“I’m not like you,” she says, voice emotionless. “I’m not—I don’t easily accept others into my confidence. And the ones I have accepted either end up dead or betraying me…” She says the words quickly, like they’re just a fact, but her voice cracks, and that sound has me on my feet and moving to stand beside her again. But I don’t touch her this time, just give her my presence as she continues. “Thorne, I’m not good. I care for my people, yes, but I—the things I’ve done to protect Thayaria…” She’s lost in her own thoughts, finally revealing her emotions, so I stay silent, even if what she tells me breaks my heart. Her expression steels, like she’s going to tell me something truly terrible. “I planned to kill you when you finished getting me information about the rebels. I don’t know if I would have, but I still planned—” The way her voice cracks tells me the risk she doesn’t accept this bond is low. She cares for me, she just needs time to realize it. “And you don’t even know—don’t understand. My power, it’s… my power is different. It’s not good. I’m not safe.” Tears build in her eyes, but only a single teardrop escapes. I wipe it away, keeping my gaze locked on hers. While my curiosity about her power has plagued me for months, I don’t press it. It’s torture not wrapping her up in my arms.

“I understand why you would’ve planned to kill me. It was the smart decision, one I know that had our roles been reversed, Silene would have advised I do to you.” I give her a nudge and a grin. “Laurel, I told you before—there’s no part of you I fear. But let me amend that statement. There’s no part of you I don’t admire, that I don’t respect. And there’s no part of you I wish you to hide from me. I want to see every side of you, Laurel, even the parts you can’t bear to look at yourself.”

“What if I’m too afraid to show you?” she asks, so much vulnerability in her voice it makes me ache. I take both of her hands in mine, then cradle them on my chest, next to my aether-heart.