She hugs herself like a child, her lips quivering as if she gives a damn about my cursed fate. As if she gives a damn about me. The next words come out despite my apprehension.

“It’s that I would do it again, Idalia. All of it.”

Her neck tightens, the veins on either side constricting like I’ve stabbed her. My heart aches, but I can feel Torrent’s arm draped across my shoulders. I sense Lin, eyes full of nervous energy and honesty upon my face. And Lorna’s judgmental glare, its ferocity only subdued by her irritating compulsion to champion my happiness.

“If I never see the castle in the trees, my parents, my people, or my friends again. If I die as a traitor at my father's hands because—all because I brought you here, to live and be happy, to be with him, I’d do it again. A hundred times over. For you.”

A single tear drips down her cheek. She’s trembling and appears tortured, but I can’t fall for it again. Another thud sounds off in my chest. I grab my tunic and pull it on, then finish my message.

“But as you said, anger and guilt are blinding. Thank you, Idalia, for I can finally see.”

I grab another bottle and leave. As I ascend the spiral staircase, I shake out my hair and uncork the bottle. With a bountiful swig, I swallow the strong contents with one thought.

It’s time for that drink with Lachlan.

For the first time in my adult life, I’m surrounded by people who are drunker than me. I push my way through the crowd, which no longer seems to care who’s royalty or not. My father would never let his people behave this way. I suppose that’s why the Thropes are adored, and my father is only revered. It’s a fine line between love and respect. Both rarely exist at the same time when it comes to those in charge.

“Braizen!” I hear his familiar voice and turn to see him making his way toward me.

King Lachlan. His cheeks are red, and his eyes sport a glassy glaze. He tosses his arm across my shoulders and tugs me into his side. “Where’ve you been? You look as if you’ve traveled to the ends of the earth and back.”

I want to laugh hysterically, to tell him exactly why I look so wild, but I refrain. I’m too grateful. I’ve found the Aeradian King before Idalia could. I throw my arm across his back.

“It seems you’ve been having all the fun without me, Lach! Let’s change that.”

He winks, though I’m not sure he fully understands that I intend to make him drink even more with my invitation. I pull him away before he has a chance to say no.