Page 63 of Hearts Lost

“That’s messed up,” I reply.

I cross my arms over my chest as bitter tea churns in my gut. If he’s about to try to draw some connection between his fiancee Princess Elanerill and what happened between me and Ithronel in the void, then I’m going to vomit all over his carpet.

“She surprised me in the woods outside the World’s End,” Orryen continues as he runs his fingers over the scar as though this were some sort of heartwarming memory. “She drew a sword, and whack!”

He traces the line of his wound across his skin and then through the wrinkles of his sleeve. I’m impressed despite myself. If Orryen hadn’t had healing magic, that injury might have killed him.

“So the woman you’re about to marry tried to murder you?” I ask. “Is that supposed to make me feel better?”

Orryen grins at me. “There’s a lot of history between the Kingdom of the Summer and the Kingdom of the Fall,” he says. “None of it’s good. But it’s not the end of the story. If Elanerill and I can work things out, then there’s hope for anyone.”

I huff a breath out through my nose and try not to roll my eyes. He’s such an insufferable optimist, Orryen. He’s such a natural leader.

“Yes,” I reply. “Well. Thank you for that charming, romantic story about the time your fiancee tried to kill you.”

“You know how we worked it out?” Orryen asks.

“Sex,” I reply.

His grin gets even wider. “We talked to each other.”

Okay, that’s it. There are limits to how much of this crap I can take. I push back from the chair and come to my feet, my exhausted legs screaming in protest.

“I’m still on leave?” I ask.

Orryen nods. He’s smiling at me like he’s just won the argument. Which he most definitely has not.

“Then I’m taking my leave in the Outer Ring,” I say.

Orryen threads his hands together and rests them on his knee. “Suit yourself,” he says.

I scowl. I expected him to put up more of an argument than that.

“And, hey, maybe you’re right,” Orryen continues, grinning widely. “Maybe freezing your ass off in the dark out there will be much easier than talking to the woman who’s betraying her entire kingdom in exchange for your safety.”

And there it is.

“Go to hell,” I growl at my best friend.

“Have fun out there,” he replies, with a little wave.

I slam the door shut behind me.