Finally, the seaside castle was in front of them. They brought their horses to the stables, then headed home. By the time Asta and Kaid got to the west wing, they were practically running. They checked Asta’s suite first, finding it empty. Then Kaid’s. Then Linnea’s.
They were outside of Halsten’s suite when they heard a cacophony of familiar voices within. The pair grinned at each other, then flung the double doors wide open.
Asta didn’t see anything besides a flash of red before she was being squeezed so tightly her air was cut off. Dyri was jumping around her and Linnea, barking while his ears bounced around goofily.
She knelt down and hugged Dyri next, the canine covering her face in sloppy kisses. Niklas smiled at Asta warmly but Liva remained straight-faced, awaiting her twin’s arrival. Asta pulled her aside. “Gyrial is with Tova in the infirmary.” Liva’s eye widened and moved to push past Asta, but she caught her arm, stopping her. “She’s not physically injured. It’s… I’m not really sure what it is. She’s not quite herself, so be prepared. Okay?”
Liva nodded, sprinting from the room.
Asta was glad to be home, but worried about Tova’s recovery. She wasn’t even sure if recovery from such a conditionwas possible. They would try anything, including asking the sirens for guidance. She would get her friend back to health, no matter the cost.
Kaid hugged Linnea and gave Dyri the attention he deserved before forcing a hug onto Niklas. “Where’s Halsten? Training on the beach?”
Asta watched Linnea’s posture stiffen. Her cousin sucked in a deep breath before she gestured to the bedroom door. “He’s in his room.”
Kaid and Asta opened the door, seeing Halsten sitting against the headboard of his bed. He spread his arms wide, grinning like a fiend. He still acted like typical Halsten, but why was he bed-ridden?
Kaid approached the bed but did not say anything, only stared at Halsten in bewilderment. Asta cleared her throat, urging Kaid to speak.
Kaid sat on the bedside table. “What happened?”
Halsten looked to Linnea, who was now standing in the doorway. She explained what happened with the Ryktarvan soldiers, how Halsten got injured, how he had an infection that made its way to his bloodstream but he was recovering, now waiting for his leg to finish healing.
“She’s leaving out the parts where she was a total badass.” Halsten crossed his arms. “Like when she basically burned her mother’s estate down, or stabbed a siren in the neck, or stitched up my leg in the middle of the woods using a dress pin and thread.”
Asta turned to her cousin, eyes wide. Linnea—the woman who was always so reserved. A twinge of guilt struck Asta, wondering if by protecting her cousin all these years, she had diminished her ability to fight for herself. Although she never wanted her cousin in danger, she was oddly glad they had this adventure to the Blomvin estate so Linnea could find confidencein herself. However, she was going to needa lotmore details regarding these heroic events.
“She’s also leaving out the part where we’re going to live happily ever after, so we’re basically cousins now, Asta.” Halsten winked at her and Asta shook her head, again turning to Linnea wide-eyed in disbelief. What the fuck happened on this trip? “Now, if you’ll excuse us, I need a proper reunion with my best friend without your judgement.”
Asta and Linnea doubled over laughing when they exited the room and heard Kaid say “I’m not kissing you,” flatly before the door closed behind them.
Chapter 47
Alternate Chapter Available
“All right, now that Linnea isn't here, how do you really feel?” Kaid leaned against the closed door, folding his arms over his chest.
Halsten sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “The mender said there’s nerve damage, as well as a muscular tear. She told me she could try to repair the muscles surgically, but itwas risky and I still would most likely come out of the surgery in the same condition.”
“And what is that condition, Halsten? Why are you in bed?”
“Because of the nerve damage, I can’t exactly feel my foot sometimes. It’s like it’s there, because I can feel the pressure of it touching something, but I can’t feel the sensation on my skin, if that makes sense. And then,” Halsten leaned off the side of his bed, pulling out a stick from underneath it. “I have to walk with this. Probably forever. Like some old goat, waving his cane around yelling at kids to not trample his flowerbeds.”
Kaid laughed despite the devastation he felt. “I’ve seen a lot of young dukes using canes as a fashion statement. Own it, brother.”
They dove into telling the tales of their journeys. Kaid never wanted to be separated from his best friend like that again. He knew that if the sirens won the war, he would likely figure out a way to spend his time in both kingdoms, but he wouldn’t be leaving his best friend in perilous situations every time he departed, so that was different. He also would not be leaving his friend alone any longer, now that Linnea was around. He could never repay Linnea for the care and love she provided for his best friend the last few days.
Kaid poured a glass of water from the pitcher and handed it to Halsten. “So, youhadto claim the other Blomvin woman, hmm?”
“You know I’ve always had a thing for redheads,” Halsten laughed. “But seriously. I know how we used to be. But we’ve got these two amazing, fierce women in our lives now and I have no interest in that anymore.”
Kaid sighed. He had been so wrapped up with Asta that he never even saw the relationship blooming between Halsten and Linnea. What was confusing to Kaid was how easily Halsten fell into step with Linnea, how quickly he put his past behind him.“How do you know you’re not going to fuck it up? We’ve never done this before.”
“I’m not saying I’ll never do something wrong, but I’m devoted to her. If I wrong her, it will be bringing her the wrong tea in the morning, or wearing a color that clashes with her dress to a party. It won’t be anything involving another woman.Ever.It’s okay to let go and enjoy the free fall. I have been.”
That was exactly what Kaid wanted, too. To free fall with Asta. But they each had a habit of protecting themselves above all else, even if it led to their demise. “I’m not entirely sure how to do that. Every time I feel like we’re making progress, something sets us back and we’re arguing again.”
Halsten started laughing and Kaid couldn’t for the life of him figure out what he had said that was so funny.
