Want you—need you

"Sullivan, what's wrong? Where are you taking the horse? This isn't the route to the palace," Dahlia said, tilting her head to glance at him.

"Stay quiet. Don't distract me," Sullivan replied in his raspy and strained voice. He didn't slow the horse until they stopped outside an unfamiliar house. Dismounting quickly, he brought a hand to his forehead, feeling the heat that had been building within him.

Dahlia jumped down, her eyes wandering over the area, unsure of where they had arrived. Before she could process it, Sullivan grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the house with swift, purposeful strides.

"Why are we here? Shouldn't we be heading back to the palace?" Dahlia whispered, her voice laced with concern as she watched Sullivan pound on the door.

After a few moments, the door creaked open, and Galen appeared, his eyes still groggy with sleep. Upon seeing Sullivan—and the woman beside him—Galen's face filled with surprise.