I move to stand once more, needing to flee when he catches my forearm, stopping me. “Hear me out. The whole notion of our curse began from a loveless relationship. From betrayal. Since that time, for every king or queen of our blood, there have been loveless marriages. But now you’re in love and Bellamy might just love you back. Think of what that sort of power can do.”
“You’re placing a lot of hope on something so tempestuous.”
“Maybe. Right now, it’s the best we’ve got. And it’s a hell of a lot more than we’ve ever had before. At the very least the girls and Zayer are happy. You found a nanny who cares for them and is bold and strong enough to handle you. Hold on to her, Sebastian. Hold on tight to her.”
I leave my brother in the breakfast room in favor of a run. Icould go to the gym. I could run there as I typically do, but right now I need fresh air and the paths that snake around the palace grounds. Gravel grinds beneath my sneakers, the mountains in the distance already showing the first signs of snow on their caps. For the sake of sounding likeGame of Thrones, winter is coming. It’s peaceful out here at this hour, cool, the solitude welcome.
And yet, I can’t get what Rowan said out of my mind.
Loving Bellamy. That love, if she loves me back, which…I think she does, having the power to break the curse.
As much as I tried to fight it, I know he’s right at least about the first part. I never stood a chance of not falling in love with her. I might have done so at first sight. Despite my stubbornness and preconceived notions of love, I’ve never felt more free or alive than I do now that I have her.
Free?
Is that what I am? Is that what we are? Is that what she’s done for us? Could it be that simple? No. There has to be a trick to that. Nothing in this world is ever that simple. Especially not for me.
By the timeI return to the palace, I’m covered in sweat and my muscles ache. I’m also no more settled than I was when I left. I want to be with Bellamy. I want to be with my children—all of us, together.
I don’t know what this is with Bellamy yet. A relationship? Fun? We haven’t talked more about any of that yet, and I don’t know where Bellamy’s thoughts are. I need to speak with her. Today.
I bound up the steps and practically barrel into Althea coming down them. “Ah. There you are,” she says, though she’s scowling at me. “Next time you decide to leave the palace for a run, have the decency to bring your phone with you.”
“Why? What happened?”
“Rowan had me and Emily bundle the children up and then they left for the trail at the base of Mount Raichau that leads to the natural springs.”
“What?!” I bellow.
She raises a placating hand. “They took two attendants for every person with them. He promised not to be gone more than three hours.”
“Three hours of hiking? Zayer will never make it.”
“That’s Rowan’s problem, isn’t it?”
I shake my head, my hands going to my hips. Sneaky bastard waited until I left for my run to do this. “I agreed to one outing yesterday. I did not agree to two. Where is Bellamy? Does she know of this?”
“Today is Bellamy’s day off, but she tried to call you as did I and you didn’t answer. Last I heard she was getting ready to leave to go see her father.”
“When did they leave?”
“Half an hour ago.”
I sigh, leaning against the stone wall by the stairs. They’re already nearly there. I’m not shocked Rowan picked that spot. It’s where we used to get into trouble as boys in the winter as the lake is a natural hot spring and keeps the area lush. We’d skip rocks and chase animals and hike until our feet hurt, fancying ourselves adventurers.
“Should I allow this?”
Althea gives me a wry grin. “It’s done, Sebastian. But the trail is relatively flat and not terribly long, and this time of year, there won’t be snow.”
“This is a slippery slope.”
“But that doesn’t mean they’ll fall. We’ll just have to tread carefully.”
My gaze drops to the steps. “You think I’ve been wrong? Keeping us here?”
“I think Bellamy and Rowan are right. That it’s time to let the children grow and thrive beyond the palace walls. That does not mean I think you’ve been wrong. You did what you thought you had to do. Now that you’re with Bellamy, things feel different.”
I half smirk, but there isn’t much amusement in it. “You sound like Rowan now. Besides, how did you know about me and her?”
