“I’m trying to think things through rationally, Rosalina,” Keldarion growls. “You’re behaving recklessly. An aggressive assault may get us killed.”
“My compassion killed Dayton,” I yell. Silence rings in the air, and I meet the wide-eyed teal gaze of Dayton across the table.
My words are thick with venom. “I will not wait around for Sira to order Wrenley to kill another one of us with the Bow of Radiance. Believing we can reason with these people will only get more of us killed. I thought I could save my sister. I was wrong.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” Dayton says. “But maybe it wasn’t hers either. You saw the way the bargain took control of her. I don’t think she wanted to ki—hurt me.”
Rage nearly explodes out of my body, and I curl my fists at my side. “I can’t believe you’re defending her, Day. She tried to take your realm. She pretended to be your mate, and sheshotyou. You’re the one who’s brushing it off like it’s a scratch.”
“I am fine!” Dayton shouts back, standing.
“It’s alright.” Farron places a hand on Dayton’s chest. “That was a terrible day, but we’re all safe now. Day’s okay.”
“Rosalina is right,” Ezryn says. “The Nightingale is a great danger with the Bow of Radiance. There’s no telling what she may do under Sira’s control.”
“We’ve removed all thorns from within Keep Wolfhelm,” Keldarion says. “This fortress is near impenetrable. As long as we stay within these walls, we’ll be safe.”
“Oh, the classic Kel solution.Hiding,” I spit. “How did that work for you the last twenty-five years? How did that work for your realm?”
His lip twitches, but he stays quiet. I search the table and find the bread rolls have been placed far away from me.
Finally, he speaks again, throwing a piece of paper on the table: “There is another problem. A letter arrived this afternoon from Castletree. It’s Marigold. She’s asking if one of the princescan come back and offer some magic. It’s not going well. I’ve opened the door between my keep and Castletree.”
My heart clenches. Castletree.
“It should be me,” Dayton says. “I haven’t returned since I got my full blessing.”
A strange sensation flits around my heart—the blessing of Spring, pulsing inside me. “I should go as well. First thing tomorrow?”
Dayton nods.
Ezryn steeples his fingers. “Everything will be for nothing if Castletree falls.”
“Castletree must be a priority. I agree we need to break your mother free and rescue Cas,” Farron says, “but don’t let what Caspian did be in vain. The last thing he would want is for you to get hurt trying to save him.”
I shake my head, tears threatening to break free. “What’s the point of all this magic inside me if I can’t help the people I love?”
“You can help them, Rosie,” Dayton says, and I feel his arms around me. I realize he’s gotten up and crossed to the front of the table. “When we help Castletree, all our magic gets stronger.”
“I’ll return to Autumn and check on the goblin situation,” Farron says. “If we can push them back, it would free some soldiers to help in an assault of the Below.”
A handful of Autumn soldiers against the Below? Useless.Kel’s disapproving voice rings in my mind.
At least Farron’s trying, I shoot back.
Keldarion gives a long sigh. “I’ll speak with our generals and Eirik Vargsaxa of the Kryodian Riders. See if we can draw in some reinforcements from the outskirts. For now, our best plan against Sira is a strong defense.”
I move away from Dayton and grip Kel’s face, making him look at me. “Youknowthe Below. If it wasn’t an act, if Caspian is being punished for helping me, what are they doing to him?”
Something wars in Kel’s eyes. “Terrible things.”
“Don’t you care at all, Kel? If not for the memory of what you had but forme? He saved my life.”
Even ice catching the light has more emotion than Keldarion’s face. It’s like staring at a statue, dead and devoid of feeling.
“I told you how he got me out.” Tears break free, but I don’t wipe them away. “Sira had me so deep in her dungeon that no thorns could grow, no magic could penetrate, but you know what could?”
Keldarion grits his teeth, square jaw so tense I think it might crack. “It doesn’t matter.”
