‘I’ve been thinking,’ she said at last, her voice as fragile as a lullaby. ‘About our conversation in the woods in Japan, and everything that’s happened with Claude and Leviathan and my family, how it’s hurting everyone and …’ She paused to take a breath. ‘I don’t want to do this any more. Especially not to Lottie.’

Jamie could see how hard it was for her to get this all out. ‘What are you saying?’ he asked, wanting to make sure he really understood before weighing in – only he didn’t expect her answer to nearly knock him over.

‘I think we need to accept that we can’t act on what we feel for her. I know you like her too, in the same way I do, as more than a friend.’ The words hit him like a freight train. The fiery pit in his stomach that raged constantly with a thirst for revenge, a desire to hide Lottie away from the world and keep her safe began to hurt, burning his heart and searing his skin. But he put the fire out, closing his mind off until he felt nothing.

Ellie has to come first, he told himself.

‘I understand, but … where has this come from?’ He steadied his voice, choosing his words carefully.

‘One day I’m going to be queen, Jamie. I have to accept that, and when that happens she’s not going to be there any more for either of us.’ Ellie looked down, her face disappearing into the shadows. ‘She doesn’t realize it, but you were right all along. I’ve been bad for her; this whole Portman agreement has been bad for her.’

It was so strange to hear Ellie saying what he’d wanted her to realize when Lottie had first come into their lives. But now all he felt was senseless.

‘I will always support you and your decisions, Ellie, you know that. Seeing you finally take this seriously is excellent.’ Each syllable felt like being flayed alive; he was disgusted at himself for failing so fantastically at his job. He shouldn’t care how he felt; he should only be pleased that Ellie had come to this conclusion on her own.

‘I want to make a pact.’ Ellie spoke firmly, her mind already made up. ‘A royal bond to make sure neither of us go back on our word.’

With only one final fleeting ache of hesitation, Jamie nodded.

They both knew nothing would ever be the same after this.

As he got on his knees in front of his princess, Jamie felt the world sink down with him, every experience and moment they’d shared with Lottie plummeting into depths they would not recover.

Ellie took her place in front of him. Bathed in the light from the window, she was only a black silhouette, the sky behind her rolling too fast and grey, the sun vanishing.