And alone in my room, with only my tears and my briars, I will admit it to myself.
I miss the sun.
11
Dayton
Hadria is changing. It still doesn’t look like the city I grewup in, but it’s no longer claimed by the sea. Not since I returned from Winter and called the tide back out.
Hand braced on the wall of Soltide Keep, I stare out over Hadria. In the two fortnights I’ve been here, there’s been notable progress. The fae Rosie transformed into sirens have come back to help rebuild, and the citizens of Aerantheis are using their legs to assist on land.
With resources at an all-time low in the Vale, I’m still awed that Winter, Spring, and Autumn all sent their most skilled craftworkers to help in the restoration effort. No, it will not be the same city as before. We’ll build more canals for the sirens to swim in. Instead of being purely Hadrian architecture, we’ll have a blend of the sea and the other seasonal realms.
Something about it warms my heart: everyone coming together to make the Summer Realm better. It reminds me of Rosalina, how she somehow saw the goodness in all us princes.
Rosie.
I miss my Blossom so much it aches. It kills me not knowing how she’s doing. But I can still feel our bond, so I know she’salive. And unlike the last time she was taken from us, this was her choice. It’s where she needs to be. The best thing I and the other princes can do is concentrate on strengthening the four seasonal realms so we’re ready to take on the Below.
Keldarion has been rallying the scattered people of Winter. The legend of the prince who defied a volcano and tore the stars from the sky is spreading fast across the Vale. And I have to admit, even I get a little tingly when I think of it. It was pretty fucking awesome, and standing with my brothers protecting Winter is one of the greatest things I’ve ever done.
Ezryn has traveled to Spring with Rosalina’s father, George. They have the best forges to work mythkarite and hopefully repair the rose. Everything hinges on that. Once we can control the goblins and Sira’s other creations, we’ll have a way to seize the Below.
That is…if Rosie’s accomplished her mission and somehow rescued Cas from his own mind. Because all our armies won’t be enough to takehimdown. Not when he’s trapped by the Green Flame.
I, unfortunately, can relate all too well. My mind flashes to my bed, soaked with sweat from nightmares of the day I attacked Ezryn. Whispers still cloud my mind.
I shake my head, clearing my thoughts.Caspian’s not here. He can’t control me.
As for Farron…
Farron is in Autumn.
Hissing through my teeth, I turn, gaze landing on the coral throne: spires of pink and crimson coral twisted together. It’s never looked warm or welcoming, and it especially doesn’t now. I mean, there are barnacles on the armrest, and those give nasty-ass scrapes.
But it’s not the fear of a scratch that’s kept me from sitting on it since I’ve returned.
I can be the leader Summer needs. Wield the blessing well. But what if I wield ittoowell and I lose myself to the Green Flame again?—
“Day?”
I turn and breathe out a sigh. My little sister, Delphia, stands in the doorway to the throne room. Her curly hair is windswept. She must have been flying around on her winged horse, Drusilla, who is big enough to ride now.
Trailing behind is my sister’s ever-present shadow, Nori, her nose stuck in a book, thin mouth in a frown.
“Del, Nori, I didn’t expect you here,” I say. “Thought you’d be gone a couple more days.”
“Of course we surprised you,” Delphia mutters, then looks up at me with her most formal expression. “Well, High Prince, we finished our mission early. We found them. They’ve made a camp in the Starweaver Mountains.”
“Seriously?” I move closer. “You located the rest of the Queen’s Army?”
The Huntresses of Aura have been searching the Enchanted Vale for the sector of the Queen’s Army that first left Queen’s Reach Monastery when Kairyn took over. They’re one hundred strong at least, and having them on our side, with their skills, would surely aid in our fight against the Below.
“Well, it didn’t matter.” Delphia’s shoulders slump. “Theyhatedus.”
Nori raises her nose from the book and slams it shut. “It wasn’t that theyhatedus. They didn’t respect us. There’s a difference.”
“Seagull, sky rat,” Delphi moans. “Same thing. They wouldn’t come back with us.”
