Page 26 of Shattered Crown

“It's too dangerous,” Thorne insisted, but Silas could see him considering it.

“Everything we do is dangerous,” Silas countered. “At least this puts me somewhere I understand. Court politics, I know. It's the one battlefield where I have the advantage.”

Their argument grew heated, magic crackling in the air around them. Elena and Kai retreated to a respectful distance as words turned to shouts.

“You don't understand what you're asking,” Thorne snarled, his form flickering between human and something wilder. “To send you back to them, to risk losing you to that world again...”

“I'm not asking,” Silas shot back. “I'm telling you what needs to be done. This is my choice, Thorne. My risk to take.”

The words hung between them until Thorne surged forward, claiming Silas's mouth in a brutal kiss. They fell to the forest floor, hands tearing at clothing, magic spiraling wild around them.

“I can't lose you,” Thorne gasped between desperate kisses. “Not to them, not to anyone.”

“You won't,” Silas promised, rolling them so he straddled Thorne's hips. “Because I carry your world within me now. They can't take that away.”

“If we do this,” Thorne said, “we do it my way. I follow close enough to reach you if needed. We maintain constant contact through the bond and crystal. And the moment I sense real danger, I extract you regardless of consequences.”

“Agreed,” Silas said, knowing some of those terms would be impossible to keep but willing to promise anything to ease Thorne's fear.

Elena provided court-appropriate clothing from her seemingly bottomless pack. The fine fabrics felt foreign against Silas's skin after weeks in practical travel wear. As Thorne helped him dress, each touch lingered, as if memorizing the feel of him.

“Remember who you truly are,” Thorne whispered, lips brushing Silas's pulse point. “Remember what we're fighting for.”

Silas caught Thorne's hand, pressing it to his heart. “Every beat belongs to you. This is just a mask I wear.”

The hardest moment came at the crossroads where they had to part ways. Silas and Kai would take the main road to the capital while the others followed hidden paths. Thorne pulled Silas into a fierce kiss, completely uncaring of their audience.

“Stay safe,” he demanded rather than asked. “Come back to me.”

“Always,” Silas promised, feeling Thorne's fear and trust war within their bond.

* * *

As they rode away,Silas touched the crystal at his throat. It pulsed warm against his skin, carrying Thorne's presence like a heartbeat. Whatever lay ahead, he wouldn't face it alone.

The main roads told a disturbing story. Military checkpoints had sprouted like mushrooms after rain. Soldiers wore his father's colors, and supply wagons rolled steadily toward the Eldergrove border. War preparations were evident in every village they passed.

“Your old man's not subtle, is he?” Kai observed as they navigated yet another checkpoint.

“Subtlety was never his strength,” Silas replied. “He prefers overwhelming force to finesse.”

The closer they drew to the capital of Highcrest, the more Silas felt himself changing. His posture straightened, his speech patterns shifted, and the mask of nobility settled over his features like an old, ill-fitting coat. Kai watched the transformation with obvious concern.

“Don't lose yourself in there,” his friend warned one evening. “Remember what's real.”

“I know what's real,” Silas assured him, touching the crystal. Through it, he felt Thorne's steady presence, distant but constant.

Their most significant encounter came at an inn just outside the capital. Commander Diana Vale sat at a corner table, dressed in civilian clothes but unmistakably military in bearing. Her presence was no coincidence.

“Lord Ashworth,” she greeted formally as they approached. “Welcome back to civilization.”

“Commander,” Silas replied, playing the game. “Enjoying your leave?”

“Something like that.” Her eyes flicked meaningfully to the other patrons. “Perhaps we could speak privately?”

In a small private dining room, her demeanor changed completely. “Your father's plans are more extensive than you know,” she said without preamble. “Not everyone in the military agrees with his methods.”

“Meaning?”

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