hurt dimmed her face. Only clear, unwavering
calm shone there. The face of the mighty lady
she was growing into, and had already
become, and who would rule Perranth with
wisdom in one hand and compassion in the
other.
They stared at each other for minutes. For a
blessed eternity.
Then Elide untangled their hands and rose.
“I should return to help Yrene.”
Lorcan caught her hand again. “Stay.”
She arched a dark brow. “I’m only going to
the Great Hall.”
Lorcan caressed his thumb over the back of
her hand once more. “Stay,” he breathed.
For a heartbeat, he thought she’d say no,
and was prepared to be fine with it, to accept
these last few minutes as more of a gift than
he’d deserved.
But then Elide sat on the edge of his cot,
lily
(lily)
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