“Let me worry about how.” He exchanges a look with Seth that I can’t quite read. “In the meantime, you’ll stick to Astra’s side as her personal healer. Let’s keep you out of the public eye while thingssettle down.”
My stomach twists. “You’re hiding me.”
“We’re protecting you,” Seth corrects me, his hand still cradling my face. “There’s a difference.” His thumb traces my jaw now, and I have to fight to focus on his words instead of the warmth of his touch. “I’m also adding two guards to your detail,” he says. “One of them will be Daciana.”
Relief floods through me. “Daciana? Really?”
“You need someone you trust.” Seth’s voice softens slightly. “Someone who’ll have your back no matter what the gossip says.”
I almost laugh, but it comes out closer to a sob. Daciana. Thank the gods for Daciana. At least my friend will be with me through this mess.
“The healers’ compound is going to be brutal,” I whisper. The thought of facing it makes my chest constrict. “The rumors. The looks. The whispers. I don’t think—I can’t cope with all of that right now.”
“You don’t have to.” Seth’s other hand comes up to frame my face, forcing me to meet his eyes. “Not yet. Not until you’re ready.”
“I’m not sure I’ll ever be ready.”
“Then, we’ll deal with it together.”
That “we” steadies me. I lean into his touch, letting him hold me up when my own strength fails. This is real. We’re real. Even when everything else feels like it’s crumbling around us.
“I was terrified,” I admit quietly. “Standing there, knowing Zane could destroy everything with the right words. Knowing I was gambling with your position, with Astra’s safety, with—”
“But you didn’t break.” Seth’s eyes burn into mine. “You stood there and faced down the entire Council without flinching.”
“I was flinching on the inside.”
“I know.” His voice drops, intimate and hoarse. “I could feel it through our bond. But you didn’t let them see it. That’s what matters.”
Lucian clears his throat. “I’ll leave you two to…decompress. Seth, we’ll talk strategy tomorrow. Selene, get some rest. You look like you’re about to collapse.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” I manage, though the words feel inadequate.
He nods once before heading for the door. “I’ll have food sent to Seth’s quarters. You need to eat something.”
Lucian leaves, and Seth and I are finally alone. His hands are still on my face, his body close enough that I can feel his heat. The room suddenly feels too small, the air too thick.
“Thank you,” I whisper. “For not letting me fall.”
“I’ll always catch you.” His voice is fierce, possessive. “Always.”
And when he pulls me against his chest, I sink into him completely.
The next fewdays pass in a strange sort of peace.
Daciana reports to my door every morning now, her knock sharp and efficient. When I open it, she’s already in full guard mode—hand resting on her sword hilt, eyes scanning the corridor like threats might materialize from the shadows.
“Ready?” she asks, falling into step beside me.
I nod, adjusting the satchel of medical supplies on my shoulder. “Astra wants to work in the greenhouse today. Something about testing a new growth serum.”
“Of course she does.” Daciana grins. “She’s obsessed with those plants.”
The walk to Astra’s side of the palace has become routine. Daciana keeps up a steady stream of commentary—gossip from the guards, complaints about new recruits, stories that make me laugh despite myself. The additional guard Seth assigned to me trails behind us, silent and professional.
By the third morning, I realize what Seth is doing. He’s not just protecting me; he’s giving me back a piece of normalcy. These walks with Daciana, the hours spent in Astra’s greenhouse or lab, the quiet afternoons where we’re just three friends instead of queen, healer, and guard—it’s a gift.
“You’re smiling,” Daciana observes as we round the corner toward the royal wing.
