He stopped and Dell thought he was finished until his voice began again, deeper than before. “Do not mourn my family. This night, one of my father’s men murdered Princess Helena. But she did not die in vain. She sparked this change. Cole, your new king, fights for her. He fights for all of us.”

Rage tore through Dell.

Kassander slumped forward, staring at his sister. “Is she truly dead?”

“No.” Dell shook his head. “Your brother just pinned this entire bloody rebellion on a lie.”

“Why did Estevan say those things?”

Dell’s eyes flickered between Len and Kassander while his mind wandered to Estevan. He’d never liked the oldest prince. Estevan was arrogant and seemingly uncaring. But a new respect bloomed within Dell.

“Because, little prince, Estevan loves you. He did it for you.”

A still breeze brought the briny air of the river delta. They’d made it. Dell blew out a long breath as he felt for a pulse again. Panic gripped him when he couldn’t find it.

“Helena,” he said. “Helena, you need to hold on. We’re here.”

They reached the Belaen ship and Mari rushed out, jumping over the side and landing on the dock with more agility than he knew she possessed.

Kassander scrambled from the wagon. “What are we doing here?” His eyes flitted around the ships, finally landing on the dark water. “We can’t leave. What about Estevan?”

Dell ignored him as he passed Helena down to Bemus. “Mari, we need Corban, now!”

As if hearing the commotion, Corban appeared on deck. He sprinted down the wharf and dropped to Len’s side.

“I think it might already be too late.” Dell backed away, putting his hands on his head. How had he failed so miserably? The one person who’d cared for him since his mother died… and now she was leaving him too.

A familiar wrenching in his chest had him turning away, unable to watch.

Everyone held their breath.

No sound came as Corban worked over the still princess. Dell closed his eyes. Was it selfish wanting her to stay? Her parents were murdered right in front of her. Her brother would most likely be executed. The kingdom her family ruled for generations was broken.

And yet… he couldn’t let her go. He turned just in time to see her chest rise.

A scream broke free as she arched her back, echoing through the night, as if the trauma of losing everything ripped the bones right from her body.

The sound cut off abruptly, her body sagging back to the wooden planks beneath her.

“Is she going to live?” Dell asked, desperate for the answer that would start his heart again.

Corban glanced up. “I don’t know. She… you may have gotten her here too late.”

Mari put a hand on Corban’s shoulder. “Get her on the ship. We leave as soon as Edmund arrives.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine