ed until Leo

lutching a wooden horse one of the guards had carved him. He'd

while. He never rushed her. But tonight, there was something different in his ey

flames, her arms wra

t look," he

t lo

says you're no

n. "It's hard to be presen

resting on his knees, voice soft. "

tensed

said. "And not just becau

omething deep

above my station, thinking... thinking love could be enough." She gave a hollow laugh. "He used to say

darkened, but h

Even when he stopped touching me. Even when he made me his seco

uld be okay. I didn't care if they called me names. Commoner. Golddigger. Nothing. I didn't care.

s shak

didn't i

e. Starved me. I thought I'd die in that dungeon. I prayed to die. But

, deliberately - and

knelt beside her. Bu

looked

ly a breath, he said, "I kno

yes snapp

only values power. To lose trust in every face

ath stu

I see you. And you're not weak. You're not worthless

. Kindness wasn't rare - it was impossible at court. Yet here he w

" she whisper

smiled

ho believes you

m. Then, as Elira watched, he touched her shoulder light

t sleep f

in years, something other t

____

d the palace. Morning sun streamed through the hig

ound - as Leor tried to stuff three

she said, brushing ber

Leor a cup of warm milk. "He e

ira said, but there was f

loose today, slightly mussed from sleep, and the morning light caught the tired shado

?" he said, his voice low

nced up

said. "You and Leo

The words warmed her chest

oo," she

watched her. Not hungrily. Not even adoringly

made he

them, his hand brushing hers by ac

li

nd pushed back from

N

d. "What'

way from him. "Don't

e wh

m yours

an bl

er voice flat now. "Admired. Cherished. Until I was

li

ended with my son being whipped and me rotting in

a ringin

s big eyes shifting fro

ly. "You think I'm

d to getting what he want

ime, something flickered in his expre

t you were," he

jaw and turned

," she added. "I'll never ow

r her shoulder, he had already turned to Leor, help

houlders

etween them? It