Duskfire Glacier bleak

Hawthorn mustered up another half smile for the younger boy and let out a soft laugh at his words. "Thanks for what?" he asked, half jokingly. "I haven't done anything yet, that you should be thankful for," and though he appeared to be completely serious, he winked at the heir to show that if anything, he was simply joking around, enjoying the little time he had for relaxation with Kieran, who was currently, other than his sister and family, his favourite person. He was, after all, his only friend that wasn't related to himself.
"Yeah, I understand," Hawthorn nodded thoughtfully. "I don't think I would've let myself be helped either," he started truthfully, "but there's something about you that I like. I'm not sure what it is." The shadow boy didn't like not knowing, it gnawed at him and made him extremely irritated. Nevertheless, he decided that perhaps, just this once, not knowing was a good thing. Eh, whatever, he didn't care much right now. He just wanted to get to know his new friend more.
Hawthorn laughed derisively at Kieran's words. "Oh...I envy your optimism," he drawled lazily, staring up at the numerous stars dotting the inky black night sky. "I wished I had it. Still, as long as my remaining family is still here, and you're here, I guess things can't be that bad. I mean, you have my back, yeah? And I have yours." He smiled to himself, though a bitter thought soon crossed his mind: what if the current leaders decided to kick Rose and himself out because they were competition to the throne? What if he was exiled and could never see his family again? 
He shivered involuntarily and bit his lip.