War Camp, Celenore

Koldis studied his king as they walked side by side through the camp. "Forgive me, Your Grace, but matehood looks good on you."

His words made King Talon falter. Then a bark of a laugh burst from the king's lips—such a rare thing, laughter from his king. "It's that obvious?"

"Well, you're not scowling as deeply as usual, so there's that. And you look rather pleased with yourself. Much less grumbling, too. Oh, and you're not snapping at everyone. I take it Claire's appearance here in camp was well received?"

"Better received than yours if you don't stop questioning me about it," the king growled. But there wasn't hostility in his voice.

"Hah! I knew it. She certainly has enough charm to conquer even the hardest of hearts."

"Careful, Koldis, you're on thin enough ice as it is."

A nervous laugh escaped his lips. He held up his hands. "Only bating, my king. No harm intended."

They passed several Drengr as they made their way through the tents and out of camp to the fields beyond. After a tedious journey of flying by night and traveling on foot by day, they'd arrived a few hours prior. It had been a relief to see Claire in the command tent, even if Talon had been nowhere in sight. The king had been occupied up until now.

"Come, tell me of Esterpine," said Talon. "Claire has shown me all that transpired, but something tells me your perspective will offer additional insight."

He hesitated, bracing himself. "I suppose it...might."

He set about relaying everything that had happened, from the moment they set foot in the Spriten city, to when they had departed. He even let a few hints slip about Taylynn, though nothing that would directly allude to their bond. He wanted to discuss that separately. And only after the hammer blow that was coming—

"You truly believe there was nothing you could have done to protect Claire against Kane, to protect your queen from him?" Talon said, an edge creeping into his voice that left him flinching. There it was. Exactly what he'd been waiting for. "I sent you to guard her, Koldis, to protect her."

He stopped walking and swallowed. His shoulders fell when he faced his king and saw the expression there. The disappointment. "I take full responsibility, Your Grace. You sent me in your stead, and I failed to protect her. I cannot even bring myself to think of what might have—"

"Well I can!" Talon cried, losing control of his stoic demeanor. "I can and I have. Every moment since she has returned. Every time I see her and think of what might have happened if he'd succeeded. If he'd taken her to Shadowkeep. Nothing, and I mean nothing would have stopped me from flying north, from abandoning my kingdom, to save her. Nothing would have stopped me from—" He cut himself short and cursed under his breath.

Shame washed over Koldis. His skin burned. He hung his head and quietly said, "I am sorry, Talon. I have failed you." He rubbed his neck, trying to palm the tense muscles that bunched with the strain of his failure.

The king sighed, studying him. "I saw it clear enough in her mind. She would not permit you to accompany her into the forest. I understand how stubborn she is. How headstrong. I should not be angry with you, and yet, I cannot be angry with her either. But I need to be angry—at something, at someone."

"You have every right to be angry with me."

"No. I..." Talon shook his head. "As easy as it is, I am doing what I can to let it go." He huffed a laugh. "She even told me, she told me that if I tried to blame you, or if I didn't forgive you, I would have her to answer to. She protects you, Koldis. Your queen loves and protects you." Talon shook his head as if he couldn't quite believe it. Truthfully, neither could Koldis. To have Claire's love..."None of us deserve her," Talon added. "Least of all me. But...I am trying. I am trying to be worthy of her."

Warmth blossomed in Koldis's chest. He placed his hand on Talon's arm. "You are worthy of her. More than you think. And if it helps you feel better..." He trailed off. Was this the right time? What if this was the only time? What if they didn't get another chance? Impending battle had a way of making everything feel more imminent. Had a way of making a person reveal things they might never say out loud.

"What is it?" The king's brows pulled together.

He opened and closed his mouth. "Taylynn," he said at last.

A look of wary mistrust crossed Talon's face. "What about her?"

"I...I only meant that I am beginning to see what it feels like to feel unworthy of one's mate."

Talon gazed blankly at him, then his eyes widened. He took a step back, pulling his arm free from Koldis's grip. "You...she...her?"

