Guilt rears its head in my chest, but I stand my ground, knowing I made the only logical decision available to me. “I’m the Queen of Thayaria, and you were—are—the son of my enemy. Of course I didn’t tell you. I didn’t know why Mazus sent you, and I didn’t want you or anyone else finding out about a breach in my inner circle.”

His eyes flash with hurt for just an instant before he locks it away. “You’re right, I get it. But is that—is that still all you see me as?” The question is haunted, pleading and grieving all at once, and now I feel guilt for an entirely different reason.

“No,” the word rushes out of me. “I don’t really know how—what I feel—right now. There’s a lot that I’m trying to process, and I don’t do that easily. But you’re more than Mazus’s son to me. Much more. And you have been for a while.” He smiles, the gesture soft and vulnerable, and I allow myself to give in to the urge to lean closer to him.

“Silene figured out you had a mole immediately, anyway. We knew.” He smirks with not an ounce of shame. I’m not surprised, but I pretend to be and swipe an arm at him playfully. He catches my wrist, turning my palm face up and stroking gentle caresses over it. “So we go speak with Admon, hope he can give us some information. I can live with that as our plan.” He flashes me a dazzling smile, one that makes my chest tighten. “I guess we need to get our clothes back on, though I would be perfectly happy if you stayed in just that.” He winks, and I blush while rolling my eyes.

“Let’s get dressed.” I will the water to evaporate off both of our bodies, and Thorne stares at me in awe.

“Your magic never ceases to amaze me.” I say nothing, just pull my tunic over my head, then re-braid my hair.