But do his friends notice? Or will they put it down to his new throne?
“We have the threat of war coming at us from every direction. With the Decay destroyed, we’ll start producing zarethite again. Gems will be plentiful. We already know Dravara wants our threvenar, our land. Caeloria wants our riches. And if they take Zerynthia, they take the realms.” His words hang in the air, real and honest and terrifying.
Teddy nods, embracing the stakes without thought. “Then let’s do what we do best: prepare for war, and take back another throne.”
Elyssara’s eyes meet Kael’s, loaded with a thousand words spoken through the silence. They stay on him, holding questions she doesn’t dare speak.
Because they’ve never discussed it—Starbound lovers on opposing thrones, separated by kingdoms and politics and history and nations who’ve only known hatred.
All of it is relayed in a single glance.
Is love enough?
Elyssara’s eyes snap forward as she leans heavily on her elbows, ready to debate war strategy. But Kael knows the bones of her, right down to the marrow. He can feel her reaching—desperate for something real. Desperate for an explanation. Desperate forhim.
She knows he’s performing.That he’s withholding the truth. That whatever stands before her now is not the man she loves, but the version of him the crown demands.
But Kael can’t yield. Not here. Not with her. Not when she needs him strong. Needs him to help her reclaim what is rightfully hers.
“As I see it, we’ve got three problems and one objective,” Kael says, voice booming through the war room. He lays it out like a puzzle that can be solved. Like the world still follows rules.
“I’ve come to associate you with problems over the last decade, Kael. Offense completely intended. So yeah, may as well start there,” Rubi quips, emptying the contents of her flask into her tankard of ale.
“I can’t speak for the last decade, but going off the last few months, she makes a fair point,” Ronyn agrees, clinking tankards with Rubi.
Kael allows a smirk to pull up the corner of his mouth. “I can confirm it feels the same for me,” he retorts drily, but pushes onto strategy like the king he needs to be. “We need to gather allies to take on Thalmyr’s Starborn army when the time comes.” He drags his gaze across the council, letting the pause linger for a breath too long. “We need the dragons.”
The room breathes in, sharp and intense.
Seren leans forward. “They could be anywhere. But as for the spell to free them… it’s not in the Codex. I’ve gone through every spell. Twice.” She shakes her head. “Nothing.”
Teddy grunts in acknowledgement. “Elandor will be our best resource in finding out more,” he asserts matter-of-factly.
Kael nods simply, and the group watches on as Zerynthia’s King and his General work in perfect harmony.
“We need to find and shatter the Memory Orbs in Caeloria’s vaults,” Kael pushes on.
“The Shades of Nymeris are perfect for that,” Seren announces with a strength to her voice that reminds Kael of the woman she’s become.
Memories of the noose of golden threads she wove around Rhyven before snapping his neck flood his mind—callous, cruel, and fucking brilliant. His eyes linger on the witch for a heartbeat. Two. Studying her, seeking to understand her.
Who is she, really?
“And the third problem?” Elyssara’s voice breaks his stare, nudging him in the ribs.
Kael shakes the thoughts of Seren from his mind.
He sucks in a sharp breath and then stills.
His eyes drag across the council members.His friends.
“Lara.”
Teddy’s eyes snap to Kael. “Lara? You mean, the woman the old bat spoke about? Do you not think it was merely the ramblings of a madwoman trying to delay her death?”
But Kael doesn’t hesitate. “My instincts say it’s worth looking into, and that’s final.”
He does not leave room for doubt or discussion.