Something defensive flared up in his chest but he pushed it down, keeping his voice calm as he said, "You do not approve, my king?" He arched a brow in challenge.

A crazed laugh fell from Talon's lips. But his king was putting the pieces together. Putting the clues in order. Clues that Koldis had dropped in his retelling. The mentions of her, their randomly crossing paths, her advice to him about the creatures ever-present in his mind. Talon scrubbed a hand over his face. "Do you care for her?"

"She's my mate, Talon." Answer enough, wasn't it? Or...was it?

"Answer the question."

"I...yes. I didn't want to. I hated her at first, and she...I think she felt the same. But that changed. Now I want her more than I have ever wanted anything." He flexed his fingers at his sides.

Talon nodded, studying him with a gaze that left his skin itching. A shrewd gaze. A king's gaze. Then the rarest thing happened. A genuine smile, filled with warmth, stretched across Talon's lips, pulling at his scars. Before he could breathe a sigh of relief, Talon pulled him into a tight embrace and clapped him on the back. "Gods. What is the world coming to? First Claire and now this? Taylynn? Next we know, Jovari will come running with a mate on his arm, and Bedelth, and...Verath...you don't think Desaree...?" The king pulled away and held him at arm's length, questions dancing in his silver gaze.

Koldis could only gaze back at Talon and blink. "You're not...but...my oath. How do I...what do I...?"

Talon clapped him on the shoulder, hard. "A year ago, my answer would be different than it is today. I suppose we both have Claire to thank for that."

"And..." He swallowed. "What is your answer?"

"Take her. Take her as your mate, if you wish. But don't for the gods think I'm letting you out of your oath to serve me, to advise me, to be by my side when I need you. You're still my Shield. We still have a fort to reclaim." That thought alone had them both sobering. "And then there's the matter of her queenship."

The elation he felt rising in his chest was quickly swallowed up. "I have no idea what to do about that." He ran a hand through his hair. Perhaps his king might have some advice.

As if reading his mind, Talon huffed and shook his head. "Let's get through one thing at a time, Koldis. Apparently it's either my mate or yours, and I'll be damed if I jeopardize Dragonwall's future by allowing Claire to be queen of the Sprites a moment longer than necessary. She's got enough on her plate with Kane—"

"I know. I know." He held up his hands, calming his king. "I would never ask that. Taylynn will be queen. She and I have already discussed it. While it's not ideal, we will make the most of the time we have together while we can. She's old, Talon. She's accepted that my lifespan will supersede hers. That when and if we mate, she'll only live as long as I do."

"And she's okay with that?"

Koldis shrugged. "As far as I know."

A smile twitched Talon's lips. "Perhaps there will be a baby Taylynn that might take over for—"

"Don't you dare!" he growled, heat, anger...and yet, a smidge of desire taking root within him. "You might be my king but nothing will keep me from taking you to the ground if you so much as utter another word."

He couldn't let the thought take root. Couldn't bear to think about a child with Taylynn when so much was still so uncertain. That way would breed disappointment.

They held each other's gazes, breathing hard, before they both burst into laughter. It felt good. So good to be able to laugh in spite of everything happening. Here and now, they weren't King Talon and his Shield, they were simply friends.

He hooked his arm around Talon's neck. "Come, Brother, let us continue our walk while we commiserate over all the ways we have been entirely and utterly ensnared by our mates." He dragged them both forward.

And they had, hadn't they? Been entirely and utterly ensnared by their mates? It was a sobering thought, and yet, a hopeful one, too. It meant that no matter what happened, when it was time to take Squall's End, they had mates who cared for them, perhaps even loved them. Things in the days to come would be difficult. A true test to their abilities. But they would face those things nonetheless, and fight for a peaceful world free of Kane and his manipulation. A world where they could be with the mates they loved, cherish their bonds. A world where they could truly be happy.

And wasn't that the most sobering thought of all?

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To be continued...