“Unsettled by people again?” Emi touched my arm. There wasn’t judgment in her tone, more a call to arms to those in the rooms to keep me in their sights.

“She ran into Tomas Grisen.”

Emi’s nose wrinkled. “Arrogant ass.”

When Thane offered a sort of salute with the second drinking flute, as if to say he understood, a wash of affection bloomed in my chest. They ought to be my enemies, but I found a sort of belonging here, in this room, with these people.

Yrsa tilted her head, smiling my way. “So, you are the melder.”

“I am.”

“You saved his life.” Yrsa gave the prince a tender smile. “You don’t know me, but I thank you for it.”

It was heartening to see a genuine fondness between an arranged match. They hadn’t shown affection through touch, but the smiles, the comfort with each other being near, it was clear Yrsa and Thane held each other in high regard.

“I was not alone,” I admitted. “Without Sentry Ashwood I wouldn’t have known the prince was injured at all.”

Thane chuckled and looked over his shoulder. “Did you hear that? Something else to get all haughty about. I wish you hadn’t said it, Lyra.”

Heat and a strange pinch to my chest fought to double me over when Roark emerged from the prince’s bedchamber, securing his seax on his belt.

Gods, he was captivating. Like a warm memory.

Tonight, his eyes were brighter than a sunrise after a rainstorm. His hair was freshly braided on the sides, and the oakmoss scent on his skin was a beautiful tether, drawing me nearer.

Roark’s mouth was set into a smug sort of grin, like he knew exactly what he was doing to me.

With one hand, he lifted my knuckles to his lips, then with the other gently spoke against my cheek. Red suits you.

“Oh. Thank you.” I patted at the simple woolen gown, dyed a rich crimson. My heart bruised my ribs, as though I no longer knew how to be around the Sentry. “I don’t know what to say,” finally slipped out in a low breath.

He tilted his head. About what?

“What you did for Edvin and Hilda, for bringing their families here.”

Roark seemed to gnaw on the words. You were right when you said they ought not be punished for the actions of others. Craft should not deny you the people you love.

My throat tightened with emotion. I refused to grow weepy, and Thane seemed to agree.

“All right. Enough, the both of you.” The prince heaved himself onto one of the fur-lined lounges and crossed his ankles. “Yes, Roark is magnificent, but we’re not here to watch him grow insufferably conceited. He already does it enough.”

Roark knocked Thane’s feet off the edge of his seat.