As he went through his intercessions, he paused on Selene. The water roared in a wall reaching the edge of the cliff he stood on, spraying his boots and cloak with salty mist. His heart swelled with love and thankfulness. He closed his eyes and breathed in the cold air. Thank you, Light. Thank you for my wife.

The corners of his lips turned upward as he resumed his exercises. What would his family have thought of Selene? Would they have been shocked that he had married a Ravenwood? Would they have accepted her? Would Quinn have joked with her in his usual manner?

His throat thickened as he raised the waves again. They would have come to love her as he had.

30

Snow covered the city of Nor Esen in a thick blanket of white. Damien stared out the window of his study, lost in thought. The sweet scent of Selene still lingered in the air even though she had left a half hour ago.

Had it really only been a fortnight since the Festival of Light? So much had happened. It was hard to believe there was a time when they barely knew each other, dancing around each other as strangers, sleeping in separate rooms, going their separate ways each day. Now they broke their fast together each morning and worked together in his study, talking and sharing ideas. Each night they fell asleep together.

She was a partner in the truest sense. And yet . . .

He ran a hand through his hair and turned back. She never spoke of the night terrors she experienced every night. When he asked her about them, she seemed to almost physically retreat behind a mask. Was she hiding something? Or did she feel like she couldn’t share?

There was a knock at the door, and then it opened behind him. Damien frowned and turned around.

“My lord, may I speak to you?” Taegis said.

“Yes, come in. I finished my writing a short time ago.”

Taegis shut the door behind him and approached the desk. Damien’s frown deepened at the serious look on his guardian’s face. “Is there something wrong?”

Taegis let out a long breath. “I’m not sure.”

“You know I value your words and thoughts. You can share whatever you need to with me.”

Taegis paused, then answered, “It has to do with Lady Selene.”

Damien stiffened. “Lady Selene?” This was not what he was expecting.

“Yes. Do you remember the dreams you had when we were at Rook Castle during the assembly?”

The hair lifted along the back of his neck. “Yes. I dreamed a lot about my family.”

“You also dreamed of a raven, remember?”

There was something in Taegis’s voice that triggered a warning in the back of his head. “Yes, I do remember.” He now knew it had been Selene in his dreams. “Why?”

“It would seem a dream raven has been visiting Northwind Castle. Apparently for a while now.”

“What do you mean?” He consciously forced his body to relax.