“Not as much as I’ve missed you.”

They held on to me, there in the middle of the Great Hall, and for the first time in weeks, I felt whole. I knew they’d go back to Isolte, that I couldn’t keep them. But, for today, I had a family.

“Sorry we’re late,” Scarlet said. “His Majesty has given us duties at court, and there was a little hiccup. He’s been so good to us, we don’t want to let him down.”

Just over her shoulder, Julien gave me a polite nod, beaming as he looked around the room. I was thrilled to see he was still by Scarlet’s side.

I took her hand. “How is Etan doing? Tell me what you know he wouldn’t.”

Scarlet smiled. She really smiled. The girl who danced in my chambers had come back after all this time. “He’s doing so well, Your Majesty. You have nothing to worry about. He’s weeding out those who served in the Darkest Knights, and he’s been cleaning the city near the castle. Every day, he has a new idea of how to make Isolte better. People have embraced him with open arms, and we are a peaceful country. At last.”

The tension fell out of my shoulders. “Thank goodness. Then I have all I could ask for.”

Almost.

“Pardon me.”

It sent a thrill up my spine that I knew his voice under any circumstance. I turned and Etan was there.

“If I might steal you from your family, I think you and I should set the example, Your Majesty.” He held out his hand.

Beside him, Ayanna smiled, tilting her head, telling me this was fine. I looked back to Hagan.

He raised his hands in the air and spoke with an easy smile. “Who am I to contradict a king?”

“Very well,” I said, sighing.

As he led me out to the center of the room, the couples on the floor cleared for us. When we were standing face-to-face, I watched as his intent eye went over my face, doing what I knew I was doing, and putting every detail to memory.

Finally, his eyes fell on my dress. “I always wondered what happened to that feather. It makes you look like a warrior. I rather like it.”

The music started, and the familiar notes of the song we’d danced to once before filled the room. Of course. We bowed and curtsied and stepped around each other. “I like to think it gives us a little luck.”

We moved to face each other again. “I keep our luck with me, too,” he said, reaching up to double tap the pocket on his coat. The golden fringe of a familiar handkerchief hung out of it.

I spun, keeping my eyes on his pocket. “I thought you said you lost it.”

He shook his head. “I never lost it. I just didn’t want to give it back.” Then, thinking better of it, he spoke again. “Well, I lost it once, and I tore my room apart looking for it. I don’t go anywhere without it in my pocket.”