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“It is time for this to end. I will not see any more of my people suffer,” Bryce said. “The seer predicted that when I meet death on my own, that is when I claim the throne. It is time for me to face King Kenneth. It is for him and me alone to join into battle and settle this once and for all.”
Bliss sensed that his words rang true. The true king would bring an end to this, and peace would reign, but who would live to see it?
It was a long evening, with so much to discuss. Dolca went into detail about Mercy and Bryce’s mum, and caused many a tear to fall. There were so many questions that could finally be answered and so many secrets allowed to be revealed.
It seemed like yesterday that he and his brothers had been young and been told about the true king. They had all known it had been Bryce but since his mum never treated any of them differently, and Bryce had never tried to rule over them, they had grown up equals. That didn’t mean they would not give the king his due and show him respect, but Trey knew that to them and to Bryce, he would always be their brother first and king second.
As the evening wore on, Bliss wore out quickly. With all that had happened since their return to the MacAlpin home, she hadn’t gotten much sleep. And as anxious as he was to ask her about her vision, he was more eager for her to rest. When they reached his bedchamber, she immediately climbed into bed and fell asleep in seconds. He thought to undress her, but he didn’t wish to disturb her, and so he lay down beside her and slept.
He woke just as dawn was breaking, as he always did, and was surprised to find the spot beside him empty. He sat up and didn’t need to look far to find her.
She was pacing the floor in front of the glowing hearth, her expression troubled.
He got out of bed and approached her though he kept a distance from her. He wanted to reach out and take hold of her but wasn’t sure if he should, at least not just yet. “You are upset. Has it anything to do with your vision?”
She shook her head, stopped pacing, then nodded and started walking again, only to shake her head once more.
Trey thought he’d see if he could sense what agitated her, but after several minutes of feeling nothing, he had had enough. He stepped in front of her and grabbed her by the shoulders. “Tell me what’s wrong. We will handle this together.”
“Fate—”
“Has sent me to help you,” he finished. “Now tell me so that I may do what fate intended.”
She spoke fast, as if she feared she wouldn’t have the courage to finish. “Death hangs heavy in the air, and I know not whom it will strike.”
Trey went cold inside, and every muscle in his body tightened in fear. “I will not let it take you.”
“It is not your choice.”
He knew he could not stop death, and yet he would battle death itself to keep her safe. A shiver raked her body, whether out of fear or chill, he did not know. “You are cold, come and let us talk in bed—”
“No,” she snapped, and wrenched out of his arms. “I will not lie in that bed.”
It took Trey a moment to make sense of her hostility, and when he realized the cause, he went to her side, slipped his arm around her, and hurried her out of the room.
“I’m sorry,” he said once in the hall. “I should have never brought you here. Leora’s feelings linger, don’t they? How long have you been awake?”
“Hours.”
“Why didn’t you wake me? I would have moved us out of here.”
“I was going to at first, then her feelings took hold, and I had to explore them.” Bliss shook her head. “She is not a happy woman.”
“She has been through much.”
“Perhaps, but she is free now to be with her family, and yet I sensed that she is more unhappy than ever.”
Her words got Trey thinking as he directed her down the hall. What if Leora still lied to them? What if she still spied on them?
Bryce and Mercy were in the great hall at the table when they entered.
Trey and Bliss were reluctant to approach, knowing the two had much to discuss. Bryce waved them forward, and they joined the half siblings.
“We’ve been talking for hours,” Mercy said. “Neither of us could sleep and found the other one down here, so it gave us time alone to talk.”
“She’s told me so much about my mother that I never got a chance to know,” Bryce said.
“And it has made me see her differently,” Mercy said, “and love and admire her more than I thought I ever could.” She grinned. “And to think it is my brother who will be king. I am so proud.”
