Free Tempered Hearts (Hearts of Valentia Book 1) by Starla Huchton, S. A. Huchton

dinner rolled around, he lost track of time and missed the main meal entirely.
    Which meant he hadn’t seen Arden in two days. How much damage would that cause?
    The study door thumped closed and Vennic dragged in looking as tired as Darius felt. He helped himself to wine before melting into an armchair near the fireplace.
    “Long day?” Darius asked dryly.
    Vennic took a deep pull of the drink, casting him a foul look. “And even longer to come. Every single horse needs to be re-shoed, and all because of a few annoying pieces of metal.”
    With a groan, he hefted himself to his feet, lounging across the couch opposite Vennic. “If you like, I’ll swap your horseshoes for the overflowing refugee camps in Eramon.”
    He chuckled a bit. “Perhaps Arden might be able to find a solution to your problems, too.”
    His mouth full of wine, Darius choked, trying not to spit it everywhere. “Did you just say Arden?”
    His cat-like grin peeked over the edge of his goblet. “I did.”
    “Why am I beginning to wish I hadn’t suggested you meet her?”
    “I’ve no idea,” he said with a shrug. “She’s positively delightful and possibly worth her weight in gold. It would’ve taken me ages to realize the nails were to blame for all the thrown shoes. She puzzled it out in a matter of seconds.”
    Darius narrowed his eyes at him. “And the whole of your conversation consisted of that?”
    “More or less.”
    “It’s the less that I’m concerned with.” Sitting up, he leveled his gaze at him. “What did you do?”
    “I didn’t do anything, Darius. She wanted to go for a short ride, and that was why she came down. I believe the handmaiden with her, Elena, mentioned you and I were on friendly terms.”
    His signet ring tapped against his cup as he considered his words. Arden was incredibly likable, but she was also very smart and probably accustomed to getting information through indirect channels as the nobility often did. Were his suspicions unfounded, or did she have ulterior motives for seeking out his closest friend at the castle?
    “Relax, Darius,” Vennic said, slinging a leg over the arm of the chair. “All Arden wants is to know the man she’s marrying in a month. I’m a little surprised you’re not as curious about her.”
    Darius rubbed his forehead, trying to push back the looming headache. “I can’t say as I’ve had much time to be curious. Even if I had, I’m still not convinced this marriage is the best solution to everyone’s problems.”
    Vennic drained his goblet and perched it on his knee. “You were right about her being impossible to dislike, I’ll give you that. One look at her smiling at me over the stall door and I quite literally dropped what I was doing to speak with her.”
    “Aside from the nails,” he tipped his goblet at him, “what did you talk about?”
    “She was worried about upsetting you,” Vennic said, laughing. “She wanted to know if I could suggest safe conversation topics that wouldn’t trigger your surly silence. Those are my words, by the way. She was much nicer about it.”
    “Of course she was.” Darius stood and retrieved the decanter of wine, placing it on the table between them after refilling their cups. “What did you tell her?”
    “That there was no such topic.” He chuckled and took another drink.
    “It’s really just so fortunate for me that I’ve befriended an elf with the driest sense of humor on the planet. I do so enjoy your wit, Vennic.”
    He rolled his eyes. “Give her a chance, Darius. All she wants is your approval and attention, and for that you’re exceedingly lucky. Not all of us can say as much. You may yet mourn for what you’ve lost, but don’t let it diminish the wonders in your path.”
    “And what of our conversation the other day? Do you remember what I said?”
    Vennic’s smile faded. “I do, and I understand your point, but my advice is unchanged. You’re a good man, heart or no. It isn’t up to you or me to