Page 272 of Burn Her They Said
He lifts his shoulders in a shrug. “Debatable.”
I let out a breath, then admit, “I love you. You know that?”
He turns to look at me until the pale line of skin around his eyes reflects the light as he expels a cloud of breath through the black fabric. “I do. And I hope you know that I love you, too.”
My mouth quirks to the side, yet my discerning Guard narrows his eyes.
“Out with it.”
I pause and make him wait for my response. “I never told Hendry the same.”
“What, that you loved him?” He nudges me, and I nod. “And you don’t think he knew?”
My shoulders rise in a shrug.
“I can promise you, he knew.”
“How can you be so certain?”
“Because you know he loved you without needing to hear him say it.”
I part my lips to speak, but he beats me to it.
“Just like we all know, which means you do not need to mourn the fact you have not told the others. You will get the opportunity to do so soon, if you choose. But please don’t blurt it out right when you see them. I wouldn’t want Lars to get an even bigger head than he has.”
“And you are absolutely going to brag about how I said it to you first.”
“From here until the end of time.” His cheeks rise higher. “Especially to Varic.”
My jaw drops while I think back and realize he is correct. How I have never outright stated this to Varic. Or to anyone else before this.
I turn and narrow my eyes at him. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Oh, I am absolutely going to let him know that I won.”
“Won what?”
“Only the best prize in existence.”
“Which is?”
“Your heart, of course.”
“What? This beaten-down, broken thing?”
“The very same.”
“Yours is just as broken, though, isn’t it? I suppose it’d have to be to want any part of this bruised organ.”
“If not more.”
I shake my head. “You’ve been spending too much time around Varic.”
“Why do you say that?”
“His flirtatious habit is rubbing off on you.”
Fray’s muscles tense. “I’m so sorry. I did not mean to?—”
