Making it past the groundsI’dfound so calming before, we began filing into the main entrance of the castle. Upon entering, King Rividian instructed Lyra—the soldierwhohad been paired with Margo before—to lead us to one of the guest wings. Callum and Caelia, though, parted from our group as they fell in line behind their parents, heading deeper inward.
After stepping inside, I noted that the crystals making up the structure weren’tactuallythecolor of a sunset—it was simply reflecting the colors of the sky outside.Now, as nightfell, the castle was shifting from hues of orange and pink to deep blue and silver, the light from the moon coming through and energizing the Northernziriliumrunning through my veins.
Once Lyra had led us to what felt like the farthest wing in the entire structure, we divided into pairs again, havingbeen told most rooms would only fit two—some with one large bed, others with two smaller ones.
Quinn forced Byn and me into the room farthest down the deadend of the hall, just like our arrangement back in The Haven. I supposed it made her feel a bit more comfortable, knowing that if anybody ran into trouble,we’dlikely befarthest from it. Though Byn tried to argue with her anyway, we all knew Quinndidn’ttakenofor an answer.
“The king and queen will see you all in an hour for dinner,” Lyra announced down the long corridor just before Byn and I shut ourselves into the room picked for us.
Byn leaned against the back of the door, resting against it as he took a deep breath.
“That could’ve gone worse,” he said quietly, though I couldn’t tell if he was attempting to reassure me, or himself.
The room itself was spacious—almosttoospacious.
There was one large bed in the middle of the room, a small breakfast table with two chairs in the left corner, and two wardrobes. Besides that, the space was mostly empty. I supposed theydidn’texactly get a lot of visitors, but the space itself felt cold—and not just because the walls, ceiling, and floor were crafted of earth and crystal.
Fortunately, the crystals were foggy enough in this area of the castle that wecouldn’tsee through the walls into the next room, though I still spoke quietly, just in case there werelisteningears.
“So,” I began, “how long have you known about Rayven’s abilities?”
“Years,” Byn admitted as he rubbed the back of his neck. “But he made me vow thatI’dnever tell a soul. Ididn’tknow Titan Wolves could be turned to shadow, either, until he returned from the Isles so quickly before the Battle of Shadows.He’dused a mixture of Willow and hastening the two of them to make it there and back in time to come to our aid.”
“And I guess when Rayven came asking for aid, he didn’t mention that you’d taken a Northern wife?” I inquired.
I wanted to be upset about it, but the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. TheRividianroyalslikely wouldn’thave sent their aid ifthey’dknown about me, and Byn had been under a vow.
“There wasn’t another choice, Avi,” Byn sighed, standing straight and peering down at me. “We both know we would’ve lost that battle without the Isles’shelp.”
Though Ididn’tenjoy the sour tasteofmanipulation left in my mouth, I understood that sometimes sacrifices needed to be made.
Even if it was a part of ourselves we were sacrificing.
“I get it, I really do. But you could’ve warned me.”
“I wanted to, truly. Callum and Caelia thoughtit’dbe better to orchestrate an organic first interaction with their mother.And since they know her better than any of us, I trusted them.” Byn hung his head. “Itwon’thappen again. And before you ask, yes,we’reon the same page now.”
I nodded, deciding to let this one go. At the very least, we needed to present as a united front—now more than ever.
“We shouldprobably freshenup. Care to join me, my love?” Byn motioned toward the door off to the side, which I could only assume was the washroom. I could hear theteasing in his voice, and a small smile crept onto my lips as I realized how much morecomfortablehe was when it was just the two of us.
I quirked my mouth to the side, acting as though I was pondering, when a mischievous smirk overtook Byn’s lips. Before I could take a step, he reached down and slung me over his shoulder in one quick move. Squealing, I wrapped my arms around his torso as my hair fell into my face, my circlet falling to the floor.
“Thorntier!Let me down!” I got out between laughs as he headed toward thewashroom.
“If you insist,m’lady.” Byn gently placed me back on my own two feet within the confines of the smaller room. Playfully, I shoved him away from me. His smirk only grew, and Icouldn’tignore the fire growing in my core.
Logically, I knew nowwasn’tthe time. Butit’dbeen over a week and a half sinceI’dlast been alone with my husband, and suddenly, he was all that mattered to me.
As my laughter died down, I realized his eyes hadn’t left me.
He was drinking me in like I was the only thing he needed to sustain himself.
“I used to think I worshipped the Sun for my gifts, or even the Stars for guiding me,” he said softly, raw emotion in his voice.
I cocked my head to the side, puzzled.
“But my worship of the Sun and Stars is nothing compared to the wayI plan on worshipping you.”
