“I wanted to talk about you first,” he began, his deflection pretty damned obvious.
“I’mfine, honestly. Isahn—” Lia stopped them at the top of the stairs, taking both of his hands and squeezing. “I would do anything for you. You’re my big brother. Peros was awful and plagued us for years. Hemurderedour parents. I won’t lose a wink of sleep over what I had to do last night, and you shouldn’t either. It was for us, it was for Staridge and the earldom, it was for ourpeople—and Domos too. There’s nothing for me to regret.”
Tension sluiced off him as her words rained down, rinsing away his apprehensions. Lia was strong, a capable and passionate leader, and she was going to be all right. She excelled at this.
As they passed the spot where Peros fell, he avoided looking at the floor, but the charred carpet was unavoidable, extending out in front of the vault door.
“Do you know this combination?” Isahn asked.
“You changed it when you became earl.”
“I know. Come, look.”
Lia peered over his shoulder as he twisted the dials on the lock until a latch clicked and they could push open the door. “Got it?”
“Yes.”
Solaelia lit the sconces as he made for his mother’s collection, lifting lids on inlaid boxes until he found what he was looking for. “I need to ask you something.”
“Iknow.” Her tone was soft, understanding. “Don’t take the carnelian and sapphire ring. It’s part of a set, and I have the other pieces.”
With a smirk, he turned and showed her his choice.
“Mum loved that one.” Lia smiled at him, her pale eyes shining with unshed tears. “It hasn’t been long, though, has it?”
“No, but it’s been intense. I love her, and I want to spend my life supporting her. I need to be there.”
“Isahn—”
“I’m sorry, Lia. I know you didn’t ask for this, but I need to abdicate. Will you take the earldom, officially?”
“You have nothing to apologize for.”
“Is that a yes?”
“Of course it is. I love Staridge. Go get your woman.” Her smile was luminous as her tears spilled free. “I’m going to miss you, but I’m so, so happy for you. And I do need to meet the illustrious Princess George.”
“She’ll be queen soon.”
“And you’ll be king,” Lia retorted, bracing him by the shoulders and laughing at whatever horrified expression he made.
“You’re better at this than I ever was—”
“You can’t abdicate a kingship to me.”
He snorted. “I mean leadership, taking control.”
“You chased our uncle hundreds and hundreds of miles, Isahn. You were taken captive. You not only won over your captors, but befriended them—”
“Fell in love with one.”
“Exactly. Then you left to chase Peros again, for the good ofothersbefore yourself. And now you’re abdicating for love and the future you deserve. What part of that is not ‘taking control’?”
She had a point.
Their ensuing hug was fierce, and after Solaelia put in a special order for him in town, they stayed up late crafting the perfect letter to King Ehmet and Queen Hevva. In the morning, with Lia’s promise to visit soon echoing in his ears, Isahn and Hildy left for the north.
thirty-two
