His smile stretched from ear to ear. Rain beat against his face and body, soaking him completely. He looked absolutely mad. “Be ready, Tessana Allisand. War is coming.”
The door to my room collapsed with a mighty crash, but I only had eyes for Crenshaw. He dropped out of the window and disappeared from sight.
“Tessana!” Taelon shouted.
I ignored him in favor of scrambling to my feet and racing toward the window. I started to lean out the window, desperate to see if he’d survived, when a raven flew in my face, flapping its black wings and shrieking that unholy sound.
I swatted at it and cursed beneath my breath. “You dratted bird!” It flew away, into the driving rain as if it didn’t notice the thunderstorm or heavy downpour.
I searched the ground for Crenshaw’s body. But there was nothing there. He’d disappeared.
Strong arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me back, out of the rain and wind. “Tessana.”
I tore my gaze from the window and stared into Taelon’s eyes. “He jumped! Did you see him? I swear, he jumped from the window! I saw him. Taelon, he should be there.”
His thumb rubbed over my cheek and he nodded. “I saw him. He’s down there. You can’t see him because of the rain. But I saw him jump too.” I nodded, a shuddering breath quivering through me. To the guards he yelled, “Crenshaw jumped out the window. Find him. And if by some miracle, he isn’t dead, throw him in the stocks to await judgement for trying to assassinate the future Queen of the Realm.”
The guards rushed to do as he said, but I focused on Taelon and those sapphire blue eyes. They were holding me up when all I wanted to do was collapse on the ground and weep.
“How did you know to come?”
“Oliver was coming to find you when he saw Crenshaw carrying you down the hall. He knew something was amiss.”
I breathed steadier. “Thank you for...” I didn’t know how to finish the sentence. There was so much I wanted to thank him for, so much he had done. “For being here.”
“And yet I am not the one that saved you.” His hand circled my wrist and he wiggled it until I felt the weight of the sword still gripped in my hand. “You seem to have done that all on your own.”
My lips turned upward in a shaky smile. “I told you, Rebel King. The Brotherhood was very thorough with my education.”
“As they should have been. They were charged with educating the future Queen of the Realm after all.”
That was the second time he’d said that. Hope blossomed in my chest as fast as anything I’d ever felt. “What do you mean, Taelon?”
He leaned in, dropping his forehead to mine. “The council has given their verdict. They’ve decided your fate.”
My fist landed on his chest. I knew what it was, but I needed to hear him say it.
His mouth spread wide in a proud smile. “You are who you say you are. Tessana Allisand, the Lost Princess, has returned home. You are to be crowned as soon as arrangements can be made. Your future is as Queen of this Realm, Tessa. As the first Queen to rule the Seat of Power.”
I closed my eyes and leaned into him, overwhelmed and overjoyed. Hot tears pricked at my eyes and I could hardly breathe.
“You did it, Tessa.”
I shook my head. “No, not on my own. Your testimony. Taelon, you risked so much. I don’t know how to say thank you.”
“Don’t, then. I did what needed to be done, that is all.”
I opened my eyes and pulled back. Staring at that handsome face, I let myself get lost in this boy that had once saved my life, that had grown into a man that continued to save my life, and continued to do what was best for the nine kingdoms. “I am glad to know the man you’ve become,” I whispered to him, emotion clogging my throat. “I’m glad to know that you are as great and respectable and handsome as I’d always known you would be.”
“You think I’m handsome?”
I laughed, emotion bouncing through me after everything that had happened over the last few months and this announcement and almost dying at the hands of a crazed guard. “Honestly?” He nodded eagerly. “In my heart of hearts, I think you’re obnoxious.”
His smile died and he glanced at the doorway. Our private moment was about to be interrupted.
“There is one more thing,” he insisted.
“What is it?” Fear pelted my nerves.
