Page 68 of The Stolen Crown

Bleeding hells. He wanted to hide any sliver of vulnerability in his heart. Tait Heartwalker desired to be nothing more than the brutal unbending cousin of a vicious sea king. To feel more, it seemed, would spin his existence off course, never to be righted again.

I didn’t press, though I wished for him to keep speaking, even if we did not break through the surface. “Did you find her?”

“Yes.” One of Tait’s fists curled at his side. “At least what was left of her. I soon learned after Thorvald forced Erik to kill his own mother, Harald and the other nobles did the same to their mates. Even though she’d left turns before, Harald went after my mother and killed her.”

“But…but why?”

“I told you, he worked hard to keep his position as the power standing at the right hand of the king. That, or because he was an absolute bastard. Does the reason matter?”

“I’m sorry,” I said, voice soft.

“I did not know her.”

I was grateful for the dim light of such a small flame. Without it, Tait might take note of the way my chin trembled. “I’m sorry because you wanted to know her and were not given the opportunity.”

Tait’s lips parted, as though he could not entirely puzzle out why I would care at all. As though I did not make sense, being from a carefully fashioned world.

At long last, he shook his head. “Enough questions about me. I have one for you.”

“Finally.” I adjusted my position so that my legs crossed beneath my body. “Ask away.”

“There was a rumor begun by Swordeater. He insisted, likely after too much of his pungent rum, that he saw your father sailing aboard the Ever Ship before Thorvald ever died.”

“Oh, yes.” I nodded with vigor. “You’ve truly never heard the bloody details of the days before Thorvald’s death?”

Tait simply shrugged. “I was on the ship when it happened, and I have a hazy memory of perhaps an earth fae coming aboard. But I was afraid of earth folk, so I promptly went belowdecks whenever we spoke to your people.”

“You would’ve been quite young, yes?”

“Not yet seven turns.”

My heart cinched for the image of an innocent young Heartwalker whose world cracked after Valen’s axes slaughtered his king. “Well, that horrifying earth fae from your memories, I’m almost certain was my father. He wasn’t always a king, you see.”

“No, I do not see. I’ve not heard this.”

I tossed my braid over my shoulder. “Don’t be so surly and you’ll be thrilled by all the little details you might learn about a person.”

Tait jabbed the stick at the fish again.

I barreled on. “My father boarded the Ever Ship as part of the plan to save Bloodsinger and other littles from enemies, the ones who tortured Erik.”

“Why was it your father who sailed?”

“We needed to reach Calista, my cousin. Daj was once the ambassador of the Night Folk clan. He offered himself to go retrieve her.”

“And your cousin was important?”

“Her magic can twist fate.” I grinned. “To rescue littles from the hands of enemies, a great deal of altered fate was required. You know what happened next. They were rescued. The Ever King was killed. I’m sure it was frightening for you to learn Thorvald was dead.”

“Not for the reasons you think.” Tait prodded the fish again, flipping each one to ensure the flesh cooked evenly.

“What do you mean by that?”

“By what?” He glanced up.

“You said Thorvald’s death was frightening, but not for the reasons I might think.”

His mouth drew tight and the little glimmer of peace he’d kept in his eyes faded to the stony shadows. Damn the hells.