Kael lifted his head, but remained on his knees.

“I do not deny it. Lyra is my family.” Kael glanced over his shoulder, giving me a weak smile. “My actions came from a misplaced fear that the only person I loved was in grave danger and should be kept from all the kingdom’s sights.”

King Damir had the decency to give Kael his time to speak uninterrupted. My heart beat against my ribs like a mallet. I didn’t move, didn’t dare breathe.

“And what do you think now?” Damir asked.

Kael hesitated. “I will always be loyal to my family, my king. I will not do you the dishonor of lying. But I am loyal to Jorvandal in equal measure.”

Once more, King Damir clasped his wrists behind his back and took to pacing. The brush of his steps rattled in my head the longer he took to respond.

All at once, he stopped. “You are a naïve man, Ser Darkwin, but I am a merciful king who takes the word of my most trusted into account. I will not be so forgiving a second time. Still, if you wish to live, I’ll give you the chance, but you will be bound to the Stav Guard. Your life will be to serve Jorvandal and its people. Any future aspirations belong to these walls, any family home you wish to build will be in these peaks. Do you understand?”

Kael nodded. “I do.”

The king’s bright eyes lifted to me. “We have need of a melder, Súlka Bien. Stav Darkwin will be bound to the royal line of Stonegate until he meets Salur.”

Every limb, every muscle tightened like a rope growing taut. If I refused to fasten Kael’s life to this fortress, he would die. But it was taking away his choice, his own will.

“Ly,” Kael whispered. “This is what I want.”

Liar. Kael wanted to serve the Stav to see the kingdoms, to traipse over the knolls and valleys of Jorvandal, then he’d always dreamed how he’d settle down with the most beautiful wife and take up the life of a fisherman like Thorian.

Until his death, Kael would be locked into the life of a warrior, of bloodshed, and battle if it arose. There were tales of Stav who lived such lives. They were never the same—built strangely, like battle fashioned their bodies in new ways.

They seemed empty.

Still, how could I refuse when it meant the world would be without Kael Darkwin and his good heart, his rakish way with women, his gentle soul?

“If it is what you want,” I responded, a thickness to my voice.

“Stav Nightlark,” Damir said, flicking his fingers to signal Emi. “Retrieve the bone.”

Emi approached Kael. She gave him a soft smile. “Again, I must manipulate your bones. I assure you it won’t be like the last time.”