“Sorry,” Elex said. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

After a minute of silence, Zofi cleared her throat. “You didn’t,” she lied, unconvincingly.

“A Talon, huh?” Elex raised a single bemused eyebrow.

“He’s not like most Talons,” Zofi said, dodging the question. “He’s really open-minded, and he’s nice, and…” And part of me is worried I might break his heart.

“I’m not judging.” Elex raised one shoulder, let it fall. “He seems… yeah. Nice.”

Zofi walked to the side of the wooden bridge. This one was only a few feet wide, so she wanted to leave room for any passersby. She sat on the edge and let her feet dangle above the marsh. “Sorry for avoiding you,” she said.

After a pause, Elex sat beside her. “Are you ready to tell me what happened back in Kolonya? You said you needed some drinks first; your breath smells like it might be time.”

She snorted. “Maybe a few drinks past time,” she admitted, though the cool night air had dimmed the spin in her head to a lower, pleasant hum.

“When I left, you were being blackmailed.…” Elex watched her carefully.

“They told the king what I did. I’ve been banished from Kolonya.” She shut her eyes to avoid his stare. “Learning about it may very well have been my father’s last act. He fell sick afterward, and as far as I know, he hasn’t woken since.”

“Sands, Zo.”

When she opened her eyes again, the pity on his face nearly killed her. “Don’t look at me like that.”

“Like what?”

“I already know how terrible the situation is; I don’t need you feeling sorry for me on top of it.”

“That’s not sorrow you’re seeing, it’s guilt.” Elex’s voice dipped so low that Zofi looked at him, startled. “It’s my fault you’re in this mess. If I hadn’t provoked the prince that night—”

“Don’t you dare.” She grabbed his chin, turned his face toward hers. “Nicolen—” She cast a quick glance around, remembering too late that there were villages around here, other people dotting these marshes. But she saw nobody in hearing distance. Just a few figures silhouetted against the fire, fields away.

Still, when she spoke again, her voice was lower. “Nicolen was a horrible person. Half brother or not, I’d do what I did a million times over if it meant saving you, Elex. And it was my decision to attack him, I’ll remind you. You can’t shoulder responsibility for my mistakes without stealing my victories from me, too.”

“But your father—”

“I got along just fine without him my entire life.” She flinched, though, when she said the words. Her hardened voice lost some of its edge. “I wish I could have known him better, but I’ll take what little time I got. Better that than none at all.”