Leonie shifted carefully in front of the man and leaned back against his chest. She was so exhausted she could hardly think; all she wanted was to sleep.
The man wrapped his arms around her waist, and that soft warmth radiating from him lulled the drained girl to sleep within moments.
Hearing the quiet sound of her breathing, Dorian relaxed and drew Leonie a little closer.
They rode like that for about an hour in silence, while his friends talked quietly around them about what awaited them on the road. Dorian's thoughts, however, were far away. The girl sleeping in his lap demanded all of his attention.
If only he could always see her this peaceful, like now, when she slept.
He gently brushed a few curly red strands from her face and barely restrained the urge to press a kiss to the crown of her head.
"You're being careless," a grim voice said beside him.
Xavier reined his horse up alongside and looked down at the girl.
"Innocent beauty is often deceptive—you have to look behind it for the truth."
Dorian glared at him, annoyed. He understood the man's caution, but it was becoming extremely irritating.
"Xavier. I don't appreciate you questioning my decisions and my motivations," he said coldly.
Xav had always been the critical and skeptical voice of the group, but now a great deal depended on whether the old elf supported him or not.
"Your motivation?" Xavier chuckled quietly. "The problem is that your emotions have fogged your mind, don't you think?"
Dorian lifted his chin. Perhaps Xavier was right that Leonie's fate was not indifferent to him—but he hadn't forgotten why they had come here. And although he was not walking the path his father had chosen, the path he himself had chosen could be just as viable as his father's.
"I don't think I owe you an explanation—" he began, but Xavier cut him off.
"Oh yes, you do. Perhaps you've forgotten, but you are our king, even if you refuse to accept it. You absolutely owe your people an explanation."
Dorian's arms tightened unconsciously around the sleeping girl.
"You can believe me when I say I'm thinking clearly. The girl is a forest elf, a guardian of the tree by birthright. Her power might help save it."
"To me it looks more like you're trying to save your heart with her," Xavier said flatly.
Dorian was stunned by his words.
"Come now, we all just saw your face when Marcus touched her—you've completely fallen for her," the elf went on relentlessly.
"Hey, leave me out of this," Marcus protested.
He himself hadn't noticed Dorian's reaction, but it didn't bother him—in fact, it filled him with satisfaction. It would be easier for all of them if Dorian finally admitted he was attached to the girl.
"I know losing Elora hurt you deeply," Xav continued, not bothering with Marcus and looking only at Dorian.
"But if you're telling the truth, and you intend to use the girl to heal the tree, you must consider that she might not survive it. Spare yourself the pain and keep your distance from her. Decide with a clear head."
Xavier spurred his horse and left his king behind.
Dorian looked down at the sleeping girl.
She might not survive… he could not accept that. He would not allow anything to happen to her. He would find a way to help his people without having to choose.
Not many people had mentioned Elora to him in the last three hundred years, and grief now settled heavily on his heart again.
He could still see clearly the image of himself standing helpless at the foot of his suffering wife's bed. When the healers had told him he could save only one of them, and at Elora's plea he had chosen the child.
He had made the worst decision of his life that day… and the whirlpool of grief still threatened to drag him under.
"My friend," Marcus said quietly. "You know history doesn't have to repeat itself, don't you? You're not helpless this time. We still have time to figure out what to do…"
He had been there beside Dorian in his grief back then. He knew what the man had gone through and would not let him live through those horrors again.
"You're not alone," he added.
Dorian gave a stiff nod.
"I like Leonie," Nir announced suddenly. "I don't want her to die. I'll help protect her," he said earnestly.
"I like the kid too," Aeson said casually. "I'll help keep her alive as well. Though I don't think it'll be that simple."
"I believe this girl might be the key to saving our people. And not only because of her magic…" Filarion said in his usual way. "I'll help you, whatever the cost may be."
Dorian stared at his friends, stone-faced. He had known he could count on them, but hearing them voice their support still moved him deeply.
"Thank you," he said.
He cleared his throat in embarrassment and inclined his head toward them.
He couldn't manage to say more.