“And why is that?” he asks, eyes wholly focused on me with an intensity that makes me squirm. Lunaria could pounce on him right now and he wouldn’t notice, his gaze so focused on me.

“Because with power like mine… It’s important that I stay in control. Letting go could cause real damage.” It’s all I can admit to, the tiniest peek at my true feelings. But even these words are hard to whisper, a confession I didn’t know I needed to make. Relief eases across my chest, a weight lifting.

He leans forward to whisper in my ear. “I disagree, witchling. But there’s time for me to help you see that letting go doesn’t mean losing control entirely.” I can’t hide the shivers that rack my body.

“Alright, let’s eat,” Silene exclaims, returning from their bedroom and immediately filling a plate with food.

Thorne motions for me to go first, and I quickly put distance between us, especially after seeing Silene once again leave their shared room. After filling my plate with food, I make a point to sit beside Silene at the small dining table, not wanting the feeling Thorne’s presence brings me. He’s forced to sit across from me, and I quickly realize dining with his eyes lingering across my body, tracking every bite of food, is no better than sitting next to him. It might be worse.

“Did you make it to the granary?” I ask Silene and Fionn to distract myself from the way his attention makes my pulse thrum.

“We did,” Silene says through bites of food. “They left a message for us that basically said to lie low through Abscission, whatever that means, and to meet them in Oakton once the blooms begin again. Does that mean anything to you?” I laugh as a piece of bread falls from her mouth.

“You’re quite the lady,” I tease, and the room erupts in laughter. It warms something up inside of me, and for a moment, I can forget Thorne’s drifting gaze and bask in the glow of friendship. When we finally ease back into a comfortable silence, I explain to Fionn and Silene what Abscission is.

“So basically, we won’t really communicate with the rebels again for several weeks,” Silene says when I’m finished, and I nod.

“And you won’t have any sub-committee meetings either during Abscission,” I tell her. “The kingdom pretty much shuts down. Everyone sleeps in, spends time with family, and rests.”

“That sounds like a great tradition,” she remarks excitedly. “I’m finally going to read some of those saucy books you loaned me.” Thorne chokes on his water, looking at me expectantly. Heat rises to my cheeks.

“What? I just gave her a few romance books from my collection,” I deflect.

“Saucy?” he asks, eyebrow raised.

“They’re just really… exciting,” I respond, and Silene and Thorne both break out laughing again.