Too soon, Rava woke and Endall went to sleep, a brand-new day emerging.

  Today, he would make his return to Evaleer, to his duties, and to his kingdom.

  Alaric pulled himself away from Kerensa’s slumbering form, pushing out of the tent to find that Gray and his guards were already moving about and packing. He blinked at the sudden brightness, rubbing his bleary eyes.

  “Time to go, Your Highness,” Leander crowed as he finished strapping his things on the back of his horse and stalked over to Alaric. He tossed him something, and Alaric caught it, holding it up to see. “Hardtack. It isn’t the fanciest breakfast, but it will do,” the young guard explained.

  Alaric bit into it and gnashed on a piece, the taste salty and quite unpleasant. He grimaced but chewed the rest of it down.

  He ducked back into his tent, freezing at the sight of Kerensa sitting up, awake. Smiling as she blinked the sleep out of her eyes, he informed her, “Time to get ready to go. We’ll be back in the city today.”

  Gray had stopped them last night once they could see Evaleer in the distance, the turrets of the castle and line of the city only a few hours away. Since the night Kerensa had woken up screaming and she’d asked him to stay, Alaric had spent every rest and break next to her.

  He could still hardly process the fact that he’d told her the one thing about his past he’d always thought he would never tell anyone. But in that moment when the pain of her own memories was tearing her apart, he hadn’t known any other way to help her.

  It scared him a little, what he was willing to do to take away her pain.

  The two of them started moving, rolling up their sleeping mats and folding up their tent together before packing everything on their horse. By the time they were done, all the horses were stacked, and everyone was mounting. Nothing if not efficient, Alaric thought to himself with a grin.

  He hopped on his horse and helped Kerensa up, nodding to Gray, who smiled in acknowledgement.

  Then the group took off, cantering towards the capital. With every thundering hoof-fall, the city of Evaleer drew closer, the buildings coming into clearer focus until Alaric could make out the tiles of the roofs and the bricks of the walls.

  The sounds reached them first—of merchants and customers, ladies and lords. Then came the smells—pungent winter flowers and the crispness of the snow-covered roofs. Stepping onto those stone roads was something familiar and yet foreign at the same time.

  Once they entered the city, the path to the palace cleared for them, the Lithian citizens stopping to stare as Alaric and Kerensa made their way through the streets, escorted by a party of guards. Cheers of joy and relief rang out at the sight of the Crown Prince, but Alaric also glimpsed glares and whispers thrown in his and his wife’s direction, causing him to frown slightly. But it was wiped from his face as his group passed through the gates of Farrador Castle.

  He didn’t know what he was expecting. For someone to be waiting there to greet him, welcome him back, tell him he was worried about him?

  For that someone to be his father?

  No. He would not set himself up for that kind of disappointment.

  Because when they passed through the castle gates, it was to find that the grounds were scarcely occupied. They rode to the stables, where Alaric dismounted and so did Kerensa, then he passed the horse to a stable hand. The boy murmured, “Welcome back, Your Highness,” but he was only half listening as he entwined his fingers with Kerensa’s and together they walked through to Farrador Castle, Gray trailing close behind them.

  People they passed welcomed them back and Alaric pushed out a courteous, “Thanks,” in return as they strolled past. But he stopped abruptly when he spotted a certain white-blonde haired woman at the end of the corridor.

  ༺═──────────────═༻

  “That’s what I’ve been trying to explain, Emilia. You see, it’s much more complicated in the long run—”

  “Bri!”

  Ambria turned away from the young Lady Emilia to see whoever had shouted her name. When she saw the two unmistakable boys running down the hall towards her, she almost burst into tears. She took off after them, meeting them halfway and throwing her arms around both Ric and Gray as they collided. Ambria couldn’t help the tears of joy that leaked from her violet eyes as delighted laughter bubbled past her lips. She held them tight to her for a long moment before letting them go but not pulling away far.

