Talyn

I stared at her, hoping to find an answer to her statement. A reply. Anything. It wasn’t working. My brain was trying to follow what was happening here, but as insistent that I was in finding out if she was alright, hoping I hadn’t grabbed her with too much strength in my hands, she replied with that?

“What?” I asked. “How is that relevant?”

Just a moment ago, she was so deeply lost in her thoughts she almost got plowed over by those people, and all she says to my worry is that she wants to be on the council. Had she lost her mind somewhere? Where were her priorities?

“It’s just as important,” she stated plainly.

I searched her eyes, but they didn’t waver like I thought they might. I felt a little bit of relief creep in, seeing as she didn’t seem to be hurt. But I still wanted to be certain. I wanted to hear it from her.

“Is it?”

“Yes,” she insisted.

Well, I didn’t have anything to lose by letting her join the council. In fact, I’d be glad to have her join. Frankly, I wanted to see what she’d do, what kind of chaos she’d cause those men in there. And maybe… maybe she’d give me a real smile, too. A big one.

But there was something I wanted in return.

“Will you answer my earlier question, if I let you join the council?”

For a moment, she didn’t respond. Something flickered deep within her eyes.

“What do you think?” she asked coyly.

I chuckled despite myself, unable to hide the beginnings of a smile on my face. This was all so strange. Miavel being close enough for me to smell the floral shampoo I knew Lilia stocked her bathroom with before her arrival, and hearing her speak without reservations or fear. I didn't feel her tremble once. She felt so small in my arms, but she was so determined, so silently powerful.

Somehow, I figured this would be my life from now on, me bending to her will happily.

Happily?

Was I…?

“I’m not sure what to think,” I said quietly. Sighing, I shook my head. “The next council is this week.”

“And?” she asked, her gaze never leaving mine for a moment.

I paused, almost afraid to step away from her, knowing I’d have to the moment I responded.

So much for protecting her from a distance. When it came to her, it didn’t seem like I could. That plan was ruined the second I saw her walking to me in the temple, back to when we were married.

No.

Maybe it was before then.

Maybe it was when I told her Father, to his face, that if he wanted to suggest peace through marriage, I would choose the daughter that I wed. Maybe it was when I stated I'd marry his eldest child.

Was it then?

Or was that not far enough back?

Was it what Reese Pintae, or rather, what Viper informed Alecc about in a report on Cita's actions? Everything leading up to my declaration of war against them?

I wasn't sure.

But as Miavel stared up at me, her dark blue eyes sharp and determined, I didn't seem to care when it was that my plan fell to pieces.

“You’ll join me.”

She nodded, eyes closing briefly. When she opened them again, those deep blues looked brighter, warmer. She looked pleased by my response, smiling faintly.

“I’m alright. I'm not hurt.”

“I didn’t grab you too hard?” I clarified.

Her eyes widened as she glanced down at my arms, which I then dropped as I stepped back. Having to do so put an ache in my chest.

“No. No, it was fine,” she whispered, more to herself than to me. I didn’t miss the light coloring of pink on her cheeks as she turned back toward the market. I couldn’t be certain whether it was due to embarrassment at not figuring out what I meant, or from being in close proximity to me.

Miavel

We wandered more after the accident we avoided, or rather, the one Talyn helped me avoid. After checking to make certain everyone who had fallen down was alright or getting attention for any minor injuries, we left. I was still stubbornly distracted as we walked and wandered around more. We came across a group of homeless people, gathered outside a house, eating some soup the woman who owned the house had made. I nearly went over there myself, but I knew there wasn’t a need to. What could I possibly help with, when everyone was already eating happily? At the very least, I took solace in the fact that they were eating. I silently thanked the woman for the goodness in her heart and took note of the address number on her house.

By the time I took notice of the late hour, the sun was already close to setting. Talyn seemed to see it at the same time that I did.

“It’s a bit late for travelling now. Do you want to stay at an inn tonight?” he asked, turning to me.

I realized why after a moment. His words earlier, that this was my trip? Apparently, that meant I was in charge of making the final call on this.

