Page 141 of Salt Between the Wolves

The door closed behind them, and silence settled between them for a moment before Eira finally spoke.

"You knew."

It wasn't a question, and Maelin didn't pretend otherwise.

"Yes."

The answer came immediately, without excuses or hesitation.

Eira looked away, and for reasons she couldn't entirely explain, the admission hurt more than she expected.

"You discussed it."

"Yes."

"With Aldric."

"Yes."

"And Leander."

After a brief pause, Maelin nodded again.

"Yes."

The honesty made it impossible to stay angry, which was unfortunate because anger would have been easier.

Eira folded her arms.

"He wants me to leave."

Maelin's expression softened immediately.

"No. He wants you safe."

The answer came so quickly that Eira blinked.

The corridor remained quiet around them while somewhere downstairs a door opened and closed. Life continued as it always did, indifferent to the conversations taking place within its walls.

Eira stared at the floorboards.

"I just found you."

The words escaped before she could stop them.

A longer silence followed, and when she finally looked up, she found tears shining in Maelin's eyes. They weren't falling, but their presence was impossible to miss.

"I know."

Somehow that made everything worse.

Maelin laughed softly and wiped at one eye. Pregnancy had clearly done little to improve her ability to hide her emotions.

"If I were only your sister," she said quietly, "I would ask you to stay."

Eira swallowed as the words landed exactly where they were meant to.

Maelin glanced toward the nursery door, toward the children beyond it, and toward the life she had built within these walls.