Page 310 of Salt Between the Wolves
Eira's breath caught, because she had never seen him like this, not once, not in the council chamber, not with his people, and not even at White Pass, and the realization that the mountain had finally bent somehow hurt more than any explanation could have.
For a long moment neither moved, and then his voice came, rougher than she had ever heard it.
"I knew there was risk," he said, and after a pause added, "I believed I understood it," before another silence followed and he finally admitted, "I didn't."
Nothing more followed, and nothing needed to, because for once Soren was not speaking as an Alpha, or a leader, or a man defending a decision, but simply admitting that he had been wrong.
Silence settled between them once more as Eira lowered her gaze.
Soren's forehead still rested against her knees, close enough that she could see the dark strands of hair that had escaped their binding, close enough that all she needed to do was lift her hand.
Her fingers moved instinctively before stopping halfway.
She did not know whether she meant to comfort him or simply reassure herself that this was real.
Because this was Soren.
The man who had challenged her at every turn, protected her when she least wanted protection, withheld truths he believed dangerous, carried her through snow and blood, and nearly broken something neither of them had fully understood.
The man who had just admitted he had been wrong.
Eira found, to her surprise, that she did not know what to do with that version of him.
Slowly, she lowered her hand back into her lap.
"What do you want, Soren?"
The question seemed to settle over the room like another silence, and beneath it she felt him go completely still.
For a long moment he did not answer. Not because he had not heard, or because he was searching for the right words, but because no one had ever asked him that question before in any real sense.
People had always asked what he intended. What Ironfang needed. What the council expected. What the old laws demanded. What victory required. What sacrifice was necessary.
But never this.
Slowly, Soren lifted his head. He did not rise immediately, remaining kneeling beside the bed, his gaze fixed somewhere beyond the firelight as though the answer had to be dragged from a place he rarely allowed himself to look.
When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet.
"I want certainty."
Eira blinked, surprised by the answer.
A faint, humorless smile touched his mouth.
"I know exactly how disappointing that sounds."
The corner of her mouth moved despite everything.
Soren exhaled and rose to his feet.
"I want to know that Frostvein will survive this."
His gaze met hers.
"I want to know that the bond will not kill you."
The smile disappeared.
