“Cass—”
“Why did you hide the books from me?” he demanded.
His father grew pained. “You know why. If I had let you have them, that island would have taken you from me as well. I had to protect you.”
Protect him?
He reached out but Cassiel jerked away. “You turned your back on me when she left. Where were you then?”
His father lowered his gaze.
Cassiel clenched his shaking fists, furious with himself for divulging his resentments again. He was so angry with them, and the life they gave him. The anger suffocated him. It was far too late to protect him from anything.
His father’s shoulders sank under an invisible weight. “I was mourning your mother. You have her likeness and I … couldn’t be near you because of it. That was not fair to you. I see that now, and I will always carry the guilt of the grief I have caused you. I am so very sorry, son.”
As a child, he had craved to hear those words. Craved for some sliver of hope his father hadn’t abandoned him. But he didn’t care for it now. His heart was a cold rock in his chest. It may as well have been dead inside of him.
“What can I do to earn your forgiveness?”
The question was a kindle to his rage. True forgiveness couldn’t be bought, but he thought better of it. This was an excellent opportunity to make a request of the High King for whatever he wished.
Dyna’s naïve, smiling face came to mind.
It cost him a great deal to keep her alive, but she was headed toward certain death, regardless. If she walked out those castle gates, she wouldn’t ever return. As his mother never did.
“Prevent the human from going to Mount Ida,” Cassiel replied. He instantly regretted wasting this opportunity on her. He should have requested his freedom.
His father groaned. “Of all the things to ask of me. Did you not see her determination?”
Yes, and it was so much like his mother’s, it was uncanny.
“The death of her parents weighs on her. She needs to go on this journey for them and for herself. You cannot stop her, even if you were to follow her all the way there.”
Follow her?
Cassiel glanced down at the ring hanging from the chain around his neck. He cradled it in his palm, the sapphire glimmering in the moonlight. Perhaps the fates had something to do with him meeting Dyna.
“I wasn’t here to stop Elia from leaving,” King Yoel said, gazing at the ring. “I will never cease to regret it.”
Cassiel let it fall back on his chest. “She made her choice.”
His father sighed. “While I cannot interfere with Dynalya’s journey, what other favor may I grant you?”
“I wish to return to Hermon Ridge,” Cassiel said right away. A plan was forming but it would only work if he had permission to leave.
“Very well.”
That was oddly easy. “I have your leave?”
His father nodded. “For now. You are young and have much to learn before we discuss your future. Meanwhile, you may leave Hilos. I will contact Jophiel tomorrow morning through the water mirror and inform him of your impending arrival.” He held up a hand when Cassiel thought to make another request. “I will not allow the use of Stardust. You are to remain unseen during travel between the Realms.”
“Yes, sire.” Cassiel bowed in compliance if only to hide his annoyance at being read. The lack of Stardust would be inconvenient.
“Our years are long and plenty,” the High King said. “Incomparable to humans. The important thing is not how long we live buthowwe live, son. I only wish for your happiness.”
Cassiel had nothing else appropriate to say. He bid his father a good evening and leaped over the balcony. His wings carried him off into the brisk night and out to sea, riding the wind in idle arcs.
He wholly disregarded the last part of that absurd conversation. It held no meaning to him.