Glancing at the setting sun, I recalled a few things I knew well enough. Most accidents and attacks by thieves happened in the night hours. If we set out now, most of our journey would be in the darkness. Sure, the technology of the carriage lights had advanced plenty, but it would be required that we slow down on the trip back, making it inevitably longer.

I watched people start to pack up their stores, checking the clocks and setting sun. It seemed there was also a curfew in place here. This was the last chance to leave.

Besides, I had a certain dislike for being out at night.

There were plenty of reasons to just stay here until morning.

“Alright.” I nodded.

Talyn returned the nod and then walked us back up the street, until we reached an abandoned alleyway. Well, a mostly abandoned one. I recognized the Captain, who had doubled as a guard and as a driver on the way here, as he stepped out of the shadows to speak with Talyn. I hovered nearby, watching the people go home.

After they were done speaking, we walked to an inn. I took my hood off, as I wasn’t as easily recognized as Talyn was. The young woman behind the counter greeted us, looking at me first and then keeping her gaze on Talyn. I watched her gaze flick up and down over him, almost hungrily.

“We’ve ten rooms left,” she said. She tilted her head a bit as she looked at Talyn, trying to peek under his hood with a slight smile. “What do you fancy? Same room? Or separate?”

A surge of possessiveness took over me and I wrapped my arms around his closest one and put on a smile that I was sure didn’t match my eyes. Maybe it was because we had a marriage of convenience, so nothing was particularly defined. Maybe it was because I’d just figured out that I liked him a little.

Maybe I was overthinking things.

But my body was acting on its own, instinctively, protectively.

But what if…

What if this was overstepping the boundaries in our relationship?

My hands started to tremble as I clung to him. He didn’t move away, didn’t take my arms off of him. I wasn’t sure if I felt relieved or burdened.

“We’re married. We’ll have one room.” I pushed several coins her way, more than enough to pay for the room. "Keep the change."

I hadn’t been seeing things. The woman’s face wore the disappointment plainly. She fished out a key with a pout on her face. Handing the key to me, she turned back to what she’d been working on.

“Enjoy your stay,” she said, not even half-heartedly. "Room number six."

“Thanks.”

My reply was a bit more enthusiastic than I’d been intending, and I faintly wondered if I’d been secretly proud of myself for fending off another woman. I immediately winced. How could I even think that?! Acting on jealousy and possessiveness?! I shook my head. I wouldn’t do that ever again.

I tugged Talyn along until we were out of her sight. As we neared our door, I dropped my arms away. When I stepped away, I noticed him glance down at his arm solemnly before gazing at me. Was he upset I grabbed him?

I rushed to apologize.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have grabbed you like that. I just – I don’t have a good excuse for my actions…  I’m sorry.” When he just stared at me, another thing came to my mind. Our door. We weren’t exactly sharing a room normally, were we? And now, I’d just forced us into one. I was sure he had his reasons for wanting a separate room, a private space, but if it had to do with how he was able to sleep? I groaned a little, mentally and literally. “I’m sorry! I only got us one room. I should’ve asked. If you want me to go get another room, I can.” I’d suffer through speaking with that young woman again. I'd do it to make up for my mistake.

I bowed my head, only to see a hand pop into my vision. My head snapped up. I looked at him in confusion.

“Huh?”

“Key.”

I squashed the disappointment that raced through me. Of course, he just wanted the key. Why was the first thought that went through my mind a hope that he was asking to take my hand in his again? I held the key out to him, steeling myself to make the journey back to that counter to ask for a second room.

The door was unlocked quickly, creaking a bit as he opened it. He gestured for me to enter before him, stunning me for a moment. When he raised his brows at my lack of movement, I ducked my head as I passed him and stepped into the room.

“It’s fine, Mia,” he spoke softly as I took one step past him. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

My heart hammered in my chest and my eyes widened. I spun to look at him, not believing I’d heard those words right. I had to have imagined them, right? It wasn’t what he said.

But his eyes remained the same and he nodded.

“You didn’t do anything wrong.”