True could go up to look in on Farah.

He turned to do so but stopped when he caught sight of Aramus.

The king felt his regard and shifted his attention to True.

“My deepest sympathies, my brother,” he said quietly.

Ha-Lah got even closer to her husband.

Aramus simply glowered at him before jerkily lifting his chin.

True left the room, made his way to the stairs, up them, and to Farah’s room.

Thank the gods, she was asleep when he arrived.

Even so, he sat on the bed and stroked her soft hair.

He then tried to find his way to where she was in her mind.

He had no brothers or sisters, and she had no brothers or sisters.

But he had something she did not.

He had cousins, the closest of which was Silence. He could not say she was close as a sister, but he cared deeply for her, and she for him. And if something happened to him, she would be there for him, as he would for her.

He had a weak father and she had the weakest of fathers there could be.

But his father was alive.

Her father’s bones were preserved in the tarpits of Fire City after he’d committed regicide and left her and her mother to bear the consequences of his actions while still breathing.

Her mother had been loyal and loving.

His mother was the same, the latter in a somewhat cold way that was often calculating, but that was for the betterment of husband and son.

She was also alive.

Thus, True could not put himself in Farah’s place. He could not understand how alone she felt.

All he could do was whatever he needed to do to make her feel not alone as well as loved.

Mars would assist with this, obviously.

As would Silence, as was her way.

And if Farah could forgive her, True would as well, so she would have Elpis.

But his mother would be there for his bride too.

He knew Queen Mercy had no respect for his betrothed.

She also had no reason for her intolerance.

She would need to find her way past that.

Immediately.

Or she’d find herself without a son.

For True would soon have a wife, the mother to his children, the future queen of his country.

He’d realized that night that she was the most important thing in his life.

And she always would be.

His mother would know that, and she’d know it soon.

As would his Farah.

King Mars Laches

King’s Study, First Floor, East Corridor, Catrame Palace, Fire City

FIRENZE

When the door closed behind Lorenz, the last one out, Mars turned to his Silence, still curled in his lap.

“Amore,” he called.

She tipped her head back to look up at him.