They both look over at me, and I try to appear busy, like I’m not eavesdropping on their conversation. It hurts my heart for people to view Caspian that way. He would rather have died than become what he is now.
But Keldarion…he came for his people, to rebuild what was broken.
“Once it was done, we all followed him to the castle.” The citizen smiles. “He said it was unnecessary, but we insisted. This keep is a symbol of our home, our pride in Winter. It wouldn’t do for it to be in shambles.”
Their voices fade down the hall, and I turn back to the High Prince of Winter. There’s only one small hole in the wall now.
I walk over to Keldarion, the chill morning air tugging at my hair.
“I didn’t expect them to come,” Keldarion says. Beads of perspiration dot his brow. His eyes are alive and vibrant. “I was never there for them before. Never there for Winter.”
“You were trying to protect them in your own way,” I say. “And this last month, the people have seen you, Keldarion. They’ve seen the ruler you can be.”
I follow his gaze outside. Caspian’s magic destroyed the entire wall around Keep Wolfhelm. The once towering structure is now nothing but piles of ice and stone. The town of Frostfang is completely visible. Plumes of smoke curl into the sky.
“And what of the wall? Will you repair it as well?”
Keldarion places his large hand flat along a wooden plank. Ice begins to creep up in sparkling fractals.
“No,” he says lowly. “I will no longer separate myself from my people. Keep Wolfhelm will be open to Winter forevermore.”
He lifts his chin to where Mount Rhuvenmark churns up smog. The choking substance hasn’t crept over the city yet, but it’s thick and dark as oil.
“How long do we have?” I whisper.
“The stone magister thinks three days. Maybe four if we’re lucky. The people don’t know about the eruption yet. They blame Caspian for the smoke. Finally a blessing that they’ll blame everything on him.”
“You know what needs to happen next.”
“How can I do it, Rose? How can I let you go to my worst nightmares?”
“Because you trust me,” I say and force him to look at me.
“I trust you. But you will be his thrall.”
“No. There is only one magic stronger in the Enchanted Vale than that of a bargain, and it’s a mate bond. Caspian and you are both my mates. He asked me once to try to fight it. He believed it was possible. If I’m in the Below and Caspian thinks I’m his thrall, imagine what we can learn about Sira. I might even figure out how to rescue my mother and Cas.”
Kel shakes his head and drags me to a corner of the room where we’re out of sight. “That’s a lot of ifs, Rose. The Prince of Thorns may need you. He may not harm you as he still recognizes you as his mate, but he’s under Sira’s control. If she finds out about your mate bond, she could order him to kill you. And then it doesn’t matter how much he wants you. He’ll be forced to obey.”
“Then I won’t let her find out.” Tears threaten to fall, but I steel myself. “Sending me to Caspian, letting me take on the Below—it’s dangerous. It might kill me. But there’s a chance I survive it and come out with my mother, with Cas. Keeping me here, Kel? Thatwillkill me.”
“Rose.” He cups my cheek, and I lean into his hand.
“Listen, Kel. It will kill me watching you turn into your beast forever, your rose wilting, never bringing back our friends from their animal forms. And it’ll kill you too. You may have me, your Rose, protected and safe in a glass jar, but everything around you will wilt and rot and die. Castletree will fall without the High Prince of Winter, as will your realm.”
Keldarion’s hands tremble, and he brings his forehead to mine. “How can you be so brave?”
“It’s easy when I’m doing it for the people I love. I love you, Kel.”
He kisses me, softly at first, then deeper. “If we are to do this, there is one thing I ask of you.”
“What is it?”
“Take a walk with me, Rose.”
87
Rosalina
