“What happened when you got home? How did Gwyneth die?”
King Tristan closed his eyes, like he didn’t want to see the next part even though it happened over a century ago. “I didn’t know Gwyneth was pregnant when I left for Lochmatten. It was so early, I don’t think she knew either. Gwyneth sent me a letter with the news, but I couldn’t leave the war. She didn’t tell mehow difficult her pregnancy was, and then she died in childbirth right before I got home. The baby didn’t make it… but I had you. Rowan and Hannah still gained a sibling.”
“Do they know?” Evelyn’s voice cracked.
“Rowan does. He was old enough to handle it. But I couldn’t tell Hannah, not after she lost her mother.”
“And… that’s it? You acted like everything was fine?”
“I held our family together,” the king said defensively. “I wasn’t going to let anything happen to you, Hannah, or Rowan.”
“But why didn’t you tell me? Especially once we got here! This is why you didn’t want me to be a queen, right?”
“It was wrong of me not to tell you. But in Carrowmore, it didn’t matter. You were my child and you had Fire magic. You don’t look exactly like your siblings, but no one questioned it. Then this trip to Gryon was supposed to be about Hannah. I didn’t expect you to become a queen overnight. I vaguely remembered Captain Fontaine from the war, and the two of you seemed happy together. Then Councilor Ritter was at your side, and I thought your connection to Lochmatten might be fate, even if he is a bit strange. By the time I realized your heart was with Alexander, I didn’t want to put this on you. You deserved to marry for love without worrying about bloodlines.”
My bracelet has stayed warm since he started talking. He only wanted me to be happy. But it meant I never really knew who I was.
King Tristan held Evelyn as she cried, which made her feel like a child again.
This is what I saw in the Invenion in Lochmatten. The room showed me this conversation with my father.
Eventually, she went to Leo’s room on the fourth floor. Her belongings had been moved there while she was away, but it still didn’t feel like her space. Evelyn recounted what her father had said. Leo told her again that he loves her, and the braceletproved his words. They had dinner sent up to the room and went to bed early. Evelyn was ready for a peaceful night’s sleep without any more interruptions from Haydn, real or within a dream.
72
Dragon
Evelyn dreamed about walking through the city. Snowflakes fell in front of an ice cream shop, delighting the local children who had never seen real snow in Gryon. A woman selling flowers sang so seductively that Evelyn drifted toward her without meaning to. She was about to take a sip of wine that supposedly tasted like chocolate-covered strawberries, when the dream shifted.
Evelyn stood on the dais in the Rosebud Chapel. She wore a white dress, with long sleeves, covered in delicate lace. It didn’t shimmer or sparkle or shine, but it was pretty. She had an emerald and gold ring on her left hand.
“You look heavenly, my love.”
Evelyn spun toward the voice, and Haydn beamed at her. He was practically glowing in the sunshine streaming through the glass walls. She reached out to touch his cheek.
“EVELYN!”
The scream sounded like it was coming from all around her. Evelyn startled, but Haydn’s loving expression didn’t change.
I must have imagined it.
He took her hand. “You are going to marry me.”
Evelyn bounced on the balls of her feet before throwing her arms around Haydn’s neck. “Yes! Yes, of course I am!”
“EVELYN!”
The scream was louder this time.
Evelyn jumped back, her heart racing. “Who is that?”
“Nobody, love.” Haydn smiled. “It’s only us here.”
“But… the voice sounds so familiar…”
Annoyance flickered across Haydn’s face. “You don’t want to leave me, do you?”
“No!” Evelyn said. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
