Chapter 20 Rose #2
“Come.” He looped his arm through mine and led me across the ballroom, while the guests made no attempt to hide their stares.
Good, let them see that the two of us were united.
My back straightened as the crowd parted for us, and I tried to look as regal as possible at Raith’s side.
But when I saw the surprise, I couldn’t help but gasp.
Standing alongside a tall column was someone I never expected to see.
“Lily?” I cried out as I grabbed my skirts and rushed forward, forgetting everyone else at the ball.
My older sister turned her serene face toward me, and her smile made my heart leap.
She wore a pale blue gown that looked like frost, along with her icicle tiara, and it was so good to see her I thought my chest might burst with happiness.
I flung myself into her arms, while she hugged me back and laughed softly, remaining composed as always.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
“Your husband was kind enough to invite me and provided transportation for both of us,” she said, gesturing to the handsome guard beside her.
Captain Keane never left her side, so it didn’t surprise me that he’d insisted on coming with her.
He gave me a quick nod while his dark blue eyes scanned the room for threats.
I spun around to face Raith. “You teleported them here?”
Raith watched our reunion with an expression I couldn’t read. “I did.”
Warmth spread through me at his kind gesture, and emotion made my eyes tear up a little. “Thank you.”
He cleared his throat and looked away. “I thought it would be a good gesture to show the people that Ilidan and Talador truly are at peace.”
“Of course,” I said, though I suspected he’d really done it for me.
He knew how much I missed my sisters, and even though I wrote to them frequently, it was still not the same as seeing them every day of my life.
I lifted on my toes to press a kiss to his cheek, and he looked at me with surprise after my lips brushed against his skin.
I took Lily’s hand and led her to a bench in the corner of the ballroom, while Keane trailed behind us. “Come, we have so much to catch up on. I want to hear about everything that’s happening back at Winton Castle. How are our sisters? Aunt Dahlia? Father?”
She shook her head with amusement, a faint smile on her lips. “Everyone is well, although we miss you, naturally. It’s dreadfully cold at the castle already, but we manage as we always do. But I want to hear all about your life here. How are you settling in? Is King Raith treating you well?”
“Yes, he is. He’s been teaching me magic.” I traced a rune in the air and a snowflake appeared in front of Lily’s face. She looked at it hesitantly, before taking it into her hand.
“Incredible,” she said, as it slowed crumbled in her fingers and then vanished.
“My affinity is for fire actually, which would have been useful back in Talador if I’d known. I’ve been practicing magic almost every day, and Raith says I’m learning quickly.”
She rested her hand over mine. “Perhaps the Sun and Moon truly brought the two of you together for a reason. Now you can learn all the things you always wanted to know.” She glanced behind me, where Raith was talking to Oren. “But are you happy?”
“I’m…as happy as can be expected, I suppose. I miss all of you so much, but I do like my new life here, surprisingly. I have purpose and responsibility that I never had back in Talador. Raith and I respect one another. We’ve become…friends.”
“Is that all? Friends?” She arched an eyebrow. “I saw the two of you dancing together. The way he looked at you…there must be something more there.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I couldn’t help but follow her gaze to Raith’s back. “I don’t know. Maybe. I hope so.”
“You care for him.”
I let out a breath. “Yes, very much.”
“He cares for you as well.” Lily had always been good at reading people, a useful skill when one was a future queen.
“I suppose he does, in his way, but he’s still not over his previous wife, whom he loved very much.
I cannot blame him for still grieving her.
Not to mention, the…” My words trailed off as I realized I was about to tell Lily about the darkness, but I stopped myself.
I’d promised Raith I wouldn’t tell anyone about it, and that included my sister.
For the first time ever, she and I had different allegiances.
She would always be bound to Talador, while my duty was to Ilidan now.
“The what?” she asked.
“The circumstances surrounding our marriage,” I said quickly.
“Raith and I were both forced into this alliance, but we’ve made the best of it.
It’s a miracle he can even look at me at all after what our father did.
” I bowed my head and whispered, “Father was the one responsible for Raith’s wife’s death. ”
Lily raised a hand to her mouth, her face horrified. “Are you certain?”
“Not entirely, but it sounds like he sent assassins to take out Raith and his wife when they were traveling to her parents’ estate.
Raith was delayed, but they still took her life.
I believe Lord Malren, Raith’s cousin, was working with our father to set it up, but I have no proof.
Do you think you could look for something when you return home? ”
Her brow furrowed. “I can try. I’m truly sorry, Rose. I had no idea Father was involved in such a thing.”
“Me neither, though it doesn’t surprise me.” I squeezed her hand. “Someday you will be Queen and we can right all of these wrongs and end the legacy of bloodshed in our lands.”
She leaned against me as we watched the other guests dance. “I pray you are right. Father is pushing me to choose a husband again.”
To the side, Keane tensed up slightly. It was barely noticeable, but I could tell every muscle in his body had stiffened at her words.
I’d always suspected he had feelings for my sister, though he would never act on them and she was oblivious.
A shame, really. Keane might be the only man I trusted with my sister’s heart.