“So . . .” I stare at him. “What does that mean?”
“For the king and queen, I have no idea. But for me, I likely cannot return to my House. Not for some time.” He gives an aggravated sigh. “Perhaps I’ll have to settle in Emberfall.”
He sounds so disgusted that I laugh, and I rise up on my tiptoes to kiss him. “Somehow you’ll survive.”
I meant for it to be a peck, but he catches my waist and makes it more. “Somehow I’ve made it this long,” he says against my lips. “Those fools over the borderalmosthave me believing in fate.”
“Ah . . . at the risk of interrupting,” the queen says from behind us, her tone a bit droll. She clears her throat.
I flush, then draw back, putting some distance between me and Alek. “Forgive me, Your Majesty.” As I turn, I realize she’s not alone. The king is with her, their hands loosely entwined.
The king hasn’t left her side since the moment we returned to the palace.
“Ah, forgiveus,” Alek says.
“You’re not the first couple to steal a kiss in the gardens,” the king says, and the queen swats him on the arm. But he catches her hand and kisses her knuckles, and all the teasing melts right out of her expression. It’s such a complete shift from the brutal political tension that existed between them for so long. For an instant, I wonder ifweshould give them some privacy.
Maybe it’s not just Alek. Maybe we’re all a bit changed after what happened.
“I was looking for you,” the queen says to me.
“Oh!” I say. “Does Sinna need me—”
“No. Well— perhaps. As you know, tensions are still . . . very high. The king and I are planning to leave the palace for a time. With Sinna.” She pauses. “And we were hoping you and Nora would consider remaining with us.” She pauses. “To help.”
Beside me, Alek goes very still.
My heart thumps. “For how long?” I say.
“For . . . six months,” says the queen. She looks a bit pale. “Possibly . . . possibly a year.”
“Possibly longer,” adds the king— and they both exchange a meaningful glance.
I look between them. My mouth has gone dry.
“You’re hiding,” Alek says, and his voice is hushed. A month ago, his tone would have been full of accusation— but now it’s just full of surprise.
King Grey frowns, then sighs. “Yes. Matters have changed, and we will announce a tour of Syhl Shallow and Emberfall. A chance to revisit our people. We will have couriers send word of our visits to distant cities, and we will arrange letters to and from Prince Rhen and Princess Harper talking about our adventures and the people we have met. Rhen has been acting as regent in Emberfall for quite some time, so that will continue . . .”
“And Verin will act as regent here,” says the queen. “Until we can determine that the prejudices against magic have settled. I have spoken with Igaa. We are hopeful that we can spin a story that the scravers reclaimed their magic— though there is still so much fear to go around.”
Alek studies them both. “But you will notreallygo on a tour,” he finally says.
The king hesitates, and I realize it’s possible he may not want to admit this to Alek— the man who once plotted against him.
But I know how much Alek risked to protect the queen in the end— and how much he may have lost, if he can’t return to his own home either. Perhaps the king realizes the same, because he eventually says, “No. We will settle somewhere privately.”
I look between them and wet my lips. “Where?”
“We would remain close to the palace,” says the king. “We do not want to be too far from military force if we are discovered.”
“Anyone in the Crystal City would know the queen,” says Alek. “It’s too much of a risk.”
“Not that close,” says the king. He looks at me. “We were considering Briarlock.”
I gasp. “But—”
“It’s small,” says the queen, as if I’m about to protest. “And we aren’t known there. Your bakery was set a ways off from town. We thought perhaps we could build a small house nearby—”
