.”

“Of course,” I answered.

“I need you to help me think under a new light,” Luther added, before striding away. 

I smiled, savouring the small victory. He could have asked Cleta. 

***

The next morning, Alydar neighed excitedly when I entered the stables, poking her head out of her stall to greet me. Once again I sensed Reghes’ presence before seeing him, by the tingle that surged through my body. 

“Reghes?” I called out, curious as to what he was doing at the barn so early. 

“In here,” he answered from the stall next to Alydar’s. 

“I didn’t know you had a horse,” I stated, before realizing that the very first time I saw him, it was at the stables. 

“All Epona demons do. But my sister was the rider. She used to chase wild ponies as a child,” he said.

“I didn’t realize that you were from the Epona tribe,” I mumbled, suddenly conscious of how alone we were. “Or that you have a sister.”

“Had a sister,” Reghes corrected me. “She died in the war. I watched it happen,” he stopped grooming his horse to look at me with such intensity that I almost stumbled back. 

“I’m sorry, Reghes, I…”

“Didn’t know?” he padded closer to me.

I nodded, unable to move. The air was thick with the smell of hay and leather, the stables eerily quiet. 

“You couldn’t have known,” he continued. 

Reghes' dark, angular face was inches from mine. I held my breath. 

“Tatiana, I…” Reghes' voice broke. “Cleta’s right. I am a womanizer,” he stated. “But what I feel for you…” 

He reached for my hand and placed it on his chest. His heart was beating, quick and strong, underneath his linen shirt. Mine suddenly raced with desire and dread.

Is he aware of the thread that seems to bind us together?

Reghes pressed his lips against my mouth, and I let him. Emotions slammed into me like a crashing wave, a surge of excitement curving up my spine. An irrational craving for him invaded me as I kissed him harder, my tongue parting his lips as he pulled me closer. Before the euphoria that invaded me could take over my entire body, Reghes gently cupped my chin in his hands. 

“I see you’ve been feeling it too,” he smiled, tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear. 

I drew a sharp inhale, controlling the urge to beg him for more, my mind clouded by an intoxicating desire for him. 

“I should get ready,” I managed to whisper. 

“Tatiana,” Reghes stroked my cheek. “Know that no matter what, I will be there for you.”

“Thank you,” I muttered, before escaping into Alydar’s stall. 

I waited for Reghes’ footsteps to fade away before I let myself breathe again, incapable of making sense of my feelings for him. For the past few weeks, I had considered him solely as my fighting partner. Yet a force drew me to him, compelling and wild, almost ferocious. What Luther and I shared, however, was anchored in trust, grounded in our shared beliefs, intimate. But he guarded his emotions with an impenetrable shield. Reghes had made his feelings clear, but did Luther see me as anything more than a friend?