“The first attempt.” He handed me the letter, then pressed his fists against his mouth, staring at the wall.
Skadinia,
I hope you will do me the honor of considering my words.
To the alver prince, you will always be a threat before a wife. We, too, were arranged, but we have known each other most of our lives, does that count for nothing? Do you not recall the warm months riding together, swimming in the falls? We were friends, Skadinia.
I am regretful how the attempt to secure my throne impacted you, and I hope you can forgive me.
I hope you’ll consider the idea of returning to your own people and choosing me. If you do, I will let you help the young houses like you always wanted. I will elevate your first familial name to nobility.
Don’t forget, the alver prince does not really know you. Not like I do, and after knowing it all, I still want you.
Can he say the same?
—Arion
I crumpled the note in my hands, fury, fear, a bit of violence, collided in a tangle of barbs in my chest.
Jonas pulled me onto his lap and buried his face in the crook of my neck, kissing me there. “You are not a threat at all, Fire. I hope you know that.”
“I know. Arion is not who I want, Nightmare. Close, but not quite. I did swoon a bit when he told me he would let me help the young houses.” Jonas chuckled against my skin. “Oh, and this part, how he would elevate my familial name to nobility. My parents would wail in the Otherworld. They were treetop folk, the land was their palace.”
He laughed a little more and kissed my shoulder. “On the day of our vows, my father told me you were my choice, no matter what brought us together, by taking vows I was making you my choice. He was right.” Jonas tilted my face toward him. “I will choose you every day, Wife.”
Each word pierced my heart. He needed to know the truth. Arion was right about one thing—Jonas did not know everything about me.
I traced the line of his jaw with my fingertips. “There is something I must tell you.”
The chance to tell the most wretched of truths was robbed by the door bursting open and Sander shoving into the room. “Jonas. Oh. Sorry to interrupt, but I thought you should know we’re being invaded.”
Chapter 42
The Mist Thief
Sander spoke true.When we reached the front hall, it was clear the Black Palace had been invaded by a few more royal faces.
“Mir. Alek.” Jonas laughed and hooked an arm around Prince Aleksi’s neck. He moved onto Princess Mira next. The two royals were surrounded by Kryv, and travel satchels were strewn about their feet. “What brings you here? I thought you were in the Ever, Mira.”
The princess was dressed in a simple woolen gown for traveling, but a dainty black circlet was braided into her hair.
“I certainly was, but we came to see what in the hells is going on with the alver clans.” Her eyes cut back and forth to my hand clasped with Jonas’s, then to our faces. “Skadi, so good to see you again. I was told things might look a little different here. You and I will need to speak soon. Alone.”
“Want every detail of me, Mir?” Jonas said. “I don’t blame you.”
She snorted. “I’d like to know the husband side from a wife’s perspective. You’ll be terribly biased about your own attributes.”
At her back the Ever King’s cousin stepped into the hall. A blue head scarf wrapped around his brow, and silver rings pierced in his ears, somber as always.
“Heartwalker.” Jonas clasped forearms with the man. “Didn’t expect you.”
“King’s order.”
“I sense bitterness.”
“Oh, he’s absolutely wretched.” Mira’s grin faded.
“Gods, don’t get her started,” Aleksi mumbled and went to speak with Von and some of the Kryv.
