He hummed, dropping his hand before he went back to staring at the open space, distant and pondering. “I regret not knowing my brother more. I never had the chance to as I was being primed for ruling. Orian was kept at a distance, away from Teighan and me and doing whatever he had to do to please Father, but… from what I do know, he would make a decent ruler. Fair yet firm. He has spent the most time in our father’s shadow, doing his bidding alongside Maeve, but I don’t truly believe he wants to be his reflection. It’s just a means to an end. If our father were out of the picture—and I could guarantee Orian wasn’t involved in all of this—with some guidance, I think he would lead the Otherworld into peace. And not whatever falsehoods my father hides behind, but true peace.”

From my brief interactions with Orian, I had the same impression. Not necessarily about his ruling abilities—I wasn’t qualified to make that judgment, nor did I have enough evidence on the matter—but he definitely seemed to be concealing his true nature. Or he’d spent so long being told who he needed to be that he didn’t know how to be himself. Either way, I genuinely believed I’d have sensed it if he’d known something. He wouldn’t have bothered getting closer to me, even with all my attempts to persuade him. He would have stayed detached, a disinterested blank canvas, if only to prevent overcomplicating the situation. It was harder to tear someone’s life apart once you got to know them, right?

Still, that didn’t mean putting him on the throne was the right path.

Or what was best for everyone involved.

“We don’t have to decide anything right now or until we have all the facts,” I expressed, hugging his arm and resting my head against his bicep. “You’re still reeling from everything over the last few weeks, but now that I’m alive again, you have to act rationally. We have to think of the bigger picture, not just us.”

Cair gazed down at me, a fond expression on his face. “You’re right as always, sweetheart.” He dipped down to kiss my forehead. “Though I will make sure we retain our happily ever after, whatever it takes.”