Page 110 of The Prince's Sacrifice

Tama stretched out on Tor’s other side, not close enough to touch, but clearly ready should she be needed.

Bavil rearranged the blankets so that he was by Pel’s side, and then the light winked out. Pel wondered for a moment why he and Tama didn’t sleep together… but he supposed it was prettyawkward to wind up with your little brother in the middle of your assignation.

Somewhere in the long journey back, Pel had ceased to have any shame about curling up next to Tor no matter how they were sleeping, and he felt even more comfortable now that he knew that his magic was helping. It might not matter anymore since Tama had boosted Tor’s magic, but that wasn’t going to stop Pel.

Besides, being tucked up against Tor was the best way to feel his heartbeat, and Pel didn’t think it was his imagination that it was already stronger and more frequent than it had been since Pel had caught Tor’s unconscious body at the castle in Nexa.

The sun was well up when Pel woke, though it was battling with the clouds that seemed so omnipresent in the mountains these days. It was a far cry from waking before dawn and getting immediately underway for yet another day of rowing.

He checked Tor’s pulse out of habit, relaxing as he felt how much stronger it was than yesterday.

Tor still didn’t stir, but Pel reminded himself that this had happened when Wavilon had loaned him magic after the first time he’d magically exhausted himself. He hadn’t woken instantly, and Pel should stop expecting that now.

Pel ran a critical eye over the man. Tor’s color was definitely better. He was still too pale, but his lips were pink again, and laying a hand on Tor’s forehead confirmed that he was warmer than he had been since they’d fled Alossa.

Pel twined his hand with Tor’s, curling their fingers together. Even knowing now that he was doing this to connect them, Pel didn’t want to stop. Tama had done more good with her magicthan Pel ever could at this stage, but he always wanted to be close to Tor.

He wanted to stay close to him forever—which they could maybe have now that they were bonded… as long as they sorted everything out with the High King. Admittedly, this seemed like a tall order at the moment, but given everything that Tor had just survived, maybe it was possible.

Might the High King try to break the bond? King Forex would undoubtedly have done so, furious that he’d been thwarted, but fortunately, Tor didn’t owe the man his allegiance, so it wasn’t possible. The High King was the only one who could try to break the bond of people from different countries within the United Realms.

Surely, the High King wouldn’t attempt such a thing… not unless he confirmed the charge of treason, in which case Pel risked death either with Tor’s death or with the High King trying to break the bond beforehand.

Pel didn’t like either of those options.

Technically, he and Tor could be compelled to live apart, but it was rare for anyone to challenge a bond in that way. Occasionally, people decided they didn’t suit and made the choice to separate without breaking the bond, but that was unusual. Outside interference was almost unheard of.

Pel was aware these circumstances could definitely be called unusual, but he had to hope that common sense would win out. Like it or not, want Princess Terila or not, Pel and Tor were bonded now, and trying to undo that could kill both of them.

Pel wouldneverhave done it deliberately, but having done it accidentally, he was relieved by this particular side effect. It made it alotmore difficult for anyone to try to take Tor away from him.

When Tama rose, she checked on Tor and gave him another loan of magic.

“He probably doesn’t really need it,” she confided, “but it won’t hurt.”

Pel was desperately grateful for every bit of help.

They—by which Pel meantnot him—made breakfast and then sat around the fire to eat it. It was raining again, and they didn’t have to go out in it if they didn’t want to. They really had nothing to do today except sit around and wait for Tor to regain consciousness. It was at once liberating and a little bit off-putting. Pel had been able to hold it together this long because he’d had a clear purpose. Protecting Tor had taken up all of his energy.

Now… Tor was on the mend. Pel had connected with Bavil inadvertently and didn’t have to make the decision of whether to trust him or not. They’d reached… if not their ultimate destination, because they probably weren’t going to live in this cave for the rest of their lives, at least the next stopping point.

Once Tor was awake, he would no doubt have plenty of his own opinions about what they should do next.

Pel looked forward to arguing with him about what was probably going to be an asinine plan.

It was glorious to get to rest with the weight of responsibility off his shoulders for a little while… and Pel felt totally antsy already, and he’d been awake for all of an hour.

Cavun wouldn’t let him help clean up after breakfast, so Pel went to pull a few more logs from the stack of firewood so they wouldn’t run short.

The cave was thankfully dry, but the rain made it feel damp, and Pel thought they would probably keep the fire lit the whole day, a little bit of warmth as well as increased light in the cave to combat the overcast skies.

He groaned as he clasped the firewood. Everyone looked at him.

He cleared his throat, feeling his face heat. “Sorry. Just my arms.” And hands and shoulders and back and legs. “It’s been a long few days of rowing.”

Beluna made a face. “Tell me about it. I thought the time on the horses would help, but it’s like they’re competing for soreness now.”

Yeah, Pel had noticed that, too. He normally rode regularly, but thanks to the trip to Alossa, he’d spent about three weeksnotriding, and rowing definitely hadn’t used the same muscles.