He took another step, and then he was suddenly moving. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. Their lips pressed together and he lost all sense of where he was, only knowing that the woman he loved was alive. The kiss was urgent and strong. It went on forever. As he clutched her to his chest, she kissed him back just as fiercely. He felt her tears on his face, and realized that he was crying as well. His heart pounding, he used every sense to tell himself she was real, inhaling deeply, holding her as tightly as he could.

‘Chloe.’

‘Dion,’ she breathed, her chest rising and falling, her warm body pressed tightly against his.

Finally he looked into her face again.

‘How?’ He knew his voice was shaking, and he tried to control it, but failed.

‘It’s a long story, but I promise, I’ll share every detail.’

Dion realized he was holding both her hands. His vision was shimmering, so that he had to blink to clear it.

‘King Dion,’ a male voice interrupted, and Dion reluctantly released Chloe’s hands to see a familiar figure standing a polite distance away. Clean-shaven, but with weathered, craggy skin, he was stocky and dressed in a leather breastplate, skirt of leather strips, and sandals. Dion recognized him immediately, despite the fact that he’d put on some weight.

Dion gathered himself, calming his breath, although his heart was still racing.

‘Amos,’ he said warmly. He walked forward and they embraced. ‘I haven’t seen you since . . .’ His eyes flicked to Chloe.

‘Since Lord Aristocles’ death,’ Amos said. ‘It has been a long time, I know. I’ve been away.’

Amos’s eyes were a little bleary, but his bearing was steady. The former captain of Phalesia’s guard glanced from face to face. ‘I know you two have a lot to catch up on.’ He gave Chloe the same inquiring look he’d once given Aristocles. ‘Chloe, if it suits you, I’ll return to the palace later?’

‘Amos,’ Dion protested. ‘You can’t leave. Go inside and find any of the stewards. Tell them I said to prepare rooms for you and Chloe. Have you eaten? Would you like some wine?’

‘Wine . . .’ Amos licked his lips. ‘No wine.’ He shook his head firmly. ‘But I’ll take water and food. Thank you.’

Giving a small bow, Amos headed inside, leaving Chloe and Dion standing alone together on the terrace.

He stared into her eyes. He looked down at her hand. She reached toward him, but then he suddenly remembered; seeing Chloe had driven out all knowledge of Isobel and his child.

‘Chloe . . .’ He had to explain. ‘I thought you were dead.’

‘So did Amos, and everyone else, it seems. A man . . . He left that body on the road. He wanted everyone to think I was dead.’ She hesitated. ‘But why didn’t the eldren tell you I was alive? Perhaps Zachary, or Liana . . .’