“But I was always a princess, wasn’t I?”

Jorie fell silent, as if understanding his answer had grave import, and thus he must consider it carefully.

He then said, “He would have spoiled you, his love for you would have been so great, giving you your every heart’s desire. And I would have thought you were an awful brat. You would probably steal my dolphin friends and charm octopi, which are surly, which would make me jealous so I would have had to play tricks on you to get mine back. But now I am jealous of the men down the ramparts, especially your True. For he loiters there, due to the history of the love he has for you. And I find myself needing to build it new. For even if you grew up a terrible brat, you would be my sister, my princess, thus you would have my love. And the only heart I can take in not knowing you until now, is that even far apart, you always were.”

Another hiccup came, lurching my body as I gave forth a little sob.

“You have made her cry,” True accused, suddenly, so True, right there.

“True,” Mars murmured low.

“I’ve got her,” Jorie said.

I peeked to my cousin through spiky eyelashes, but I moved not another inch of my body.

“He has me, True,” I whispered.

“True,” Mars said again.

True glowered at me.

“And I’ll always have you,” I went on.

Only that made his face soften.

He nodded, then moved away.

I sniffled.

My brother held me.

I sniffled again.

He continued to hold me.

Then I asked, “Can we go swimming soon?”

I heard his smile in the single word he spoke.

“Absolutely.”

133

The Adrift

Jellan

Easternmost Edge, Argyll Forest

AIREN

They were lost.

He knew it.

Daemon just would not admit it.

And Jellan was loath to approach him about it, considering the fact he did not wish to know what response the creature would have to such a discussion.

Marian did not seem to have trouble with meandering aimlessly, seemingly cast adrift.

She also didn’t seem to have trouble going head to head with him, Jellan had noted. She had not changed her manner in regards to the Beast at all.

And for all intents and purposes, considering he’d been utilizing obsequiousness from the beginning, Jellan hadn’t either.

It just chafed, raw, watching those two together.

Along their meandering, Daemon had stolen not only clothes and food, warm, woolen blankets and some twine and tarp for a makeshift tent, but the steeds they now rode.

However, he’d only stolen two, for Daemon rode with Marian tucked close to his front and they whispered together as they journeyed.

Though there was no whispering when they fucked under the tarp at night.

Jellan did not like it.

Not any of it.

Not one bit.