“Isara.” Shaelith’s voice was gentle but unyielding. “You survived your husband’s murder. You crossed realms. You bonded with a dragon. You’ve faced Varyth at his most dangerous and came out standing.” She held my gaze. “Ashterion is terrifying, yes. But so are you.”
“I really don’t feel terrifying right now,” I muttered, but something in my chest loosened slightly at her words. At the absolute certainty in them.
“That’s because you haven’t weaponised it yet,” Brynelle said, her grin returning with feral edges. “But you will. Fenric and Cindrissian will make sure of it.”
I blinked. “What?”
“You think Varyth’s going to send you into that meeting unprepared?” Shaelith’s eyebrows rose. “He’ll have Fenric drilling you on court protocol until you could navigate a diplomatic dinner in your sleep.” Her smile turned knowing. “And Cindrissian will teach you how to read people. How to spot the lies before they’re fully formed.”
“They’ll arm you with everything you need,” Brynelle added. “And then some. By the time that meeting happens, you’ll walk in there looking like you belong at Varyth’s side.”
“Even if I’m internally screaming the entire time?”
“Especially then.” Brynelle’s grin was wicked. “Half of court politics is looking composed while everything inside you is on fire. You’ll fit right in.”
“See?”Kaelen’s satisfaction rippled through the bond. “I told you you’d be fine.”
“You told me I was emotionally unstable.”
“That too. The two aren’t mutually exclusive.”
“We should head back,” Shaelith said, already starting to rise with Brynelle in her arms. “Before Varyth realises you left the castle without telling anyone and loses his mind.”
My stomach dropped. “Oh gods. I didn’t think. I just needed to get out, I wasn’t thinking about?—”
“He’s going to befurious,” Brynelle said cheerfully, untangling herself from Shaelith. “In that very controlled, very terrifying way he does.”
“Wonderful. That’s exactly what I need right now.”
“You did flee his chambers at dawn without a word,”Kaelen pointed out helpfully. “After spending the night in his bed.Again. While he’s already on edge about you spontaneously manifesting an uncontrollable power.”
“I hate that you’re right.”
“You say that a lot. Have you considered that perhaps you simply hate being wrong?”
I hauled myself up onto Kaelen, my legs protesting the movement. Everything protested, actually. My body was very insistent that I’d had approximately three hours of sleep and had spent most of those tangled up with a High Lord who’d had his hands all over me.
Don’t think about his hands,I told myself firmly.
“You’re thinking about his hands,”Kaelen supplied.
“I’m going to let Brynelle’s dragon eat you.”
“You love me too much.”
He wasn’t wrong about that either, damn him.
33
Ipressed my palms against the balcony rail, feeling the cool stone seep through my skin as I watched the courtyard far below come alive with evening activity. Guards changing shifts. Servants hurrying through their final tasks. Children’s laughter floating up from somewhere deeper in the castle grounds.
Dinner had been... manageable. Conversations flowing around me, the familiar rhythm of Fenric’s dry observations and Eilrys’ wicked commentary. But even surrounded by what was becoming my family, I felt like I was watching from behind glass. Present but not quite there. Still processing the weight of Brynelle’s words about love not being finite, about honouring the past by choosing to live.
I was due at Fenric’s chambers. Learn about this meeting with Nyxaria. But I just needed a moment to myself first.
The stars glittered overhead, a tapestry of light against the velvet darkness.
I took slow, steadying breaths, trying to release the weight in my chest. But it lingered, heavy and aching. I leaned forward against the balcony railing, my hands pressing into the stone until my knuckles whitened.
