“It’s okay,” she says, and something loosens in my chest. “I know you want only what’s best for him.”

We both turn to Tyr, who watches us, still with that dispassionate expression. I wish I could wake him up, but I don’t even know where to begin. Hylene lets go of my hand and moves in front of Tyr.

“How are you?” she asks, placing her hands on the sides of his chair before she sinks down. “Do you want to go to bed?”

Tyr nods slowly, and I hold in my sigh. This is all he does. Sleeps and sits there staring into nothing. This is all he’s done for decades, and I know he’s dealing with his personal demons, but the cuffs are off, and I can’t rein in my disappointment that removing them did absolutely nothing. I need to be patient. He wore them for a century. I can’t expect him to return to who he was in an instant.

“Let’s go,” Hylene says, helping Tyr stand. She takes small steps as he slowly shuffles along next to her. He looks like a young man, but he might as well be dead for all it matters. Though his heart still beats, Atlas killed him nonetheless. I fear I’ll never get him back.

Hylene and Tyr leave the room, and I draw a deep breath before deciding to follow. Hylene speaks quietly as I trail behind until we reach the king’s suite. Guards flank the massive golden doors and a High Fae female moves to draw the left one open as we approach. Hylene thanks her, and I swear the soldier nearly passes out as she gives Hylene an adoring look. This woman has an effect on everyone.

We settle Tyr in his bed, and he’s asleep before we can even finish closing the curtains.

I stare at where he lies, at the brittle ashen hair that spreads over his pillow, wondering if this is all he’ll ever be. Hylene moves to stand next to me and leans against my side. She’s warm and soft, and my hand fists before I look down at her.

“It’s going to be okay,” she says.

“I don’t think it is.”

“It will be. Whatever is on the other side of this might not look exactly as you envisioned, but everything will work out. One way or another.”

I run a hand down my face. “You really believe that?”

“I know it seems hopeless right now, but we’ll figure this out.”

“We?” I ask.

She shrugs. “I’m in the middle of this now, and I like to see my way to the end of things.”

She blinks up at me with those big green eyes, and for the first time in as long as I can remember, something stirs in the hollowed-out recesses of my heart.