“Some stories don’t get told these days,” Han said, allowing a subtle warmth to flow between them. He stroked her hair, brushing his fingers along the back of her neck, raising gooseflesh.

You’re not making this any easier, she thought.

After another long pause, he added, “You don’t have to do it, you know.”

“What?” Raisa turned her head to look at him.

“You don’t have to go through with it. You don’t have to be queen. You can be whoever you want.” For once, his face was dead serious.

“What do you mean?” Raisa said, swiping at her nose. “I don’t have a choice.”

“You always have a choice,” Han said. “Take me, for instance. I can be anything I want if I want it badly enough. If I’m willing to do whatever it takes.”

“Really.” Raisa raised an eyebrow. He made it sound so simple. “What happens to the Fells if I bow out?”

“Nobody is irreplaceable,” Han said.

“How long do you think I would last if I relinquished the crown?” Raisa said. “I’d be a constant thorn in the side of whoever came to power—even if it were Mellony. I would be a rallying point for rebellion—more of a target than I am now.”

“You don’t have to stay here. That’s why they call it the Seven Realms.” He reached over, covered her hand with his free hand, as if to increase the points of connection between them. “And there’s always Carthis if you want to get even farther away.”

“What in blazes would I do in Carthis?” Raisa growled. “And why would I want to go there?”

Han laughed softly. “I’m convinced that you would land on your feet, Your Highness. You’d likely be running the place before long.”

“I don’t know anybody in Carthis,” Raisa said.

He took a breath, then forged ahead. “I could come with you. I would help you—however you wanted.”

Raisa looked up, surprised. Han’s blue eyes met hers—intense, focused, with no evidence of mockery.

The offer sat awkwardly between them. What did he mean? What was he proposing? That she run off with him? He hadn’t come out and said that, but…did he feel as she did—that her coronation as queen would end any chance they could be together?

“If I have to be running things, I might as well do it here.” Raisa massaged her forehead. How could she explain it to him—the ties she felt to these mountains, to this small, imperfect queendom with its constantly squabbling tribes?