The Broken Realm by Sarah M. Cradit

Author:Sarah M. Cradit [Cradit, Sarah M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sarah M. Cradit

* * *

“Esme, wake up. We need to talk.”

Esmerelda hadn’t been sleeping at all. She slept much less than they assumed she did, likely because she spent a fair amount of time in bed. But lying wasn’t sleeping. For her, it was the only time she could be sure to be alone, where she could think without disturbance.

She turned to see Jesse’s troubled expression. He sat on the side of the bed, keeping the same odd distance he always strived for between them, while also looking as if he might take her in his arms if the wind blew the wrong way. She was as confused by this, she thought, as he was.

“Jesse.” She yawned, because it seemed like the next fair thing to do, keeping up with his belief that she was always tired. It wasn’t that she wanted to lie to him. But he fussed after her so much that it kept some of that, at least, at bay, which also gave her some needed peace.

She finished rolling around, and now she could see it wasn’t only his face, but all of him, in distress. He was truly agitated, wringing his hands, hardly able to stay still. She almost reached for him, to ease him, but then thought better of it.

“There are things I need to tell you,” he said. “I should have told you before, but—”

“My father is here,” Esmerelda said. Watching him like this made her tired. Physically. Mentally. More than she had been, and that was something. “I already know.”

Jesse stopped tapping his foot. “You know? How?”

“I heard you talking to Ravenna.”

“But you were sleeping.”

“I wasn’t,” Esmerelda said. “And I heard you. It’s fine, Jesse. I know already.”

“But...” He had a question, he just didn’t know what it was.

She tried to smile. For him. “Ravenna was right. You misjudge me and what I can handle. Being with child doesn’t make me weak. I’ve never been so strong.”

Jesse touched her arm. “I didn’t think you were weak, Esmerelda.”

“You did,” she said, now smiling fully. “But I know it was a misunderstanding born of love for Ryan.”

He looked down. His hand remained, though he couldn’t quite decide what to do with it.

“And I don’t care, about you and Ravenna. It’s a waste to trouble yourself over it so.”

“If you heard us, then you know what she...” He shook his head. “I will own my own part in it all, but I was relieved to hear her confess about the magic.”

“Your protection of me does not prohibit you from being a man,” Esmerelda replied. “Or from having a man’s desires. I saw how you looked upon her from the very first time, in the Hinterlands. Magic or no. You only deny yourself for my sake, and I’ve no concern on the matter at all, beyond wanting you to be happy, as my brother.”

Jesse flushed a dark red. “It doesnae matter. I’ve other priorities, and my desires are not one of them.” He seemed to realize his hand still grazed her skin and he pulled it back, nearly recoiling at his oversight.

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