“I-I d-do not wish to c-cry again,” I stated before a sob forced its way up my throat.

True turned me in his arms and pulled me close, gliding his fingers through my hair as I wept into his bare chest.

“I’m angry,” I sobbed into his skin.

“Of course you are.”

“At Elpis. At my father. At whoever sent those snakes. At everyone.”

“You’ve the right.”

“And…and, my chest…it burns, True. The pain is…if I allow myself to think on it, it’s unbearable.”

“Weep, sweets, that may help put out the fire,” he urged.

“I hate the world,” I told him.

“As you should, the world is behaving like it hates you.”

At these words, I let out a snagged laugh and tipped my head back to look at him.

His hand came to my cheek and he ran a thumb over the wet.

“Why are you here?” I asked.

“Because you need me.”

“In bed?” I pushed.

“Farah, you will not sleep alone for the rest of your days.”

I felt my lips part.

I wouldn’t?

“There are forces at work,” he carried on. “And you will not be unguarded. Even in sleep. After we best those, you will be my wife. So naturally you will not be alone in sleep for you’ll sleep at my side.”

“But…now?”

“Yes, now.”

“It is not very…Dellish of you to lay with the woman who is to be your wife before she’s your wife, is it?”

“I know many a Dellish man who, in understanding their women, wives or no, are under threat, they would be abed with them too.”

“Oh,” I mumbled.

“Have you slept too much today and so you’re awake now without hope of sleep?” he asked.

“I…well, I don’t know. I’ve been feeling too sorry for myself to think what else I might be feeling,” I admitted.

He tucked my face back into his chest and murmured, “Then try, for I’m weary. If you find you cannot sleep, don’t descend into maudlin thoughts. Wake me. We will go find food, or wine, or both. Or simply talk until you’re sleepy.”

“I couldn’t wake you,” I muttered in return.

“If you do not, and I wake in the morn, and you are haggard from spending a sleepless night, I will be cross.”

I continued to mutter. “I wouldn’t wish to make you cross.”

“Then don’t.”

I closed my eyes.

Peace and joy and family in the royal quarters of Birchlire Castle.

My mother would never see that. Never know it. Never meet my children.

And True wanted that, wanted it from me. Not as his love, his life, a woman he had chosen for his own to be at his side the rest of his days.

Instead, as friends. As partners.

He wished us to love our family and support each other through whatever befell us.