Kaladin had dozed off, feeling warm and safe. He was woken by Adolin who gave him a soft kiss. "Wake up, Kal. They're expecting us."

Kaladin heaved himself upright and found Adolin standing next to the bed, wearing one of his latest outfits. Storms, the man looked good. But then Adolin's words registered. "Expecting us? Who? Where?"

Adolin smiled. "Dinner. My father is hosting a dinner tonight. We have to attend."

Oh no, no, no. Bad idea. Kaladin managed a smile. "I don't think we should attend."

"Why not?"

"Well, for one, I'm not formally invited."

Adolin chuckled. "Don't be ridiculous. I'm the Highprince, you're the Highmarshall. We don't need invitations."

Kaladin took Adolin's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Adolin, we've talked about this. There is no 'we'. Especially not for the outside world."

For a brief moment something flashed across Adolin's face. But he hid it behind a smile. "I know you're not ready for everybody to know. I understand. That doesn't mean we can't attend that dinner. I think it would raise more questions if we're both absent."

Kaladin had to admit that Adolin had a valid point. But he wasn't sure this wouldn't end in disaster. They still had no idea just how much that fabrial affected the man. And whether it would wear off or grow more intense. As long as that was still a mystery it seemed a much safer option to just keep Adolin in his room. Where Kaladin could watch over him.

But the truth was that to Kaladin this wasn't just about safety anymore. He never slept so good as in this bed, holding Adolin. He'd never felt anything that warmed his heart the way those kisses had. Although Kaladin knew this would never last he found it harder and harder to let go of the illusion. "Fine. We'll go. But you have to promise me that you'll let me know the minute you don't feel well. And do not tell anyone about this. About us."

Adolin forced a reassuring smile that didn't make Kaladin feel any better about it. "Of course."

Kaladin nodded and got up from the bed. "I'll get dressed."

….

Navani still had no idea how to deal with the information that Wit had provided her with. She had considered the possibility that it wasn't true. Wit loved nothing more than throwing people off balance. But somehow she knew he was telling the truth. She hadn't told Dalinar yet. She wanted to have a plan before telling him. With a sigh she adjusted her robe. For now she would focus on this evening. It was important to keep the alliances intact and Navani knew that Dalinar relied on her to know whom he could trust. She'd deal with Adolin tomorrow. Luckily he was confined to his quarters. One thing at a time.

But when she stepped inside the dining room it became clear she didn't have that luxury. Adolin was standing in the middle of the room, having an animated conversation with Queen Fen and her husband. Kaladin was also present, just a few feet away from the Highprince. The Radiant looked uncomfortable, which in itself wasn't something new. The man never liked these formal gatherings. But there was something different about him. He didn't just look uncomfortable with his surroundings, he seemed uncomfortable with himself.

But before she could approach him Dalinar greeted her by placing a hand on her back and guiding her towards a group of guests.

Syl was sitting on Kaladin's shoulder. "Are you sure this is a good idea, Kal?"

"Definitely not."

"Then why are we here?"

"Because Adolin was right when he said it would make people talk if he didn't attend."

She was quiet for a while as she watched Adolin. "I don't think it's funny anymore."

"I doubt it ever was."

"It was," she said defiantly. "The look on your face when he kissed you. And Dalinar studying those fashion drawings like he was genuinely interested." She chuckled at the memory. Then she turned serious. "But you're not just doing this to help him anymore, are you?"

Kaladin didn't answer.

"Kal?"

Still nothing.

She sighed and moved from his shoulder so she could hover in front of his face. "If you don't tell me I'm going to keep making fun of you." To her frustration Kaladin just shrugged. She crossed her arms and tried her most intimidating look. "Why are you shutting me out?"

"Because I don't want to talk about this," Kaladin said before walking over to Mink.

Syl huffed in annoyance. But it wasn't just annoyance. She was worried too. The loss of Teft had hit Kaladin hard and she didn't want him to get hurt again.

…..

During dinner Adolin found his thoughts wandering off as he glanced at Kaladin sitting across the table. He imagined that the man was truly his. What it would be like to wake up next to him every morning. To hear him say 'I love you'. It made his heart melt. He was so caught up in that daydream that he didn't notice that Queen Fen had asked him a question, until Navani, who sat next to him, gave him a gentle nudge. He looked up but the image of Kaladin smiling at him as he said those words was still lingering in his mind.

"You look like you're dreaming of someone special, Highprince," she smiled. "Have you finally found the one?"

"I have. He's definitely the one." He didn't realize he said that out loud but the stunned silence and the way almost everybody was staring at him suddenly made that abundantly clear.

Dalinar nearly choked on his wine and Navani placed a hand on Adolin's arm. "He's joking," she smiled at Queen Fen while she wondered whether the boy could possibly dig himself a bigger hole. Apparently he could.

Because although Adolin knew he had to take the lifeline Navani had just thrown him, he found he simply couldn't. "I'm not. I have found the one I want to spend my life with."

Navani glanced at Kaladin who looked just as stunned as the other guests.

