Page 65 of A Legacy of the Light

He strokes a thumb over my cheek, moving impossibly closer. My heart seizes.

What is he doing?

The dark look in his eyes has turned into something wilder, more frenzied.

“You’re still pinning me,” I point out, breaking the spell he has on me. He pulls his hand away from my face and lifts off me slowly, as if he doesn’t want to move. His absence leaves me feeling cold.

“I should go back to my rooms,” he says, standing.

“No!” I burst out. There’s something comforting about having him here with me. Fighting my embarrassment, I continue, “I mean . . . I would prefer if you stayed. I would feel safer,” I add quickly. “I’ll take the sofa.”

“You will not,” he tells me sternly. “I’ll sleep out here if you want me to stay, but can I use the bathroom?”

“Of course.”

He goes to the bedroom, moving slowly, and still with the slight limp from before. While he’s in there, I set the sofa up for him with a few extra cushions and the blanket he was already using. Tavish returns having taken off more of the armor from his legs, and his boots. He smells faintly of the soap Reyne had left me.

“Is your leg okay?” I ask him.

“Yes. It’ll heal with some more rest, but I haven’t been wounded.”

“Okay. Good.” I pause awkwardly, not knowing what else to say.

“I used the other toothbrush. I hope you don’t mind?” he asks.

“Not at all. Use whatever you need.”

He has more right to use any of that stuff than me. But I like that he’s being so considerate, even after what he’s faced tonight.

“Well, goodnight,” I mumble as I move past him to go into the bedroom.

He catches my wrist as I walk past him and looks down, towering over me.

“Are you sure you’re not hurt?” he asks again.

I twist my wrist so we’re holding hands and rub my thumb down the back of his in a slow motion. “I’m fine, I swear.”

He squeezes my hand gently before letting me go and bidding me goodnight.

◆◆◆

I don’t sleep well. I’m unsure if it’s because Tavish is on the other side of the door, or if it’s because the rebels had managed to get inside the palace. When I wake again a few hours later, it’s around eight-thirty. My eyelids are heavy and I feel an irritable mood settle over me.

I see to my needs in the bathroom and brush my hair and teeth before putting on my robe and heading into the living room.

Tavish is gone, and something like disappointment turns the corners of my mouth down. The blanket he used is neatly folded, and the cushions are back in their place on the sofa. There’s a note on the small table next to the fireplace.

Thank you for letting me stay, and for taking care of me. T.

A small smile pulls at my lips and I ignore the fact that I asked him to stay, not that I let him. I make myself coffee and breakfast, eggs and toast, and consider what today will be like after last night. Hesitation courses through me, surely the city will be quiet and healing after what happened. Reyne will be busy with her family so I don’t think I will be seeing her today but I’ll visit Finneus in the library and make sure he’s okay.

I want to help in any way I can.

Deciding I’m going to find Tavish this morning, to see if he’s healed and if there is anything I can do, I get ready for the day.

I’m about to knock on his door when I spot Reyne down the hall approaching my room.

“Reyne! Hey!” I jog down the corridor to give her a quick hug. “Is your father okay?”