Who could say? I’d taken it from a Falk vault, but had the Fates helped me find it? Or sheer luck? Or had the Frør Crown itself manipulated me so I’d take it out into the world?
“There’s something I wanted to propose to you, sister,” Thyra said, her tone even. Deliberately so.
I sniffled and straightened my spine. “Sounds important.”
“It is.” Thyra took my other hand in hers. “We haven’t spoken of the throne in many days, and understandably so. A lot has been going on, and neither of us wants another fight. Or to cause the other discomfort. Seeing as we’re already in the thick of both, this might be an ideal time to pull the stitches from the wound.”
Stars, the throne. That was truly the last thing I wanted to speak about. I opened my mouth to say as much, but Thyra shook her head.
“Please.”
A pregnant pause filled the room, broken by my clearing of my throat. “Fine.”
“Well, I was thinking, why should we allow the throne to come between us? We’ve both been through so much, seen many sides to this kingdom and others. We have compatible strengths and experiences, so why not use those to build a better kingdom? Together.”
“We were always going to work together.”
“Yes, but what I mean is . . . right now there’s only one throne, but we can make it otherwise. Who’s going to tell us no?”
My lips parted. “You want to—co-rule?”
“If you’ll allow it.” She swallowed. “I understand if you don’t want to. I know your magic is a little stronger than mine.”
“Perhaps, but you’ve made a shadow figure, and I haven’t, so it seems your shadow magic is more powerful.”
“That happenedonce. I couldn’t replicate it when we were trying earlier, and I certainly can’t control the shadows much at all.” My sister let out a breath. “Anyway, I know that you procured us the most powerful allies, but I thought it was a decent idea. Admittedly not one I wanted before, but what’s the difference between that and a king and queen ruling equally? I can’t find one, though, if you ca?—”
“Yes.” I didn’t need to hear any more. “I love you. From the moment I knew I’d once had a sister, I wished I could have known you. And then when I learned that you were alive, I desperately wantedmore. To be afamily. The throne is important, of course, but I don’t want it to come between us.”
I didn’t care if, by the regular laws of inheritance, I would rule alone. Fates, two moons ago, I had never possessed anambition to rule. Had seriously considered letting Thyra have everything she wanted.
But this idea . . . This sharing that monumental responsibility to bring greatness to our homeland, it did not sound like a bad thing. It might make the kingdom better than it ever had been before.
My sister stared back at me.
“And if we win this war,” I continued, needing to fill the silence, “together we’ll make Winter’s Realm—no, all of Isila—a better place.”
Finally, she opened her arms. “I haven’t always been kind to you, nor did I show it, but after I learned who you were, some very small part of me hoped that we’d be together again. That maybe, I have family in this world.” My throat tightened, and I leaned into her hug. “I love you too, sister. I’m sorry that I fought it, fought you, for so long.”
An exhale parted my lips. I’d said those three words without expecting her to return them, but my body had craved them. Wanted her love back.
“I’ve heard that fighting is what sisters do—second best only to loving one another,” the words were strained coming out of me, but this time with happiness.
“I’ve heard that too. I suppose we’re living proof.”
A laugh burst from me, and I gripped her tighter.
“Then it’s settled,” Thyra added softly but with that same steadfast confidence in her tone that I’d grown to admire. “Soon Winter’s Realm will have two queens.”
Interlude
PRINCESS THYRA FALK, HOUSE OF THE WHITE HAWK
The day had been a long one, full of highs and lows.
Thyra and Isolde had worked for hours, and after dinner Thyra worked some more. Alone in her suite, she tried to create another shadow figure. Andfinallyshe had succeeded. Twice! On the second attempt, she’d been calm enough to sense a tether to the shadow figure, something she had not really noticed before. Once she could put into words how she’d done it, she would help Isolde.
But that was a matter for another day.
