“I know.” He smiles. “And it’s okay that you need time to process this. Maybe it’s just the impulsive streak Silene always says will get me in trouble, but I’m not struggling at all. Just last night I remembered the way the mist reacted to me when I entered Thayaria. It caressed my face, I swear. Fionn and Silene teased me so much about it when I told them. I thought it had done the same to them. I was sorely mistaken.” His smile and corresponding dimple take my breath away.

“I forgot about that! I felt a weird zap of energy when you entered that I’d never felt before. I just thought it was because my enemy entered.” I give him a wink, and he lets out a deep and full laugh. We continue down the path in silence, brightly colored buildings now on either side of us as we enter the city proper. When we reach the bustling streets, he takes my hand and has us walk single file so we can weave through the crowds of people making their way home for the day. But even as we weave and bob, he never releases my hand. Eventually, we stop in front of a red storefront in the merchant district. It’s been restored already, though many buildings around it are still under construction. Thorne leads me through the front door and into an empty cafe.

“This is Mara’s family bakery,” he explains, and my eyes widen in delight. “Silene and Fionn have been helping them rebuild their store. When we asked if we could use it for a private dinner with the Queen, they practically jumped through the ceiling. And since Mara was still in town, I asked her to whip up an entire cake just for you.” Thorne’s eyes sparkle.

“How did you know who Mara even was?”

“When Sarah brought the cake that day we trained, you mentioned Mara and her family’s bakery. I remembered. It was easy enough to seek Sarah out and ask her how to find the baker who makes your favorite chocolate cake. Then I connected the dots between the family Silene and Fionn were helping and your Mara.” He shrugs, like it’s the easiest thing in the world. “We have more food than just cake,” he says with a grin, gesturing to a small table in the room’s corner laid with dishes of food and candles.