Page 29 of Mistress of Hours

“No, I’m being entirely serious, and I don’t really know what to think about it,” Evienne answered. She wanted to feel excited, but she was still scared as well. Cecelia made her way over to the couch and sat down next to Evienne, her expression now more shocked than anything else.

“How…how did you come by this information?” Cecelia asked carefully.

“There are someanatomicaldifferences that we, uh, stumbled upon. It’s Orion if you hadn’t already put that together,” Evienne added.

“Well, obviously, you two seem…close,” Cecelia said, suppressing her laughter. “He seems really kind, Evi. Does spending time with him make you happy?”

Evienne paused a moment to consider. “Yes. Yes, it does make me happy to spend time with him. I think I’m starting to have feelings for him.”

Cecelia took Evienne’s hand in hers and gave her a small smile. After a long moment, Evienne looked into her friend’s face.

“What do you think I should do?”

“Do? What do you mean ‘do’? Justbe! Just feel what you feel and see where it leads. Don’t be afraid, Evi. You seem happy, and he seems kind, and those are the most important things. I know it’s overwhelming, and who knows if the bond thing is even real, but what you’re feeling for Orion is! I think you should do whatfeelsright.”

“But he’s going to leave in a few weeks, and I’ll probably never see him again,” Evienne said, surprised at the emotion now clogging her throat.

“He may, and it might hurt you. Or he might stay, or take you with him, or any number of possibilities, no matter how unlikely.You cannot control the future, but you can miss out on the present. I think you ought to keep an open mind.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Orion awoke alonein Evienne’s bed, the smell of her surrounding him as he lay tangled in the soft sheets. He let consciousness settle over him; he savored his sense of peace as he slowly took in his surroundings. Every inch of this room felt like her.

As memories of the previous night trickled into his mind, he smiled; his Còmhanam was magnificent. He had planned to tell her what he suspected once they had a chance to get to know each other better; he had certainlynotplanned to just knot her immediately. That could have been an absolute disaster, but she seemed to have taken it as well as possible…the knot and the news.

She wasn’t here, though, and worry took root in his mind at her absence. Perhaps she had just pretended to be alright with it until she could get away from him. He didn’t think she was the sort to do that, but he supposed he didn’t really know her all that well yet. He knew enough, though, to know he’d turn his whole life upside down to be with her.

Evienne was a masterpiece—open and bright and kind, but ruthless and strategic when she needed to be. He had never met anyone like her.

Orion dressed quickly and made his way back to his own room to freshen up. Waiting around wouldn’t do any good, and he needed to talk with Solon. Not only had he made their mission extremely vulnerable by sharing their true purpose with Evienne, he had gone and mated the High Sangviere of Ichorna. That had not been part of the plan.

He knocked on Solon’s door a short time later, and Solon answered immediately.

“Orion, where in the world did you go last night? I tried to check on you when I got back from the concert, but you weren’t in your room,” he said, an edge of irritation in his voice.

“Well, I was…” Orion began but thought better of spilling his secrets here in the hallway. “Let’s take a walk and I’ll tell you.”

The two stayed quiet as they made their way out the gate of the palace and onto the main boulevard that ran through the heart of Lucinne. Once they were off palace grounds, Orion felt more sure they weren’t being spied on, so he began.

“I was with my Còmhanam,” he said plainly. “Evienne is my Còmhanam.”

Solon showed no signs of shock other than a slight widening of his eyes. Orion remained silent and gave Solon a moment to process.

“Is this simply a hunch, or do you have a concrete reason to believe this?” Solon asked, his voice hushed and even.

“I have a very real reason to believe it. The uh…stories are true,” Orion said, running a hand through his hair as embarrassment colored his cheeks. Solon did surprise Orion then, as a booming laugh escaped him. Orion had not heard his friend laugh like that in years.

“The stories are true? Incredible! I am sorry for laughing, I am simply trying to imagine what it was like to accidentally come across that particular aspect of the Còmhanam bond. I can’t believe such a thing could happen without our magic, but who are we to question the workings of Aosda? I believe congratulations are in order. How did she…take the news?” Solon asked, a broad smile now adorning his handsome face.

“She seemed alright, but I am worried about her. It’s a lot of new information to come to terms with. It isn’t how I would have chosen to tell her, I will say that.”

“I should think not!” Solon said, another laugh rolling from him.

“Solon, there’s something else I should tell you,” Orion said, glancing anxiously at Solon, who waited silently for Orion to continue.

“I told her of our true purpose here and asked for her help.” Orion was confident in his decision, but he was unsure of how Solon would react. They had discussed the possibility of asking someone on the inside for help, but they hadn’t agreed it should be Evienne. Solon was silent for a long moment before he nodded his head.

“I think this was a wise choice. I wish you had talked with me, obviously, but the High Sangviere gives me the impression of a woman of integrity. She does not appear to be blindly loyal to Aldith, and if she really is by some miracle your Còmhanam, then she is certainly a woman of honor to be your match. Did she agree to help us?”

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