The grounds were quiet, the horses stabled for the night and the workers and servants reduced to a skeleton crew. But the large front door was cracked open, and a sliver of firelight spilled out.

I slipped in, spotting a figure halfway down the walkway. Bathed in a pool of moonlight from the open windows above, Ericen leaned his elbows on the edge of a stall door, his face pressed against the massive black head of his stallion, Callo. His eyes were closed, his shoulders rounded, as if he’d gone to sleep. He looked peaceful.

The horse’s ears flicked, and he snorted, lifting his head. Ericen went rigid, spinning on the spot with one hand on a sword hilt. I froze.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…” What didn’t I mean? I’d meant to come looking for him, but I hadn’t expected to find him so vulnerable. It felt like an intrusion.

He relaxed, letting his hand drop to his side. “It’s all right. What are you doing here?”

I approached slowly. “I came looking for you.”

“Funny. I could have sworn you’ve been avoiding me since last night.”

I paused at the edge of the barn door. “Is that why you threw Shearen on his back? Old-fashioned jealousy?”

Ericen smirked, crossing his arms. The moonlight caught the edge of his black jacket, illuminating the definition of his arms. Kiva’s warning echoed. “First, Shearen has a boyfriend. Second, he deserved it.”

“No doubt. But that’s what I have Kiva for.” One overprotective friend was enough. “But I haven’t been avoiding you. I left the ball early last night, and I was in town this morning.” Neither of those were lies exactly.

“Right. Your new hobby.” He sounded skeptical. “Maybe I could go with you—”

“No.” The word came too quickly, and I cursed silently as his mouth pressed into a thin line. “What I mean is, being here—it’s not easy for me. Visiting the Colorfalls is a break from it all. It’s still Illucia, but it’s…I don’t know. Easier.”

He regarded me with a sidelong look, and for an instant, I saw Caylus, his curls falling over bright, curious green eyes, head tilted in question. I blinked the image away to find Ericen regarding me strangely.

“I understand. Though I have to say I thought we’d moved past that.”

A warning prickled in my chest. “Moved past what?”

He looked at Callo as he said, “What my mother did.”

“You mean ripping everything and everyone I ever loved away from me?” My voice surprised even me with its cool edge.

He stiffened, fingers curling and uncurling into fists. But he didn’t respond. For some reason, his silence was worse. It broke something inside me, and what came rushing out was hot and sharp.