  Then she smacked each of them over the head. Both of them yelped in surprise, rubbing the back of their scalps. “Don’t you ever leave without telling me again,” she scolded, scowling.

  “Wouldn’t dream of it,” chuckled Ric, pulling her in again for a hug.

  Ambria couldn’t wait any longer. “Did you find her?”

  By the look on Alaric’s face, she knew the answer before he moved to the side, revealing Kerensa standing there in a pair of trousers, arms wrapped around her torso. “Hi,” she said, smiling softly.

  A sob escaped Bri as she threw her arms around Kerensa’s neck. “Oh, thank the gods you’re safe!”

  “I’m glad you are, too.” Kerensa squeezed her hard before pulling away a little. “And Mateo?”

  The world stopped. And everything fell away until all that was left was empty grief. She couldn’t say it. She couldn’t—

  “He didn’t make it, love. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” Ambria heard Alaric cut in.

  Kerensa glanced at her for confirmation, covering her mouth with one hand. “What?”

  Bri could do nothing but nod, tears falling hot and fast down her cheeks. Kerensa hugged her again, whispering, “I’m so sorry,” over and over.

  It was moments like these that were the ones where Ambria always had to wonder whether it was real or not.

  “Are you okay?” She heard the words fall from her mouth into Kerensa’s ear.

  Kerensa swallowed. “More or less.”

  Bri felt another crack run down her heart. “I’m always here for you,” she said.

  “So am I. For you,” Kerensa agreed.

  Ambria pulled back, laughing even with tears in her eyes. “I have so much to tell you.”

  Someone cleared their throat and her gaze connected with Gray momentarily, until she spun around to face the guard who’d approached the four of them.

  He bowed, addressing Alaric and welcoming him home before his attention landed on Kerensa. “His Majesty requests your presence in his study. I’m to escort you.”

  Ric stepped forward, reaching for Kerensa’s hand. “Thank you for notifying us, though my wife and I need to freshen up before we meet with my father.”

  The guard hesitated and then said, “Although I’m sure the king will wish to welcome you back in person, Your Highness, he didn’t ask for you.” He nodded towards Kerensa. “Only her.”

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  Wren gripped Alaric’s hand like a lifeline.

  She was only slightly concerned about hurting him. Though if she was, he didn’t let it show.

  All she could do was guess what the King of Lithera wanted from her now. There wasn’t much she had to give that he hadn’t already taken.

  Ambria was watching her with a crease between her painted eyebrows, and Zarin’s mouth was pressed into a firm line. Wren felt Alaric’s eyes on her too, but she didn’t return his stare as she reluctantly let go of his hand and moved away from him to follow the guard.

  She didn’t make it very far before his callouses brushed her palm again and her gaze flitted up to him, startled. “What are you doing?”

  “I’ll wait outside the door if I have to,” he declared, “but I’m not allowing you to be there alone. Certainly not without me.”

  Her smile wobbled with the emotion coursing through her. He doesn’t know. But she didn’t say a thing.

  The walk was long, though at the same time far too short. Soon enough she stood in front of the same double doors she was pushed through the last time the king had wanted to see her, this time with Ric next to her. Wren glanced at him to see his focus drilling into the doors. His jaw was clenched tightly, the hand she didn’t hold curling and then flexing at his side.

  “I’ll be fine.” She wasn’t sure if she spoke the words more for him or herself.

  He met her gaze finally, a small smile gracing his lips. “I know.”

  Then she was left with no choice except to slip through the door, leaving Alaric on the threshold.

  Her eyes immediately snapped to the king.

  He was draped in finery, long cloak spilling around him as he stood stoically by an open window, decidedly looking out at the castle grounds below. Sunlight reflected off the silver and amethyst crown resting in his ashen hair. “So you’ve returned with my son, have you?” His voice cut harshly through the stillness that filled the room.

  Wren didn’t know how to respond, so she kept her mouth shut.

