His lips give a bitter twist. “I had it easier here than Wrenfir, since I look Urisk except for my green eyes.” He focuses them on me. “But still, most of the Urisk here view me as quite a bit ‘polluted.’ And, of course, many Noi’khin hate my mother for loving a Gardnerian. I’m guardedly accepted, at best, let’s put it that way.”

I don’t press for more, sensing his angst in the way his magic is now fitfully spitting lightning. “You know,” I hedge, the moonlight itself seeming to coax the words from me, “I can sense attraction.”

His gaze flicks to mine with some skepticism. “Like a shape-shifter?”

I tilt my head, considering. “No, not completely. I can sense it through the flow of magic, not from smell. And...” I shrug. “I think that, perhaps, you should take a moment to find Tierney this Xishlon night.”

Or’myr’s eyes widen a fraction. “Why?”

I bite my lip, realizing the moon’s thrall is prompting me to cross broad lines of discretion, but what does it truly matter? We’re all about to go to war, and this kind cousin of mine deserves a small moment of happiness before we do. As does Tierney. I give him a knowing look.

He blinks, seeming thrown. “Did you sense something from her?”

I hesitate. “There might be a mutual pull.”

Or’myr looks to the floor then to the river, as if he doesn’t quite know what to do with this information. But then he gives me a level look, his cynical expression returning as violet runic orbs decorated with purple roses float up from the tier below.

“This is a frivolous conversation brought on by a frivolous moon,” he insists, lightning forking through his aura. “Even if Tierney returned my interest, all it would take is one kiss to scare her away.”

I blink at him, thrown. “Whyever would you say that?”

“My fireline,” he spits out, giving me an incredulous look, as if I should know the answer already. “It’s much too strong. Too strong for anyone to take.” He lets out an exasperated sigh and leans into the railing. “There was a Noi woman,” he grudgingly admits. “About three years ago. We attended the Wyvernguard together. And...we had feelings for each other. One night, in the runic lab, I professed my great love for her, and we kissed.” Pain tightens the edges of his gaze. “She pushed me away with sheer terror in her eyes. And that’s how I learned that it’s physically painful to kiss me. Like a burn. Not a good, passionate burn. An actual burn. The type of burn you flinch away from and avoid from there on in.”