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Her grip pulses—a silent plea for strength or perhaps a farewell—and she stands. Every set of eyes in the room turn toward her. The weight of her decision clings to the air like a premonition, and for a moment, I can’t breathe.
The air has become too thick, the light too bright. I can hear the thump of my heart in my ears as the sounds in the room fade away. It's like her lips move in slow motion, and for the briefest moment, I have a persistent need to yank her to me, to disappear from this room and never come back.
To run.
I snap forward, grabbing her hand again, and she whirls. Wide emerald eyes find mine, and her lips pull up just a bit at one corner, somehow telling me it's going to be okay. I don't care about anyone else in the room, that they're likely watching me, reading me, noting that she's somehow become my weakness.
For years, I've maintained this face. I've willed myself to be impassive around everyone but Alice and this kids. Even then, I never showed affection toward them in front of others. It's howpeople get hurt—used. I never wanted them to get caught in the crosshairs of someone who despised me for my past.
Right now, I'm breaking every one of my unspoken rules.
“Blame me.”I speak the words in her head.“I won't break our deal. It can be the reason you can't go home. Let me be the reason we go to war. I'll tell them that I can't let you go. I'll live with the guilt, the hate, the shame, whatever comes of it. Just don't leave.”
Tears well in her eyes but she doesn't let them fall as she stares at me. The green of her eyes becomes so vibrant, like the salt somehow strengthens the color. Slowly, she shakes her head no, and it's like getting stabbed all over again.
Releasing her hand, I will my features into an impenetrable wall, sitting back in my seat like this is any other meeting.
"I will return to the Elven Islands.” She lifts her chin, squaring her shoulders. “If my father wishes for my return and will drop the declaration of war, then I can do my part.”
“No…” Alice breathes, her eyes wider than I’ve ever seen them. “You can’t.”
She's made her decision. Watching Alice out of the corner of my eye, I tilt my head.But why are you so upset about it? You're not the one falling for her.
Valeria seems to ask herself the same question, but instead says, “I wasn’t meant to come here. I won’t endanger people to stay.”
A murmur ripples through the meeting hall. Alice's bright eyes are filled with concern as she looks from Valeria to me. I can see the white of her knuckles as she clenches her hands on the table.
Kai, on the other hand, doesn't fight her. He nods solemnly, commending Valeria's sacrifice, knowing it’s necessary for peace. "You're doing what's right. For both our people."
"When?" My tone betrays me, cracking on the single word.
"She should return immediately," he says, his eyes briefly meeting mine with an echo of my own pain. “I’d rather her be there a few hours early than wait until the last second. The elf lord is cunning; we can't afford to give him the chance to take advantage of us. With the deadline being so soon, he could try to drag out the signing of the treaty when we arrive, then claim we waited too long, keep Valeria, and still declare war. I wouldn’t put it past him.”
I nod, doing the best I can to mask the roiling emotions, but the thought of her leaving, of her marrying someone else, shatters something fundamental within me.
My hands tremble. I wish she'd given me her betrothed’s name. I'd like to know what I should have on his headstone. There's no way in hell I'll let him make it down the aisle. Not with what she's told me.
Any man willing to let her drown to save himself, isn't good enough.
As Valeria retakes her seat, my hand finds hers again, a silent promise of solace even as my heart splinters. The room bursts into chaos as multiple lords attempt to speak at once. Except, instead of waiting their turn, they just get louder, urging the king to hear their grievances. Most of which happen to be about me bringing the elf lord’s daughter to the meeting, and not telling them her true identity.
"Enough," Alice commands, her hair bursting into vibrant flames as her power rolls through the room. It’s enough to raise the hairs on my arms, and make goosebumps pepper the surface of my skin. "We have preparations to make and farewells to bid. This meeting is adjourned.Go home."
Most of those in the room are too shocked to move, staring at the queen like she's committed murder. It’s not until she growls that they flee from their seats, taking the hint. Whispers floodbetween them as they file from the room, leaving my brothers, the queen, Eva, and us behind.
The silence is heavy as Kai sits down in his seat. “I’ll open a portal and take Valeria there by myself, except with a couple guardsmen. However, I have to tether the treaty to something. Elcrys will want me to put someone or something up as collateral to keep us from breaking it, and the same will go for him.”
“What are you going to put up?” Finn asks, scratching his beard. “Or who, I guess is the better question?”
“I don’t know,” Kai says, drawing his hand down his face. “He’ll want a person close to me.”
“Use me,” I say, trying not to react to Valeria’s gaping mouth as she glares daggers into the side of my face. “Treaties are usually bound by life, so if you break the treaty, I die. Just don't be a bastard and I'll be just fine.”
“If we have to, you won’t come back,” Kai says, brows raised. “You know that right? You'll be dead for good.”
“I do. But I’m fairly certain I can find a loophole in a rushed treaty.” I shrug, feigning nonchalance as I play with my rings. “And it’s better than you offering up someone else. I have no children, no wife. It’s just me. And Elcrys knows I'm important to you. He’s not going to let you put just anyone on that treaty, and neither should you. It needs to be someone close to him—just not Valeria.”
“Well, Finn and I will gather the guards. We’ll let the two of you have a moment to say goodbye.” My brother stands. “Please, try to be as quick as you can.”
