And she’d fallen for him when he’d bitten Edmund.

“Hey, buddy.” She reached out to dig her hand into his damp mane. “You stay safe in the storm today?”

Vérité stepped forward to nudge the side of her head with his nose.

A tear slipped from her eye as his understanding gaze pulled every bit of emotion she’d pushed down right up to the surface. Vérité dropped his nose to her shoulder.

“I’m okay, Vérité. Or I will be. One day.” She shook her head. “Why am I talking to a horse?”

“From my experience…” Etta stepped from the doorway. “It’s because there’s no better listener than Vérité. No judgment. Only comfort.” A smile curved the queen’s lips. “And he’ll never repeat anything you say. He’s honorable that way.”

Helena met Etta’s soft gaze. She’d heard the stories of the Belaen queen who’d fought La Dame… and won. Anyone who had doubts of the tales need only to look at the woman and they’d become a believer. Fierceness emanated from her.

In all honesty, Etta terrified Helena.

When Edmund appeared behind Etta, Helena’s shoulders relaxed.

“Supper is ready,” Edmund said, his voice as lifeless as it had been since they’d arrived on Bela’s shores.

At least one person felt the loss as strongly as Helena did.

She nodded to the queen as she walked past her to wrap her arms around Edmund’s waist. He stiffened in surprise before returning the hug and resting his chin on her head.

“No luck today, then?” he asked.

Helena shook her head against his chest. “Sorry I’m getting you wet.”

Helena could feel Etta’s eyes burning into her back. The two royal women experienced a strange tension every time Helena was around Edmund. Was the queen jealous of their friendship?

Edmund hadn’t told any of his Belean friends what Estevan had truly meant to him, and his morose demeanor put a barrier between them because they couldn’t understand the gravity of what he’d lost.

She walked further into the palace, one arm still hooked around Edmund’s waist. King Alexandre, Dell, and Kassander sat near the fireplace with full plates of boar steaks and some kind of leafy vegetable in front of them. Alexandre said something that made the other two laugh.

Helena’s arm tightened around Edmund.

“I know,” he whispered. “I feel it too.”

She tried not to hate them for their joy, but it had already entered her mind.

“I’m not hungry.” She released Edmund. “I think I’ll just change into something dry and lay down.”

He brushed a hand over her hair and placed a kiss on the side of her head. “I promised Stev I’d keep you safe, Len. Just remember, whether or not Quinn comes, Kassander isn’t the only brother you have left.”