“Thal,” Sana whispered and hugged him tightly. “I'm going with you.”
The entire court gasped again.
“No!” the Queen shrieked, then turned to her husband. “Dehras, do something!”
“It is her choice, my dear,” the King said stoically. “She must make it.”
“Sana, no!” the Queen begged. “Don't give up your throne for a traitor!”
“I love him, Mother.” Sana lifted her chin. “He is not a traitor to me.”
“And I love you too much to let you give up your family and home for me,” Thal said. “Don't force me to break with you entirely, Sana. Please.”
“Thal?” Sana's voice cracked. “We can go somewhere else. Down to the coast.”
“Yes, we can. We can do that whenever you wish without you giving up your birthright.” He stroked her hair tenderly. “It will be all right, my dearest. I am not defeated, just a bit broken, and I will heal.”
Fuck, that tore at me, but there was only so much sympathy I could have for people who had conspired against me. I had forgiven them and stopped Tae from killing them, I wouldn't interfere further. Instead, I leaned against Tae and took comfort from him. He held me tighter and kissed the top of my head.
“But, Thal,” Sana whispered.
“I'll see you tomorrow,” Thal said brightly and kissed her cheek. “Things will look better in the morning.” Then he stepped away from the Princess and bowed to the King and Queen. “I will pray to the Goddess for forgiveness, Your Majesties, and hope that someday I might prove myself to you again.”
Then Thalsar, ex-General of the Falcon Army, strode out of the dining hall and toward a new life.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Tae took me home, sitting with his arm around me the entire ride. We went upstairs holding hands and smiling softly at each other, then went straight into his bedroom.
“I'll have your clothes moved back into my dressing room in the morning,” Tae said as he led me to the bed.
“I missed you,” I said simply.
“Shane,” he cried brokenly and pulled me into a tight embrace. “I was furious, angry beyond reason. I've never felt so betrayed in all my life.”
“I know.” I stroked his silken hair. “Neither have I.”
“I'm sorry, sweetheart.”
“Just tell me one thing. Did you know it was Sana watching us that day?”
Taeven froze.
“You did,” I whispered. “I didn't want to believe her.”
“She told you?” he growled, then shook his head. “I should have told you. I noticed it was her, but you were enjoying it, and I knew she was too, so I didn't see the harm. Then, afterward, when you said that thing about not knowing who it was making it more exciting, I decided not to tell you. She didn't make the best first impression, and I didn't want to ruin the experience for you.”
“All right. I understand.”
“Shane, I'm so sorry,” he apologized again. “For all of it. I was a complete imbecile.”
“Stop. I've already forgiven you for how you reacted.” I eased back. “But you didn't do this, Tae. It was Sanasenne and Thalsar, and they have been punished. It's done. I'm just sorry that you lost two friends in the process.”
“Me too,” he admitted on a sigh. “To tell you the truth, one heartbreak was just replaced by another, but this one is easier to bear.”
“Heartbreak?” I searched his eyes, hoping.
Tae stroked my cheek and smiled softly. “When you stopped me from hurting them, I realized that you were the only one who has ever brought me out of rage. And you did it, despite what they had done to you.”
