Page 17 of The Prince's Fealty

He sniffed and pulled back just enough that he could look Pel in the eyes. He remembered when he’d thought their brown inferior to his sibling’s. Obviously, Pel’s eyes were the best shade of brown that had ever existed.

Little drops of rain began to fall. He blinked and ignored them, because he had something important to say.

“I know you wanted to wait. I didn’t, but I respected your choice. I thought people could only get bonded at a ceremony, and I swear I wouldn’t ever try to trick you into it. It was all real for me by then, and although I made the terrible decision to hide the truth from you about the original plan, I was—Iam—all in for our future together. As reluctant as I was to admit it, you had a point about speaking reasonably to my brother. So I know this is quite possibly the most terrible timing ever, and now it’s all mixed up with the treason charge, and IswearI never meant to put you in any sort of danger.” He cleared his throat and admitted, “But if I’m just speaking selfishly for me, I’m so happy that we’re bonded.”

That was probably the most graceless speech Tor had ever made, but a slow smile spread across Pel’s face until he was beaming at Tor.

“Me, too,” Pel admitted. “It’sdefinitelyterrible timing, but, uh, when everything was going wrong in the throne room, there was part of me that was thinking that if I’d just said yes when you asked, then there was no way that anybody could keep us apart.” He made a bit of a face. “I hadn’t thought about being actually thrown in the dungeons. Or the rest of it.”

Tor felt a bit lightheaded, not quite able to express his relief that his selfish original intentions hadn’t ruined everything.

“Honestly,” Tor admitted, a bit giddy, “it’s actually the one thing that made me glad you were angry and stormed off. It meant Varex assumed you were a pawn rather than a participant, and I didn’t have to worry that you were going to wind up in the dungeon with me, about to be executed for treason.” He grimaced and admitted haltingly, “I can probably convince him to try to break—”

Pel interrupted before Tor could even finish the sentence, expression stern. “Absolutely not! Nobody is going to be executed for treason—except maybe the people who actually committed it. We’re going to go back to Alossa, and we’re going to get to the bottom of this. The High King is going to realize that you didn’t do anything wrong—and hey, he might feel so guilty that he won’t mind so much about the bond.”

Tor could only laugh, delighted by the hopeful suggestion.

“Yes,” he agreed immediately, “let’s go with that.”

Tor would take any advantage he could get at this point. He’d acknowledged he needed to do better with his brother, that he needed to stop letting himself be drawn into arguments. But if it took some guilt to move things along? Tor would lay it on thick in a heartbeat, especially now that Pel’s fate was entwined with his own.

Pel leaned in, and Tor met his lips eagerly, sinking into the warm touch. Pel didn’t let it go on for too long, which was probably just as well, because Tor was already breathing heavily and feeling a bit dizzy, which was just embarrassing.

“I missed you,” Pel whispered, a soft admission against his lips. “I was so worried.”

“I apologize for worrying you.” Tor wondered if there was a point at which he wouldn’t feel the need to apologize anymore, or if this would remain a giant blot that he’d feel guilty about forever. He’d accept that, if it meant he got to keep Pel. That was complicated now, too. “If I’d realized that I was putting your life in danger, I would have tried to come up with another plan, but I didn’t know what else to do.”

Pel shook his head, his expression soft. “No, you had to save Cala. I understand that. I would have done the same thing. I tried to send guards, but I guess they didn’t get there in time.”

Tor remembered the commotion in the hall right before he brought the ceiling down. Was that the guards or reinforcements for the mercenaries? He hadn’t been sure, and honestly, he’d have done the same thing again if it meant ensuring Cala’s safety.

But it did raise other questions. “How did you get back into the castle?”

Tor listened with astonishment and not a little alarm to how Pel hadfollowed the mercenaries.

He swallowed. “That’s somewhat terrifying.”

Pel scoffed. “Excuse me, mister throws himself out of windows after bringing the ceiling of the entire room crashing down while he has no magic!”

Tor couldn’t help but laugh. “It’s way scarier when you’re doing it.”

“Right back at you,” Pel argued. “Let’s… try to take care of ourselves and one another, all right?”

“Yes,” Tor agreed. “I like us working together. I clearly couldn’t have got through this without you. What happened after you caught me at the window?”

Pel explained about sneaking Tor out through the secret entrance and carrying him until Cavun found them. Tor had thought he’d gotten better about not underestimating Pel, but clearly, he still had some work to do.

“You’re amazing,” Tor told him.

Pel’s ears went red, but his lips tipped up into a shy smile as he continued his explanation about the hurried journey back up the Great River into Tond, and finally the horse ride and taking shelter in this cave to try to regroup, only to be found by Tama and then Bavil.

“It’s kind of unbelievable,” Tor admitted.

“Tell me about it,” Pel agreed. “I think we’re really lucky that both Bavil and I remembered this cave. But I was conscious through all of it, and it still doesn’t seem quite real.”

“Speaking of,” Tor said, “I still don’t really understand why I’m here. I’m so grateful!” he hastened to add. “But even if I landed on you when I fell out the window, how did I survive? I saw the color of my magic. I felt…” He hesitated for a moment. “I don’t know exactly how to describe it, but I’m pretty sure it’s what it feels like when you use all your core magic.”

A viscerally wrong tearing sensation deep inside, like something fundamental was being wrenched away. Worse even than the feeling of repulsion he’d felt towards Terila’s magic, or the moment when Varex had bound his magic, and it had felt like part of himself was suddenly gone.