Tears leaked from Maz’s eyes into his golden hair. His face contorted. “Aiden?”
“He’s alive,” I said quickly. “And Ruru. He found his brother, Daire. We rescued one hundred and fifty-three prisoners from the mine and the Wolf ship. Helene and Isabel are here and happy. Your sisters are safe. And Jek.”
“Ah, Jek. He must be heartbroken.” Maz frowned. “Gods, Nikella. I thought nothing could defeat that woman.”
“She chose to save us,” I corrected him gently. “Perhaps if you’re very good and heal properly and don’t get yourself gravely injuredagain, I’ll tell you the story of how Mynastra swallowed Calimber whole.”
His eyes widened. “You’ve got a story, lovely? You know what I say about a story well-told.”
I smiled. “Yes, but first, drink more water. And eat something. And let Aiden examine you.”
“Bossy,” Maz griped. “One would think you’re already queen.”
I froze.
Guilt flashed through Maz’s eyes. “Sorry, sorry. I didn’t mean—Aiden!” Relief strengthened his voice. He coughed again, trying to lift his hand, but couldn’t quite manage it.
“Good to see you, brother,” Aiden’s deep voice said from behind me.
“Told you it wasn’t goodbye.”
My cheeks heated as Aiden stepped up behind me. He wrapped an arm around my waist and growled in my ear. “When I said I wanted to hold you in my arms all night, should I have specified I meant the morning as well?”
Maz’s eyebrows shot up, and a satisfied smirk curled under his beard.
“How long have you been standing there?” I asked breathlessly. Did he hear what Maz had called me?
“Only a moment or so,” Aiden murmured and released me.
“Don’t you two have your own lodge?” Yarina grumbled sleepily, throwing her arm over her eyes.
“Hey, little sister,” Maz rasped.
Yarina bolted upright. “Fucking Four, Mazkull! Why didn’t you wake me?” She beamed at Maz, then kicked Sigrid’s foot. “He’s awake!” she shouted.
While his sisters and Bruna converged on him, and Aiden tried to hold them off so he could examine Maz’s wound, I slipped out of the lodge.
I walked toward the open meadow, my mind pacing faster than my feet.
Queen.
The word rattled me. I’d barely allowed my thoughts to touch on such a dangerous idea. The title. The palace. Themarriage.
When I thought of a queen, I thought of Mother—confined, desperate, dead. Aiden would be a better king than Father, but I’d left that life for a reason.
Loving a future king meant I’d have to make a choice one day. But not now.
I reached the meadow where Nikella had trained me. Dozens of hoofprints and footprints riddled the thick layer of snow, especially where the Yargoths had piled branches and kindling into a large tower.
Jek was standing in front of it, his shoulders slumped. Nikella’s spear shone in his fist. I wondered if he ever relinquished it.
Pale sunlight glittered across the snow, making it look as though I were wading through diamonds as I trudged toward him.
He didn’t glance at me, but I noticed his red-rimmed eyes. “We can’t burn her body,” he said, staring at the mountain of wood. “But I suppose Mynastra claimed Nikella for herself in the end.”
“I’m sorry, Jek,” I whispered. “She really did love you.”
He shook his head. “Not more than her duty. I knew that. I knew I would have to let her go again and again until she was gone for good. But I hoped... I hoped we would have more time between.”