  The King of Lithera turned in her direction, dark hazel eyes causing her to flinch. “I’m very curious, you know.” One eyebrow rose questioningly. “You could’ve been free, after my son rescued you from the Ravyn witches. You escaped my grasp for a single moment but came running back anyway. Which has me wondering,”—he leaned forward as though they were co-conspirators—“what in all three hells that boy said to you to bring you back with him.”

  Her nostrils flared, but again, she stayed quiet. I won’t give him what he wants.

  The king chuckled once. “I asked Alaric about the little relationship you two have a while ago. Do you know what he said to me?” he scoffed. “That everything between you was ‘perfectly normal’ and to never ask him of anything concerning you or your relationship again. He’s become very…protective of you, hasn’t he?”

  She should’ve known that the king would try fishing information about her out of Alaric. But… What she never would’ve known was that he’d told his father off for her. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Wren said, tilting up her chin.

  The King of Lithera laughed, sneering at her. “Women should not be as headstrong as you dare to be. I am your king, and you will tell me what I want to know, girl.” He smiled, but it was a vicious thing. “Did he claim to love you?”

  Her heart sped up suddenly as she shook her head back and forth vehemently. “No. No, he didn’t. He doesn’t.”

  “Afraid to be loved, are you?” the king drawled, cocking his head to one side. “Or afraid to love?” He clicked his tongue. “You never should have come back, Wren Farley.”

  ༺═──────────────═༻

  Anxiety flooded every cell of his body. He’d once thought to give anything to see Kerensa and his father in the same room but standing a wall away while she was in there without him was a different kind of torture.

  Alaric had discovered at a young age that trying to eavesdrop on the happenings inside his father’s study was a futile effort—the room had been built to absorb sound before it reached the hallway. Which meant he had no idea what was going on, not even a hint at whether it was good or bad.

  He didn’t know how much time had passed when the door creaked open and Kerensa walked back through. Without a moment’s hesitation, Alaric stepped toward her, hands falling to her shoulders. She looked up at him with a wide, haunted look in her eyes. “What happened?” The words rushed from his lips.

  Her head shook back and forth. “Nothing. I’m fine,” she answered him, voice uncharacteristically coarse.

  “I don’t believe you,” he ground out, features sharpening. “Tell me.”

  “Just let it go, Alaric.” He hated the defeated note in her sigh. Where was the woman who fought everything that came her way? Where was the woman he’d—he’d—

  The woman he’d fallen in love with.

  The realization caused him to fall back a step. “You know I can’t do that. If he did anything to you—”

  “Let it go!” Fire ignited in her pupils and her palms, but she quickly extinguished it. “I won’t—I don’t need you to worry about me all the time! That’s not—I…” She glanced past him. “Forget it. I’ll see you later.”

  This time, he couldn’t stop her from walking away.

  His chest heaved with every emotion that spun through his body and he turned around to make probably the worst decision possible in that moment.

  His father stood behind his desk, meticulously wiping his hands with a cloth as Alaric crossed the threshold. “What did you say to her?” he growled, fury painting every syllable dark.

  The king completely disregarded the fact that he’d said anything at all and spoke without looking away from his hands. “I feel that I did not prepare you enough for the role of a husband, son. You see, I thought the vows you took in front of the court would explain plenty about the dynamic of a marriage between a man and a woman. Cherish, protect, and maintain. Obey, comfort, and support. Though it has come to my attention that you may be a little confused about what matters most here.”

  Alaric opened his mouth but closed it the second his father’s attention snapped to him. “That girl is merely a tool to us, son. Your marriage is simply political, nothing more. You’d be a fool to think that she’d ever want something real with you.” Dark hazel eyes narrowed. “And no son of mine is a fool,” he finished harshly.

  Brow furrowing, Alaric stared at a spot on the carpeted ground. Have I really been so delusional?

