INICIAR SESIÓNVioletMy brow lifted. “You’re kind of funny,” I said, “for someone who was ready to sacrifice himself a few hours ago.”Kylan chuckled, slightly rolling his eyes. “But I didn’t,” he said, his hand sliding to my waist. He gave it a squeeze, and a jolt spread through my body.I let out a laugh and moved to nudge his shoulder, but he caught my wrist before I could do it, pulling me closer. His face was close now, his brown eyes locked onto mine.The mood had changed in a second, and whatever I was about to say was gone. My smile faded too as my eyes dropped to his mouth, and suddenly he felt way too close.His lips curved, neither of us saying anything. I could hear my own breathing, loud and clear in this small hut.I smirked at him. “And if I told you that you were off probation,” I teased, “what would you do about it?”He didn’t say anything back. His hands settled on my hips before he lifted me onto the edge of the counter with ease, pulling a quiet sigh from me.“What do you want m
VioletHe was right.I done it before.I had stood in front of a council, led an entire team into battle today, looked Grandpa Aelius in the eye, and asked him why he was giving up in front of Bloodstone Haven.It wasn’t that I couldn’t find my voice. We were long past that.Lumia hummed, making her presence known deep within me, and I could tell she was agreeing with every word Kylan said. Of course she was.“My biggest fear is disappointing all of them,” I said quietly. “I don’t want to get it wrong, and it feels like every single time I finally open my mouth and say what I think, that’s exactly when I make a mistake. So it’s easier to just…not.”Kylan’s hand found my waist, and our eyes connected. “Everyone makes mistakes, Violet,” he said simply. “I make them all the time. You’ve seen me make them.”I couldn’t argue with that.“And I don’t even know what mistake you keep talking about,” he went on. “Because from where I’m standing, you did amazing today.” He let out a light chuckl
VioletI had shaken so many hands by now that they had started to ache. It was the strangest thing to be happy about, but I was.I was just as happy, sitting on a log with Kylan by my side as we ate with what felt like the entire village watching us. All the others had already escaped, as did the younger villagers, so it was just the two of us.My eyes drifted to the bowl of vegetable soup that had been pushed into our hands. I stirred it, then took the smallest spoonful I could get away with.“And?” an elder woman asked. She had been watching me all evening and clearly wasn’t going anywhere until she had an answer. I took a bite, then nodded, barely savoring the taste. But it was Mom’s favorite, so I would like it too.“It’s good,” I said once I had swallowed. Then, because they were all still staring, I said it again. “It’s really good. Wow!” I gave a bigger reaction.Relieved looks passed between the villagers, followed by soft murmurs. Kylan let out a breath beside me and gave me
VioletMy eyes immediately traveled to the line of Soothsayers gathered near him. It had to be one of them.Aelius took a step forward.“Jason will speak for me,” Aelius said, surprising us with his next words. “Whatever he says, you treat as my own.”A murmur of agreement rolled through the villagers. Nobody looked surprised or offended. They had already expected it. Not even Jason seemed fazed by it.But the real question still remained. Why would Aelius suddenly decide to take a step back? He turned his gaze to me.“Regarding the realm,” he said. “That is not a matter for the village’s voice. It is a matter for the one who is stubborn enough to change what I have seen.”I blinked at him, hoping whatever came next would be one big joke. Why was he looking at me?“I doubted this child once. I am not ashamed to say it.” His voice dropped, gentler than I had ever heard it. “But today she stood in front of death and did not step aside. She was willing to die so that others would not.”T
VioletWe came to a stop as we reached the end of the tunnel.I gulped loudly, my gaze shifting to the side of Kylan’s face. Jason had surprised me by saying that Aelius was ready to speak about the timeline of the battle, and I knew it wasn’t just me.Aelius barely ‘spoke’, so if he would’ve seen something while we were away, it must’ve been something serious.A small smile tugged at my lips, though a bit of embarrassment came with it. The talk Kylan and I had out there was good. I meant all of it, every word. But I cannot live without you, out loud, to his face, had been a little dramatic, even for me.I could admit that now. Still, I needed him to hear it, and from his reaction, I was convinced he had.Feeling my eyes on him, Kylan tightened his grip on the cart handle and looked back at me with a soft smile of his own. I smiled wider, and so did he, until Jason let out a cough that snapped us both back to reality."So." He wiggled his brows.His hand rested on the door as he looked
KylanI let the cart handle slip out of my hand and took her wrists. Valerius had already found his way back. ‘She’s so tired of you, it’s not even worth the argument.’ He said lazily.“I am listening, Violet.”“Not always.” She shook her head. “I love you so much that I do not know what to do without you,” she said, her chest rising and falling with each word. “I cannot live without you,” she swallowed. “I don’t think you fully understand that you’re not only hurting yourself, but you’re hurting me too, and I need you to stop hurting me. Please.”My throat went tight, and my fingers trembled as they traveled to cup her cheek. She placed her hands on my own and pulled me down so she could rest her forehead against mine. “So next time,” she said, “before you decide to do things on your own again...think about me.” She pulled back and looked at me with steady eyes. “Promise me...you’ll at least think about me.”“I’m always thinking about you.” I kissed the tip of her nose and pulled her







