Cillian cleared his throat. “Stop that.” He grabbed her arm and gently tugged her upright.
“You’re the high prince,” she said. “I’m going to bow in public.”
He rolled his eyes. “We’re having a party at the library!”
My head whipped in his direction. “We are?” He’d just suggested it, and I hadn’t even had time to think about it.
“You must come,” Cillian said.
Ceri gave him a look. “I can’t. I think I’m going to be busy.”
My gaze bounced between them, and it felt like an entire silent conversation was being had, that Cillian knew why Ceri couldn’t come—I wondered if it had to do with her father somehow.
“I haven’t even told you when it is.” Cillian arched a brow.
“Well, I’m always busy. I have a lot going on between the shop and Father, whichreminds me: I must be on my way.”
She continued past us, and Cillian frowned as we resumed walking.
“That was a little strange,” I said.
He huffed a laugh. “Not really. Ceri rarely leaves the shop.”
My brows furrowed. “Why?”
He waved his hand. “It doesn’t matter. I just have a hard time getting her out of her shell. But her loss, I guess.”
“So we’re doing this? We’re throwing a party?”
The road curved behind the castle, and we continued along, making our way toward the grassy hills.
“The town needs it,” Cillian said. “We’ve had nothing to celebrate for so long. Only losses. Finding the library again is a huge win, and Margaret told me that Wolfe found it. If he could find it, that means others can too.”
I swallowed, once again thinking about Wolfe and how close his lips had been to mine. I shook the thoughts away, instead focusing on the other part of what Cillian had said.
“Is it really that bad?” I peeked a glance at the high prince, who waved to a woman above us, stretching out her window to say hi. “Fairwitch is so beautiful and magical and hidden.”
“Not hidden enough,” Cillian said. “People are scared. Especially with parts of the castle disappearing, with no chosen queen.”
I thought about what Wolfe had said, how Cillian was focusing on the wrong things.
“Maybe it’s time to give them more hope, more confidence.” Ithought about the way Wolfe had been training me, making me feel stronger and braver every day. Maybe Cillian could do the same for his people.
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“Maybe it’s time to stop sitting still, waiting to be attacked. Maybe it’s time to rally your people, to strengthen your defenses and figure out how to stop the brotherhood.”
Cillian laughed. “You’ve been talking to Wolfe a lot, haven’t you?”
My cheeks flushed. “Well, he has good ideas.”
“Yeah, he does, except he refuses to be part of anything, share anything, do anything except guard me.”
It was jarring hearing the frustration in the high prince’s voice. “Have you tried talking to him about it?”
“About what?” Cillian snapped.
“How much you miss your brother?” I asked.
