Chapter 19
CHAPTER 19
Keldarion
T he Summer Wing is gone. There are not even any ruins to inspect. The hall that once led to it is nothing but a pile of roots, rocks, sand, and mucky saltwater. The enchanted hot springs, Dayton’s quarters, and the training grounds are no more.
Dayton, Farron, Caspian, and I stand among the ruins. Astrid took Rosalina to her room, while Eldor and Marigold are taking care of the displaced Summer staff and finding a room for Dayton’s new mate, Wrenley.
“I don’t suppose if I break my curse, the Summer Wing will just grow back?” Dayton asks, leaning an arm on one of the boulders. His nose is still red from where I hit him. Well deserved.
Farron picks up a piece of limp seaweed. “I don’t think so, Day. The castle, like the realms, was created by the Queen.”
“Oh, you mean Rosie’s mother?” Dayton shakes his head. “Damn, I feel like I should be surprised, but I’m not.”
“It’s not Rosalina’s fault the Summer Wing collapsed,” I say. “She was imprisoned for three months, and this is the first time she’s returned to Castletree since she discovered the truth of herself.”
Sadness flickers on Farron’s face. “The influx of magic she must have felt, then Dayton’s news, combined with the weakened state of the Summer Wing …”
Dayton steps forward, throwing his arms out to the sides. “What I’m hearing is this is all my fault!”
A growl rises in my throat. “How did you expect her to react? You made her fall in love with you.”
“Shut up, Kel,” Dayton snarls back, anger flashing in his eyes. “Neither Rosie nor I ever said anything about love . You love her, Kel, and I fucked her and Farron does both. Seems like the little princess has got it pretty good.”
“Stop it, Dayton,” Farron says, gaze cutting. “I know you’re hurting, but that’s just cruel.”
A strange laugh bubbles up from the Prince of Summer. “Hurting? Me? No, I’m the luckiest motherfucker in all the realms. The answer to the curse has waltzed right into my life. I can break my curse whenever I want and stop being this mangy mutt.”
“Then why don’t you?” Caspian’s voice is sharp as a knife’s edge. He’s been so quiet, I could almost have forgotten he was here, if not for the shadowy presence always at my back.
Dayton growls. “Oh yeah, and what’s this about shadow boy’s thorns actually helping?”
“All this time, you haven’t been sucking the magic from Castletree?” Farron narrows his eyes.
Caspian turns to me. “Did she tell you?”
“Oddly enough, it was her faith in you that made me believe it.”
A strange expression passes across Caspian’s face, and he turns away, kicking the shallow water. “Let’s just say what happened here would have happened a long time ago without my help.”
Farron grabs Caspian’s arm. “Why help Castletree, and then betray me? Why attack my realm? Whose side are you on?”
“My own side,” Caspian snarls. “For the moment, I don’t want your stupid tree to fall. Is that not good enough for you?”
“It’s good enough for now,” I say.
Dayton lets out a bitter laugh. “Maybe it’s good enough for you, Kel. I didn’t realize we were trying to relive the War of Thorns. Don’t you remember what happened last time you two allied?”
Caspian slides behind me as I advance on Dayton. “Weren’t you listening, Daytonales? Our home would be destroyed, our curses forever bound to us, the roses wilted, if it weren’t for Caspian. So be very careful with your next words.”
A storm flares in his eyes, but then a smile curves up his face. “Answer me this, Kel. Where’s Ezryn? I bet he doesn’t agree with your little arrangement, either.”
“Ezryn has made his choice, as must you all,” I growl. “Tomorrow, once everyone has rested, we will restore our roses. Then, we need to forge a plan. Meet at the High Tower tomorrow morning.”
“Yes, master,” Dayton sneers and stalks away.
Farron gives a wary look between me and Caspian, then follows Dayton.
A moment after they leave, Caspian snakes around me. He puts his thumbs into my belt and looks up at me through dark lashes, his lavender eyes sparkling. “Thank you, Kel.”
Dying briars lie among the stone, but living purple ones still writhe and twist around the entrance hall, all throughout Castletree. All throughout my room. I cup his cheek with my palm, seeing it redden beneath my touch.
“No, Cas,” I say. “Thank you.”