Page 85 of Elemental Becoming

Lyra shrugs, grinning. “I saved your reputation and your future that day. You should be thanking me.”

“You made me stand there while they all pitied me!” I toss a napkin at her. “They thought I wasn’t right in the head!”

Lyra dodges effortlessly. “I mean, would you rather be pitied or married?”

Sera lifts her glass, eyes twinkling. “To Amara, our accidental bride.”

Rowena clinks her glass against Sera’s. “And to her valiant escape into the woods.”

Lyra leans in, barely containing her laughter. “And to the poor boy whose heart she absolutely shattered.”

I point at Lyra again, still riding the wave of it. “For the record, I’ve saved your life more than once.”

Rowena straightens, eyes narrowing. “Wait. I thought we agreed that was too soon.”

Lyra scoffs. “Please. I’m fine.” She gestures toward me. “And she is absolutely never letting that go.”

I grin. “Not a chance.”

Lyra lifts her glass. “Also, no one is telling Thane about that boy.”

Rowena snorts. “Of course he’d be jealous. He can be a bit of a hothead.”

Sera’s lips curve faintly. “A bit?”

Lyra snorts. “He’d hunt that poor man down.” She leans forward, lowering her voice just slightly. “Did you see the way he looked at Kieran?”

I wince.

“Exactly,” Lyra says, satisfied. “That farmer’s son would be nothing more than a bard’s tale if he found out.”

“Wait—wait—” Rowena cuts in. “Who’s Kieran, and why am Ionly now hearing about this man Thane is jealous of?”

Heat rushes to my face. “It’s nothing. Just a soldier from the outpost.”

“A soldier Mara kissed,” Lyra adds helpfully.

Sera’s brows lift. “My word. Youarebusy,” she teases.

“It’s nothing!” I protest. “One drunken kiss.” My gaze flicks to Rowena. “Before Thane.”

“Oh, it’s fine, Amara.” Rowena waves me off.

Lyra leans in again, dropping her voice conspiratorially. “And he’s here. In the capital.”

“For all the Elemental gods, Ly,” I groan, dragging a hand down my face.

Sera barks out a laugh.

“He is?!” Rowena exclaims. “Oh, I need to meet him!” Rowena glances at me with a mischievous look in her eyes. “To Amara, our very own heartbreaker.”

They raise their glasses, cheering.

I let out a defeated sigh as they drink to my suffering.

Rowena leans back in her chair, one leg crossed over the other, studying me for a moment longer than necessary. Then, something in her expression shifts.

“I am glad you’re here,” she says.