“Do you have a favorite place in Thayaria that isn’t the palace or Arberly?” He is insistent with his questions tonight, but I like it. This time, the answer comes easily.

“The valley on the other side of the mountains that circle Arberly—Moormyr, it’s called. It’s still the most beautiful landscape I’ve ever seen,” I say with a small smile, thinking of the rolling fields of thayar flowers that always fill me with so much awe and wonder. Thorne smiles, like he can sense the way they bring me happiness.

“What makes them so special?” He rubs circles on my knuckle, the touch automatic from him, like he can’t help but find new ways to touch me, to comfort and soothe.

“The lush green fields dotted with the deep crimson of the thayar flower, circled by white mountain peaks. When the thayar is in full bloom, you won’t see anything but red for miles and miles. It’s extraordinary.”

Thorne smiles down at me. “That sounds special. I hope I can see it sometime.”

“There’s a festival held there on the Spring Equinox. I haven’t gone in a long time, but I used to go every year with my parents. Maybe… maybe we could go this year.” I say the last sentence like it’s a question, soft and tentative, worried about what he might think of me trying to make plans for us so many months in advance. He only squeezes my hand where it rests in his.

“I’d really love that, Laurel,” he says, eyes shining and intense. It’s too much for me, too close to being what I’m so afraid of, so I ask him a question to give me time to think and process.

“What about you? What’s your favorite place in Velmara?”

“Eastern Velmara, where my mother comes from. It’s almost as green as Thayaria, but more tropical.” His eyes look off into the distance, like he’s picturing it even now. “Waterfalls everywhere. I haven’t spent a lot of time there, but every time I do, it makes me feel closer to her.”

“What was she like, your mother?” I ask. He pauses, and I’m afraid I’ve stepped too far. “I’m sorry, that was really personal. I—”