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She went off to do as I’d bid.

I stood by the library window, watching the human mortals outside take control of the situation. No more frostbrood in the water, no other threats for the time being. Their boats and warchoppers were out on patrol, the damaged causeway secured by an army of people.

My palace. My people. The agony of loss so cruel, so heavy. In that foolish moment with Paris, the darkness lifted. I went to a different world, a place for him and me only. One of beauty, of pleasure, of wonders. A joy I would never experience again unless the curse ended.

At least it kept me safe as well as Paris, and my people in turn.

An ironic twist, one to claw deeper at my soul.

Stop thinking about it.

How could I ever stop thinking about a treasure as incredible as Paris?

“Dawn approaches,” Vaughn spoke from behind me.

My dear friend. My unruly, bed-hopping, brazen friend who I’d named heir to the Heart of All. As Lucius, my brother had named me, sparing us from utter destruction when Aidan killed him.

If I died, my people would be safe in the hands of Lord Vaughn. They would continue, they would thrive. It was the correct choice in desperate times.

“How are you?” I asked him.

He shook his head, his tightly coiled curly brown hair bouncing. “So many dead.”

It was rare to see him so sullen. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?” He rubbed a hand over his dark-brown face, his eyes a dimmer crimson than usual. “We’re up against a bulldozer of a deity. This suffering is inevitable.”

“It shouldn’t be,” I countered.

This palace was supposed to be a sanctuary, well protected. And now it lay in ruins.

Vaughn wrapped his muscular arms around me in a tight hug. “I know you want to say you failed us. But don’t. I never want to hear you say it again.”

I held him, kissing the side of his head. “Things will be better.”

He’d lost so many of his favorites in the attack, his grief potent in the Heart of All.

“Everyone will be avenged,” I added.

“I love you,” he breathed.

“And I love you.”

He slid out of my embrace, wiping fresh streaks of bloody tears from his cheeks. “I’m beginning to waver, Your Majesty. I’m sorry, but my spirit is breaking.”

“I’ll make sure to repair your spirit.”

Though I would never be able to fix mine. It didn’t matter, only the happiness of my people did.

And Paris’s. I hoped he could find a peaceful road out of this revelation about his parents. If circumstances were different, I’d sit him down to talk it through, hold him through the maelstrom.

If he wanted me to.

Stop thinking about him.

Not thinking about him was as much a torment as obsessing over him.

“So, you’ve slept with both brothers.”