Book 4: The Distance Between

Finn

Kieran leads the charge to the heavy, beaten-copper gate at the top of the winding, shell-strewn path. I do my damnedest not to choke on my heart, which seems to have taken up permanent residence in my throat. I also give myself the gift of not looking at Elian. Even in just my peripheral vision, I can see him looking back and forth between my face at the gate, primed to attempt to guess which of the eligible young men inside forced me to open up to him.

I don’t know why I’m wasting the energy. No matter what happens in there, Xander and I will not be the same as we were before, and Elian will spot that from a mile away. All I can do is hope the rest of the courtiers can be fooled.

The gate opens a crack—just enough for one reedy man in an indigo robe to wriggle out and face Kieran. It’s clear from the way the man looks over Kieran’s shoulder at the battalion first that they didn’t exactly send their strongest soldier. He goes white as a sheet