Kairyn snorts, an undignified sound for this armored giant. “I have reached out to my brother far too many times, and just when I think I’m breaking through, he leaves me dangling off a precipice.”
I stare into the young prince’s helm, wondering if I’m holding his gaze. I do know what he’s talking about. “Sometimes the closer I get to Ezryn, the more it feels like he pulls away.”
“Exactly,” Kairyn says.
I can’t believe this is what I’m bonding with Kairyn over, but I understand deeply what he means. Just when I feel like there’s a crack in Ezryn’s armor, when I think he might let me in, he pulls away and retreats within himself. I’ve only had to endure this for a few months, whereas Kairyn has lived with it for a lifetime.
“In his eyes, I’ll only ever be a child,” Kairyn murmurs, “unfit to stand at his side.”
“I know it can feel like he’s far away,” I urge, “but he’s changing. When I see him and Kel—”
“Keldarion.” The name is a hiss and a growl all at once. “Ah yes, I’m sure my brother is quick to reconcile with that one. He doesn’t hold any ill-will against traitors. Only his blood.”
I drop my hands and step back. “You’re hurt, and it’s not my place to pry. I’m barely more than a stranger to you. But for what it’s worth: trust him. Trust Ezryn, and he will see through on any promise made.”
“For what it’s worth, Lady O’Connell, let me ask you something. Do you truly know my brother?”
“Yes,” I say without hesitation. “Ezryn is brave and kind, and he’ll do anything for his friends and his realm.”
Kairyn closes the gap between us and runs a finger down my neck, under the thin chain of my necklace. Slowly, he lifts the moonstone rose on a single finger. The gifted golden leaf from Autumn dangles off to the side. I hold my breath, feeling as if he’s wrapped his hands around my heart. “He’s like his armor, shining on the outside, but have you ever seen within?”
“I know his heart, and it isgood.”
Kairyn lowers the moonstone rose back to my skin, then turns, looking nothing more than a shadow. “If you are so certain, ask my brother what happened the night he accepted the Blessing. Ask him what happened to my mother.”
45
Farron
“Prince of Thorns, if you can hear me, answer this call.” My fingers tighten around the briars. I watch the thorns slither through the library of Castletree.Can you hear me?
Silence is the only response. A low growl rumbles in my throat. Using my necklace, I managed to slip out of the Spring jubilee with ease and quickly return to Castletree. But it won’t be long before my absence is noticed.
I fall to my knees in front of the thorns and place two hands on the vines, then with a sinking resignation, bow my head. “Please, Caspian. I need to speak to you. What do you want? I don’t have any sacrifices around, though one of the staff turns into a goat at night. I could persuade them to—”
The vines ripple and shadows curl around my feet. I look up to see Caspian lounging on a thorn above me. A smirk curls up the side of his mouth. “Really, Farron, a goat sacrifice? How barbaric.”
I shrug. “How am I to know what you dark princes like?”
“What I like is you, Autumn Prince. On your knees and begging for me.” Caspian leaps off the vine and prowls closer. “Has anyone ever told you you’re adorable? And so festive today. Don’t say you dressed up just for me?”
I stand and cross my arms. My outfit is a combination of a lime-green robe with pink flowers and tight gray pants that flare at the bottom. I wrap the robe tighter to cover my bare torso. “You actually came.”
“Why are you so surprised? It was you who called me. And I can’t resist a man on his knees.”
Heat burns in my core under the predatory nature of his gaze. Is this what Rosie felt when he came to her during the mating frenzy? The thought cuts through everything else and protective anger takes over. “I’m here to talk about Rosalina.”
Caspian raises a dark brow and steps back. “Not as timid as you used to be, Pup.”
We begin to circle each other. “You were in her room the other night.”
“You should have joined us.” He smirks.
“Tell me about your…” I pause. “About thisconnectionwith her.”
His smile only widens, and he grasps my robe, pulling me closer. “What is it you’re truly asking, Autumn Princeling?”
My teeth grind. Ihatehim. I knew I shouldn’t trust him, and yet fear drove me to make a bargain with him. A bargain with twisted words that he used to attack my realm and set loose my beast.
