Laurence watched, subtle awe on his face as the native grasses grew.
“They were kind, like King Robyn,” Laurence said, crouching next to me and gently cupping the yellow flower in his hand.
“And thoughtful, like Teagan. Queen Genevieve was creative like Margo, and King Orus was stubborn like her. They were two sides of the same coin, using their strengths to work together the best they could for their kingdom and those they loved.” Laurenceraised his brows at me. “Much like you and King Robyn.”
A few moments passed in a comfortable silence before Laurence asked, “How’s the wing?”
“Feeling much better, thanks to Chess.” I flexed my left wing out, then pulled it back in to prove my point.
After Rayven, Matea, Ezra, and Ihadall arrived back to The Haven a few days ago, Byn had insisted the group’s first stop wouldbe the infirmary. Mostly for Ezra, but I had felt my husband’s worry about my wing, too. Considering at the time my own blood had stained my clothes, Icouldn’texactly fault him.
Chess had gone right intotrokavmode upon seeing Ezra, and although he was obviously relieved to see his friend, hecouldn’thide the concern on his face.He’dasked one of his helpers—a female on the smaller side—to care for me, who patched up my wing with ease, despite never having worked on wings before.
Now,itwould only need a few more days of ointments and bandaging, and it would benearly backto normal.
The same couldn’t be said for Ezra.
What Matea and I had donehadn’tbeen enough. While we treated the outside, the inside of his body had been damaged, too. Broken bones, internal bleeding, a slightly puncturedlung,the list went on. He wasnearly beyondrepair, according toChess. But ever since getting back to Quinn, Ezrahadbeen fighting even harder than before. I could see the effort hewas puttingin to get better, day by day.
And Quinn was there for it all, every step of the way.
“I’m happy you’re healing well,” Laurence said, lightly placing a hand on my shoulder and drawing me from my thoughts.
“But you came to find me for a reason, I suppose,” Ispeculated, looking up at the older male.
He nodded. “King Robyn asked me to take you to him.”
“Is he alright?” My stomach dropped as I instinctively reached for Byn through our connected emotions.
My expression relaxed in relief before Laurence could even respond.
“All good things, my queen,” he said with a smile. “He’s prepared a surprise for you, I believe.”
I couldn’t help the excitement that rose within me. I’d hated surprises all my life, but Byn always seemed to know exactly what I needed.
I trusted him.
I brushed dirt and blades of grass from my cotton pants as I stood from the ground.
“Lead the way, Laurence.”
***
“There you are!”
The sound of my husband’s voice graced my ears, stealing my attention away from the light conversationI’dbeen having with Laurence.
We’djust stepped outside and onto the path that led to the royal gardens, butit seemed Bynhad gottenantsyand came to find us.
“I can take it from here, Laurence. You shouldprobably getsome rest, anyway,” Byn suggested.
That’s right,I thought,we’ll be leaving again soon—almost all of us this time.
Afterwe’darrived back home, Matea, Rayven, and I had a meeting with just Byn.Hesaid hewould talk to Ezraat a later time, but that hewanted to know how the trip went, from start to finish, while the details were still fresh in our minds.Heacknowledged it was a heavy task to ask of us, but the three of usunderstood.Sowe sat for hours, recounting what hadtranspiredover thepast nearlytwo weeks.
That was when I’d learned of the alychite.
It would figure my twin would be using such a material that made it so Rayvencouldn’twield around it—hence whyhe’dneeded the key to Ezra’s cell. Dimitri had always been so much more intelligent than others hadviewed him.
