Soft light filters through crystalline windows, bathing the hall in hues of gold and green. Petals float in the air, the scent of fresh blossoms weaving through every breath I take. The overgrowth is gone, replaced by blooming flowers. The vines, once wild and suffocating, have been tamed, trailing archways and spiraling up columns.
Of course, the purple thorns are still here, crisscrossing over the floor. But Castletree wouldn’t be the same without them.
I trail my fingers along the edge of a blossoming rosebush near the window, its petals as soft as silk. There’s a warmth here—the blessing of Spring weaves through these halls.
“Ezryn did this,” I whisper.
Farron steps to my side, his hand brushing against my arm. “The blessing of Spring is back where it belongs.”
A grand celebration for Ezryn greeted us on arrival. The Spring staff were already so overjoyed their curse was broken, but when they saw Ezryn in his armor, it was pure elation. Hope ignited in their eyes, murmurs turned to cheers, and for the first time in so long, the halls of Castletree buzzed with happiness.
It’s only a matter of time until he returns to Florendel and takes his place on that throne. For now, we know Spring is in good hands with Tilla as steward.
I close my eyes and let the sensation wash over me.
As I look around the transformed wing, hope swells in my chest. We’ll be able to move some of the staff out of their makeshift quarters in the dining hall and ballroom here to the Spring wing. There’s still so much to rebuild and restore, but this…this is a sign. If one part of Castletree can heal, so can the Enchanted Vale.
Dayton gestures for us to follow him, his excitement bubbling again. We trace the familiar steps of the Spring wing, and I realize we’re heading to my room. I hesitate at the door, hearing a clatter of sounds from inside. I knock.
There’s a pause, and then Ezryn’s voice calls out, “Who’s there?”
“Just me,” I say. “And Day and Fare.”
“Only you three?”
“Yes,” I reply.
“Then come in.”
I push the door open and freeze.
My room—it’s been transformed as well. The briars remain, wrapping around the stone walls and curling over the ceiling. But it’s so different from the last time I was here. The cherry blossom tree in the corner, which I thought had been killed by the curse, is in full bloom again, its pale pink petals glowing in the dim light.
But it’s not the tree—or this place—that steals my breath.
It’s Ezryn.
He’s standing in the middle of the room, back to us, shirtless and barefoot, his powerful frame illuminated by the soft glow from the windows. His dark hair is tousled, and his tawny skin gleams with a sheen of sweat. It’s clear why he asked who was atthe door. Since Ezryn reclaimed the wearing of armor, he doesn’t show his face to anyone outside of his family. The weight of his trust settles over me, as I feel it settling over Farron and Dayton.
He glances over his shoulder. “Don’t stand there gawking.”
Dayton lets out a low whistle. “Wow. Someone’s been busy.”
Ezryn is standing beside a massive wooden frame. I need a moment to grasp what I see—a bed frame. And not just any bed frame. This is something monumental, fit for royalty. The posts are winding briars, twining to form elegant arches at the top. The headboard is carved with a pattern of blooming roses. But it’s the size that stops me.
“You’re building a bed?” I ask.
Ezryn raises a brow. “You are at your happiest when we are all together. I thought I would make a space that would be most comfortable.”
I clasp my hands, tears brimming at the corner of my eyes. Because yes, the size of this bed would perfectly fit five princes and their princess. “Oh my gosh, Ezryn. It’s perfect.”
Dayton throws an arm around the Spring Prince. “You could have said you wanted to cuddle, Ez.”
Ezryn gives a deep grunt and pushes him off.
Farron steps forward, inspecting the craftsmanship with an impressed nod. “This is remarkable. Did you do this yourself?”
Ezryn shrugs, picking up a chisel from a nearby table. “I’m not just good at destroying things. I can make them too. When we were little, Kairyn and I used to build many things. He designed an entire house, and we spent weeks constructing it in the woods—” He pauses. “That was one of the few times we connected.”
