The four-poster with thick, gauzy white curtains, the palest of pink coverlet, and light-honey-colored furniture all brought her right back to that moment when she’d been taken away from this life. But what drew her eye was the open balcony door and the breeze flowing through the window. That should have never been allowed.

Kerrigan drew her magic to her and headed toward the balcony doors. If there was an intruder, she would stop them from hurting her home. Even if the word home made her chest hurt. But when she got to the balcony, she only found her father leaning against the railing. She released her magic at once.

“I wondered when you’d come up here,” he said without turning around.

She didn’t know how he’d recognized her. She’d been as silent as a mouse.

“Your shadow,” he told her, as if reading her mind.

Kerrigan glanced down and saw where her shadow overlapped with his. Smart. “What are you doing up here?”

“Enjoying the view.”

Her room always had one of the best views from Waisley. She could see for miles from her vantage point. She leaned forward against the railing. The moon cast enough light to see the edge of the forest and the tops of the homes in Lillington. Many of the House of Cruse subjects lived and worked in Lillington. Though there were other farming villages all across their feudal land.

After a moment, Kivrin said, “The village sent a missive this morning.”

“About what?”

“It’s apparently common knowledge that you’re here, and they would like to throw a Geivhrea celebration in your honor.”

“What?” she gasped. “But… why?”

His gaze swept to hers. He looked sardonic. “You’re their lost princess too.”

She glared at him and looked away. “When would they like this?”

“The day before you leave.”

She was silent a moment, staring off toward Lillington. Her father had dropped her off on the steps of the House of Dragons, in the shadow of the mountain. She’d become a story—the lost princess of Bryonica. But she hadn’t been lost; he’d known exactly where to find her. And now that she was back, everyone wanted to go back to how things had been. The king acknowledged her. March still wanted to marry her. Waisley was as if she had never left. And now, this…

It was a lot.

But it wasn’t anyone’s fault but the man standing in front of her. She wouldn’t take this from them, just because everything had been taken from her.

“I’ll do it.”

He nodded. “They’ll like that.”

“Why did you do it?” she asked, trying for calm and failing. “Why did you leave me in the mountain? I had a life here. It wasn’t perfect, but it belonged to me. And while I wouldn’t trade what I have now for anything, I still wish to understand.”