She heard what Kell did not say. There had been so much sacrifice. Kell had submitted to slavery, allowed himself to die because he would not give Rhy up. If anything, shouldn't they be proud of him?

Slowly, Neria slid closer to him until she was a solid weight against his side. She looped her arm around his and leaned against his shoulder. "And you did," she whispered, reminding him, for she often feared Kell lost parts of himself to his duty. He loved deeply and painfully, as she did, and he was fierce in his protection. He had done everything.

"Rulers are more suspicious of others than they are clairvoyant," she murmured. "And parents... I can't speak to that. Sometimes, they miss important things." Neria's gaze was briefly hard. "But they will be protective and concerned. I understand."