“Do you think he’ll still act as walled off as before, or maybe…” she fisted her hands at her sides, trailing off, and he immediately wanted to strangle his king. She’d never admit it, but she craved her father’s acceptance and approval, and he hadn’t even tried to give it to her.

And what worried Jaren the most was that he didn’t think she’d ever get it from him. Not in the way she wanted. “I don’t know, Veralie. I don’t think he knows what to believe or do with you.”

Sadness filled her chest, flowing into his until he couldn’t resist reaching out and taking her hand, threading his fingers through hers.

“Do you think he blames me? For my mother’s death? I know what Onas said, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t care about her.”

Jaren didn’t answer right away, gently running his thumb along her skin as he considered it. He wanted to immediately deny it, demanding she throw the thought out and never give it space in her mind again, but he couldn’t.

Because it was possible, and as much as he hated not being able to comfort her the way he wanted, he also refused to lie to her. They were surrounded by enough of those as it was.

“Maybe.” Her face fell, but he continued, lowering his voice. “However, I think it’s more likely that he’s scared of you.”

“What?” She stopped in her tracks and looked up at him, cute creases appearing between her eyes. “Why would he be scared of me? I can’t even control my abilities. That alone will practically make me a human in his eyes.”

Jaren glanced around them, making sure they were completely alone before he replied, lowering his voice even further until it was barely above a whisper.

“Because of what you mean for him. I know you don’t like to think about it, but you are, in fact, the Daughter to the Throne, Veralie. You have the ability to take the crown from him. Power here lies within your bloodline, not his.

“Whether your parents were in love or not, their marriage was, first and foremost, a political pairing to provide her with the strongest offspring possible. Vesstan had no real power until she died. Despite what Taeral insinuated, many will expect him to step down for you. And very few give up power so willingly.”

She rolled her lips in, face contemplative. “But Jaeros said he’d always wanted an heir. That he believed the connection to be a necessary evil.”

He shook his head. Jaeros had said that, but Veralie didn’t know him well enough to notice the small spasm of his fingers as he’d said it.

King Vesstan may have wanted an heir, but Jaeros didn’t trust him. What Jaren didn’t know was whether it was because of Vaneara’s decision to keep secrets from him, or another reason.

“I don’t know, Veralie. I could be wrong, but I just don’t see him stepping down for someone who knows next to nothing about our people.”