It was probably best I didn’t know, and that she’d told me next to nothing about the life she’d run from. How like the blasted stars, to deliver an untouchable fate. They themselves knew all too well that I would never dare set foot upon the soil of that place again.

That I couldn’t. Not even for her.

“You haven’t asked about Wistensia in years,” Berk said, barely above a whisper.

Think I’d run screaming from you, wolf?

I’d hunt you down.

I stared at the fire, the tea untouched and growing cold. “I know.”

SEVEN

Aster

There had been no sign of Rorn when I’d arrived in our rooms at the towers.

Being late afternoon, it would have been the last place anyone would typically find him. But he hadn’t been in the towers at all, I’d discovered after finally working up the courage to trek downstairs.

Theenon, steward to the Jade family, had twisted from the window in the dining hall, his orange-brown eyes wide with surprise. “Majesty.” I’d smiled and taken a seat at the long, empty oak table. Seemingly stupefied by my sudden return and lack of explanation for my absence, he’d sputtered, “Where in the skies have you been this time?”

“I just needed…” I scrunched my nose. “Some fresh air.”

“Fresh air? It’s been six days,” he’d stressed, clenching the gnarled wood in the back of the opposite chair. “We may be accustomed to these disappearing acts of yours, my queen, but this one was too much. Rorn was in a wild state before he was called to the graveyard.”

Despite everything, I’d been unable to keep from stiffening with alarm. “The city?” He hadn’t needed to help the warriors who protected the decimated land between the two kingdoms of the isle in some months. That he’d needed to return did not bode well, and likely with many warriors to assist.

“You didn’t hear? Two battalions breached the graveyard via the sea caves three days ago.” He’d made a sound of disgust and smoothed a hand over his bald head. “Bloodthirsty pests.”

I’d swallowed and nodded. “No, I hadn’t heard.” When it became apparent that I wasn’t willing to say more, Theenon had taken it upon himself to head to the kitchens to inform Dudley, our head cook, of my return.

And I’d left for our chambers to soak myself clean. As if a bath would make any sort of difference.

Sighing, I slid deeper into the water.

Home.

Rorn had ruined that for me, but surprisingly, it still lingered—the feelings of comfort, contentment. So much so, that a rapid drowsiness overcame me, and I startled awake when I was plucked from the cooled water by strong hands.