[ in the span of a few hours, jayce has shown more of himself to a single, accepting soul than he has shown anyone over the last ten years. it almost felt . . . a little ridiculous, the way his heart squeezed at the roll of his name off his tongue like it belonged there.

jayce chalks it up to being tired. when they return, jayce presses a hand and his face to the great slab of the mare's neck, giving her a few praising pats. good girl.

he doesn't know why he pauses when his eyes settle on viktor to respond to him. he wasn't planning on it, and it adds another layer of stumbling before he quickly manages: ]

—Yeah. [ she looks good. his fingers loosely hang off the loop of her halter, and with a pull to side, they walk together. back to the stables. ] I'll have to make more adjustments, and think about the others . . .

[ should he say it? his pulse quickens to. jayce was a little bad at holding back his impulse control— ]

It'd be nice— To have you, I mean. With— with the others, if . . .

[ "if you want"? ]