Which was alarming, because Dyna had a water mirror. Was there a reason she had not contacted them yet? Rawn could see from Zev’s worried expression that he was anxious to leave and search for them.
“I will speak with the king,” Rawn said. Out of decorum, he had to await his dismissal first.
Aerina entered with a tray of food, and Zev stood.
“That is enough for today, Keena. We should leave Rawn to rest.” He gently scooped up the fairy in his palm and placed her on his shoulder.
Taking the petals of her dress, she curtsied. “It was a pleasure to see you again, Lord Norrlen.”
“And you, princess.” Rawn chuckled. When they turned to go, he called, “Zev.”
The tall Lycan paused.
Rawn smiled, feeling so immensely grateful as he took Aerina’s hand. “Thank you.”
With a bow of his head, Zev quietly slipped into the hall.
Drawing back the covers, Rawn invited Aerina to bed. She lay beside him, curling into his chest as he held her in his arms. There was one who had not come to see him yet, and he was afraid to ask why. But his wife, his bonded soul, looked up at her with her big blue eyes, and she knew.
“Give him time.”
He couldn’t have expected a perfect reunion. After leaving them for so long, what else could his son feel but disgruntlement and resentment?
“Can you forgive me, my love?” Rawn murmured, cupping her face. “For not caring for you as a husband should. For leaving you to raise our son alone. For leaving you without my protection. My greatest regret wasplacing my oath to my country above our vows. All these years I despised myself for leaving, knowing there was a chance it could be forever.” Her eyes welled as his did. “I am not worthy of being your husband or his father. I deserve your scorn and his aversion. I deserve to have my name stricken from your lips. But I still beg you to forgive me. You must have wished to have never married me, but without you, I am nothing at all.”
“Oh, Rawn.” She buried her face in his chest. “In all my years, there is only one thing I have ever been sure of. And that was the day I chose to spend my life with you.”
He held her close, feeling so undeserving of her. Yet so thankful to finally be reunited again. “How have you and Raiden been in my absence?”
She lowered her gaze and hid her face against his chest.
“Aerina?”
“I have much to tell you.”
By the third day,Rawn was well enough to move from the bed, though it was painful and difficult. The wounds on his feet were mending. He frowned at the small round table by the window, calculating how many steps it would take to walk to it. He wouldn’t regain his strength by lounging in bed all day.
A knock came at the door.
He looked up as a guard opened it, and King Leif entered.
“There is no need to stand,” Leif said, offering him a polite smile. “I am pleased to see you in better health, Rawn. It has been some time. How are you?”
Rawn shifted his head in a slight bow. “Alive, sire. I cannot ask for more than that.”
“You have not changed.” Leif chuckled and went to the windows, gazing out at the city of Avandia. “Do you remember anything?”
“I remember many things, the most prevalent being the blade held at my son’sthroat.” Rawn’s voice came out low, tight. “You used him in your ploy against Altham. Do not say it was for me when you have only held an interest in pursuing your own aims.”
Lief faced him, his expression cool. “I understand your ire, Rawn, but mind your tongue when speaking to your king. The trade was a ruse. Altham was careful in his oath, as I was in mine. If he hadn’t been so eager to fool me, he would have seen through my oath. I promised to bring your son to a wedding for the princess, not that Raiden would marryher. God of Urn as my witness, I never intended it to pass.” His shoulders slumped a little, the only sign of his guilt. “I am sorry I had to keep it from Aerina. I couldn’t risk the chance it would reach Altham.”
Rawn took a breath, taming the spark of his anger, but only a little. “You put our son in danger.”
“I did, and I am sorry.”
“I am told there was an issue with the Accords as well.”
An unexpected sheepishness crossed Leif’s face. “I suppose I may have intentionally angered the High King and Queen of Hilos in hopes they would defy me and arrive as reinforcements. Nonetheless, they made that decision on their own without my knowledge.”
