“I wouldn’t have it any other way. And at least you’re acknowledging that they are in factfun.” He tried a smile, but she wouldn't look at him. “Are you going to tell me what your Hollow magic is? I’m waiting on bated breath here.” He asked gently, afraid he already knew the reason for her secrecy. If she had the blessing of charm, the magic that would pair with it was the most feared Hollow magic of all next to the burden of mind. It was the reason historically so many Hollows were sometimes denied passage to the spring, or if allowed, forced into specific allegiance oaths to be used as the deadliest of weapons.
“You’re really going to pry it out of me, huh?” She rubbed her eyes like she was exhausted. “I don’t want to say it.”
Vesper cleared his throat. “Did you know you had the burden of chaos song before you passed your trial?”
“I only knew of the charm. The song was a lovely surprise.”
“My Hollow magic was too,” he muttered.
“I should clarify that I don’t use the magic. I’m very intentional aboutnotusing it. When I was young … I did. But it feels wrong.”
“If you don’t even use it, what's the big deal?”
Kyrith braced her hand against her ribs and squeezed her eyes shut. “What if it means I’m likeher?” The admission bloated with pain.
Vesper perched himself beside her on the bed and hesitantly took her hand. To his surprise, she didn’t pull away. “You arenothing like Serafelle. Shared magic doesn’t say a single thing about your character or your heart.”
“That’s easy for you to say.” She stared at their joined hands. “Morana graced her town with her wind and used her mimicry for good. She was a saviour.”
“I hate to say it, but you’re being absurdly dramatic.” Before she could snap a reply, he said, “Look at what you’ve done here. It’s something I dreamed I could achieve one day, and you’ve already made it happen.” He leaned in, his voice low. “You can be, and already are, so much more than you know.”
She pulled her hand away. He wanted to know her thoughts, but she was so bloody hard to read.
“What if the bad in me devours the good?” she asked, voice low.
He shook his head. “Impossible.” It was the answer he needed all those months ago too. “And if you need someone to not just listen, but to hear you and understand, I’m here.”
Kyrith shifted on the bed and patted the spot beside her. He’d be a fool to say no, so he propped his back against the wall. She laid her head on a mound of pillows.
“So what’s it like being a prince?” she asked, batting her lashes at him.
His stomach sank. “How long have you known?”
“Since we met.” She examined her fingernails. “Your reputation precedes you, Vesper Merikh of Ellynne. But I can sleep soundly knowing that we’re even. We both lied.” She propped her head on her fist. “You really didn’t think I knew who you were?”
He scrubbed a hand down his face. “Guess I should have.”
“May I ask why you didn’t tell me?”
“You’re going to say it’s moronic.” His head fell back against the wall with a thunk. “I guess I wanted you to like me for … me.”
She smiled then, and it was so breathtaking he smiled with her. “Jokes on you. You kept it from me, and Istilldon’t like you.”
“Ha—now who’s lying.”
She hummed a sultry exquisite sound and settled back against the pillow. His blood rushed as the air shifted, and his skin, his veins, the fucking room was all too hot. It made him pull away but long to sink into her.
“Your month is almost up,” she said somberly.
Vesper nodded. “I leave in two days.” He shifted to stand. “I’ll let you get some rest.”
She caught his wrist. “Wait.” Her teeth sank into her bottom lip. “Since you’re leaving can I—there’s something I want to do first.”
CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE
VESPER
Aday later, per Kyrith’s request, Vesper took her to the mountainside cliff. At least his neck and ribs had finally stopped aching, and even though Kyrith’s injuries persisted, apparently the one day of bedrest made her stir crazy.