"And who is the lucky man?" Queen Fen asked as she leaned over the table. She was dying to hear this.

Adolin was about to answer but then he caught the look on Kaladin's face. The windrunner was silently pleading with him. "I'll let you know when we're ready," Adolin said to her.

"Ready? For marriage?"

Storms, Navani thought. The woman wasn't going to let this go and Kaladin looked like he was about to jump out of the window and fly away. Dalinar was trying very hard to keep his composure but she could tell that wouldn't hold much longer.

Adolin realized he'd pushed too far. "We haven't discussed that option yet, Brightness," he smiled at Fen.

Fen turned to Dalinar. "And what do you think of your potential son in law, Dalinar? Or is he keeping him a secret from you too?"

Instead of answering, Dalinar reached for the bottle with violet wine to pour himself another glass. Navani intervened again. "I can understand your curiosity, Queen Fen, and I'm sure you will all be invited to the wedding if it comes to that. But I think we should let them dictate their own pace." Her voice was friendly but her eyes told Fen to stop pushing.

Reluctantly the queen leaned back in her chair. "Very well. I wish you happiness, Highprince. I guess we all long for some joy in these difficult times."

Nice save, Navani thought and gave her an approving smile.

Fen gave her a short nod but her eyes glanced at Stormblessed who seemed very interested in the food on his plate. But she didn't say anything and instead turned to Mink to ask him about their latest victory.

….

When the dinner was over and they returned to Adolin's room Kaladin locked the door before turning to Adolin. "Are you out of your mind? You promised me! Now she's going to dig until she figures out who it is."

Adolin sat down on the edge of the bed and didn't look at Kaladin. "I'm sorry," he said softly. "I didn't mean to say that."

Kaladin crossed his arms. "That's the lamest excuse I've ever heard. Why are you doing this?"

Adolin looked up at him. "Because that's how I feel."

Kaladin felt his anger grow. It wasn't really anger. It was masked hurt. Because Adolin didn't really feel that way. "Don't be stupid," he said, the furstration thick in his voice. "You know this isn't real."

"It is," Adolin said. "To me it is."

Kaladin grabbed Adolin by the lapel of his coat and pulled him up. "You know it's just that storming fabrial that's making you say this," he hissed, his eyes locked on Adolin's.

"It is real. This is real," Adolin said and kissed Kaladin.

Kaladin wanted to push him away. His brain was yelling at him that the Highprince wasn't in control of his own mind. But the kiss was just too good. He let go of Adolin's coat and wrapped his arms around the man.

Adolin parted his lips and Kaladin deepened the kiss. He just couldn't stop to save his life. It was only when he broke away for air that he finally paid attention to that warning voice in the back of his mind. He stepped back. "Stay here. This has to end. I'm going to talk to your father."

Adolin stood, still stunned by that kiss. But then he reached for Kaladin. "Wait. Kal!"

But Kaldin had already stormed out the door.

…..

Dalinar was pacing his room. "Why didn't Stormblessed just keep Adolin in his room? We knew this could happen. Fen is not going to just forget about this. We have to tell them the truth. I didn't want anyone to know you were working on those fabrials but we can't keep this a secret much longer."

Navani slowly sat down. "We don't have to tell anyone about that fabrial."

Dalinar stopped in his tracks and turned to her. "We do. Can you imagine the gossip when she finds out Adolin thinks he wants to marry Kaladin?"

"The fabrial doesn't make Adolin think that."

He frowned, frustration on his face. "What do you mean, woman? It's clear he thinks that. He practically said so."

Meanwhile Kaladin was marching down the hallway on his way to Dalinar. Syl followed him with a worried look on her face. "Kal, why did you kiss him? Doesn't that make things worse?"

"Things can't get any worse," Kaladin grumbled without slowing down.

She tried to block his view, to get him to stop, but he waved his hand to push her aside. "Kal! What's going on? Talk to me."

But he shook his head and kept walking.

Navani got up and walked over to Dalinar. She placed her hand on his arm. "Dalinar, the fabrial. It doesn't work. It didn't affect him."

Dalinar stared at her as he tried to process what she said. "It didn't work? How do you know?"

"Wit was in my study. He told me."

"Wit? You know how he loves to stir things up. It's what he lives for."

"I know," she said as she gently squeezed his arm. "But not this time. I asked the Tower spren. She agreed. The fabrial is useless on humans."

They were so wrapped up in their conversation that they didn't hear the sound of the door opening.

Dalinar slowly sank down in his seat. "So you're telling me that the fabrial didn't change him? That my son has been lying from the start? That he doesn't have any feelings for Stormblessed?"

Before she could answer she was interrupted by a voice coming from behind her. "He lied?"

Navani startled and turned to find Kaladin standing there, his face a mixture of disbelief and anger. Dalinar cursed out loud and Navani took a step towards Kaladin. "It's not...I don't think..."

"Don't! Don't even try to make up an excuse." Kaladin's voice was harsh. He didn't give her a chance to respond and slammed the door so hard on his way out that it almost fell off its hinges.

"Storms," Navani said. "This is going to be a bigger mess than Wit predicted."