  “But then again, maybe you really are a fool for leaving these walls when you know better.”

  He cringed. “Father, I—”

  “Do not think I care about why you did it or even that you’re back now, seemingly unharmed. You disobeyed the one rule I put in place to keep you safe. Do I need to station guards around you wherever you go? Inside your rooms? What made you think that leaving would help anyone?”

  A heavy pause.

  Alaric did his best to screw his face into indifference. “I brought her back, didn’t I?”

  “Did you want to end up like your mother while you were busy playing hero?” his father seethed.

  The sting of his words sunk deep into Alaric’s gut. “No,” he said under his breath.

  He heard the king sigh. “Go make yourself presentable while I figure out what in three hells I’m to do with you.”

  Teeth clenched to the point of pain, Alaric pivoted towards the door and began putting as much distance as possible between himself and the man he called father.

  Chapter Fifty

  Gray!”

  At the shrill call of his name, Gray spun around just in time to catch Eloisa as she flew into him, hugging tightly. He returned her embrace, peering down at her face. “I thought surely you’d have at least left for Anulia again by the time I got back,” he surmised.

  His little sister’s face turned sour. “Mother and Father decided to stay longer for my sake, so I could ‘observe court life’, whatever that means,” she said with a roll of her eyes.

  Gray couldn’t contain his laughter. “And what have you observed so far?”

  Eloisa pretended to ponder his question before opening her mouth to respond, “Everything here is repetitive and boring.”

  “Somehow I have to agree with you,” he nodded.

  “So!” She rested the tip of her chin against his chest and looked up at him with excitement in her gaze. “How was your adventure?”

  He huffed a breath. “Not nearly as eventful as you’re hoping. And it wasn’t an adventure, Ellie, it was a search mission.”

  Eloisa scowled at the use of his nickname for her, and he had to shake his head and smile at the way the expression simply didn’t work on her face.

  “Is your brother being a pest, Eloisa?”

  Gray’s head snapped up to find Ambria standing a few feet away with her hands on her hips, one jutting out to the side menacingly.

  His sister pulled away from him and offered Bri a small curtsy. “Only a little,” she said, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. A fiendish grin whispered on her lips.

  “Well, if he ever gives you more than a little trouble, you come to me, and I’ll happily deal with him.” Maybe it was the way her icy stare never wavered from where he stood as she spoke, but Gray could have sworn Bri’s voice held a promise of violence.

  He swallowed, rubbing the back of his neck. “You… I’ll catch up with you later, Eloisa, okay?”

  There was a long pause as Eloisa took her time glancing between Gray and Ambria and their locked gazes before gauging that she was better off idling elsewhere.

  Once his sister had disappeared around the corner, Ambria marched right up to him, putting a finger in his face. “You left me.”

  He leaned back a little, raising his hands innocently. “Look, I—”

  “No. You left me. You left me and I had no one. My husband is dead, Kerensa was kidnapped, Alaric went missing, my father threatened to send me away like I’m some kind of broken relic, and you weren’t there. Whatever happened to you being beside me, Gray?”

  “I’m sorry,” he replied softly, unsure of what else to say. “After Alaric left, I knew there was a chance Larcyn would send me to get him back, but I didn’t know if that would happen or not. And when it did—”

  “You couldn’t have stopped to tell me where you were going? Or even sent me a note?” Tears glistened along her eyelashes, punctuating every word that left her mouth. “If you knew it was a possibility, you couldn’t have prepared me in the slightest?”

  “I didn’t—it was out of my control. I thought of telling you but it just—”

  “A thought isn’t enough.” Her face hardened, eyes narrowing. “I needed someone, and it was supposed to be you.”

  His heart throbbed in his chest. “I’m here now.” It’s not too late. Please. “Give me another chance.”

  All she gave him was a tragic stare and a sick feeling in his gut.

  ༺═──────────────═༻

  For the sake of the gods, I swear this castle got bigger.