Chapter 35
Seren
Amahle and Ciaran were silent as we made our way from the Bellwether toward the House of the Veil.
Under any other circumstances, there would have been chatter between us. Light banter, maybe even reminiscing over old times. But now, each of us wore our worries like a shroud.
Rykr and Thorne had stayed with my father at the Bellwether to plan. The book Giulia had given me on Emberstone had come in handy, but my father also knew more about the city’s layout than I’d realized.
But there were two more people whose help we needed—unlikely allies who cared about the tribe and who might have a role to play today: Seth and Darya.
With her expert knowledge of Emberstone from years of living here, Darya might be able to help us figure out where Haldron might be keeping Esme. And Seth … Amahle and Ciaran were convinced he truly loved our tribe, pointing to the way he’d protected Rykr after the skinwraith attack.
Trusting Seth could be a huge misstep. We couldn’t afford to tell them all we knew, just enough to help us and our tribe. But what if they didn’t believe us about the danger?
And then there was what my father had revealed about his role in the murder of King Magnus and his sons.
… except one.
I swallowed hard, my heart falling all over again.
One prince, replaced by an impostor.
One golden-haired Ederyn, chased into the Dreadwood unwittingly.
Could it be possible?
But my heart already knew the truth. When the news of the king’s death had reached our encampment, I’d felt the depth of Rykr’s pain—gods, that’s not even his name.
He’d lied to me.
I’d lain in his arms, made love to him all night. Fallen in love with him, without even knowing his name.
Tension crept into my shoulders.
The signs had been there, hadn’t they? The way he hesitated when talking of his past. The way he deflected, dodged questions with wit and charm.
I should have seen it. I should have known.
What a stupid little fool I was. Everything made so much more sense now. Everything he’d said—a half-truth meant to make me hear what I wanted to hear and see what I wanted to see.
His queen.
Bile tore at my throat.
And the worst of it was … no matter how much I loved him … no matter how much he said he loved me … we could never be together. The heir to the throne of Lirien couldn’t marry a Viori Vangar woman, could he? And even if he could, I didn’t want to be a queen. And never the queen of Lirien.
It was almost déjà vu. Would I survive the Skorn only to watch the man I loved marry his true queen while I was cast aside once again? What I’d felt for Seth was nothing compared to what I felt for Rykr.
How would I withstand that?
Amahle squeezed my hand. “You look like you’re going to fall apart or murder someone.”
“I might do both,” I admitted, meeting her warm gaze.
“Do you think they’ll be able to get out in time?” Ciaran murmured. He looked so tired that my heart broke a little. His whole family was in the House of the Veil.
“We have to hope.” I looked from Ciaran back to Amahle. “I’m so sorry—”
“What are you apologizing for?” Amahle’s brow furrowed. “You need to stop blaming yourself for everything. You know that, right? Haldron started all this.”
“True,” I admitted, bitterly. “But Haldron didn’t make the skinwraiths attack our camp and that’s what forced our tribe to come to Emberstone. I could have—”
“I’ve been thinking about that,” Ciaran said, his gaze low. “Even if we had warned everyone, you were right. Tara was right. They would have thought Rykr was involved and still wouldn’t have been prepared. The outcome would have been the same. You’re not to blame for that. No one is.”
Sweet Ciaran. I paused mid-step, turned, and threw my arms around him, his words a balm I hadn’t known I’d needed.
Ciaran caught me in his embrace, everything about him so comforting and familiar.
I’d hurt him so many times over the last few weeks, even questioning his loyalty, yet he’d remained by my side. Steadfast.
My eyes misted and I stepped back. “I’m sorry,” I managed. “I’m so sorry for everything I’ve put you through. I’ve tested our friendship and you’re still here. I love you, Ciaran. I never should have questioned you.”
Ciaran’s expression flickered. A heartbeat passed before he cupped my face, his grey eyes warm and gentle. “Nothing will ever change how I feel about you, Seren. I’m proud to be your friend. Always.”
Amahle grinned. “Oh, thank the gods. I was worried we might die with you two never figuring out how to talk.” She stepped between us as we started forward again. “Do you have any idea how much I’ve wanted to shake you both?”
“We’re not going to die,” I said firmly. “I’m not going to let that happen. Once we warn the tribe, I want you all to stay with them and leave Emberstone. That’s your part in all this. Get them to safety. Between Rykr, Thorne, and my father, we’ll figure out the rest.”
“No way,” Amahle said, her lips vibrating as she expelled a huff. “We’re not leaving you, Seren.”
“You have to.” I gave them both pleading looks. “I don’t have a choice. If I don’t show up for the Skorn tonight, I’ll be hunted. But it will be a lot easier for me to do what I need to do if I know you’re safe.”
“What about what we want?” Ciaran asked skeptically. “Doesn’t that matter?”
“Of course it matters.” My heart throbbed as I looked at my brave friends.
They were my family. Closer, really. And they were also Vangar—brave and fearless, no matter the challenge.
“But I’ll need all my wits to get through tonight.
I’m already worried to death about Esme.
I can’t afford to be worrying about you, too. Please.”
They exchanged a look, their faces troubled. “It’s not your responsibility to protect us,” Amahle said firmly. “But we’ll do our best to make it easier for you, all right?”
We were getting closer to the House of the Veil and, somehow, it didn’t seem like enough time to say everything I wanted to say to them. This could be the last time I saw them. “I just—”
Amahle squeezed my hand. “We know, Seren.” She stopped and drew me into a hug. “But sometimes, when you’re going through a trial, it’s better to know that you’re not alone. That matters too.”
I inhaled shakily, wanting to draw from her strength.
There would never be enough time with the people I loved.
Tucked behind the market corridors, the House of the Veil blended seamlessly into the city’s jagged architecture.
The unassuming facade—a broad, arched doorway framed by weathered stone columns—gave little clue about what lay beyond the threshold.
Even from here, though, faint, eerie chanting drifted from the numerous stone windows cut into the stone, the voices of the Veiled brothers and sisters who served the poor and destitute of the Viori.
Goosebumps rose on my arms as I followed Ciaran and Amahle inside. My reaction had to be more about my wariness than the sanctuary itself. Just because Haldron was evil didn’t mean the rest of Emberstone was.
Beyond the threshold, the cavernous interior stretched before us, dimly lit by the ever-burning lanterns lining the walls.
Smooth stone floors echoed beneath our footsteps, and low-hanging beams narrowed the corridors.
In the central chamber, clusters of tables and chairs were gathered before a broad hearth, the flickering firelight casting shifting shadows on the high walls.
I recognized men and women from my tribe, their low murmurs echoing against the white walls and high vaulted ceilings that rose in places to reveal skylights chiseled into the mountain’s surface. Thin shafts of daylight pierced the gloom, illuminating the smoky air.
“Seren.” Tara’s voice reached me before I saw her, then my sister stood from one of the tables.
I hadn’t realized how worried I was about her until she strode toward me, a laughing scowl on her face.
“I take it they didn’t throw you in the dungeon, after all.
” She crossed her arms as she stopped in front of me.
“But Mother and I had to hear about it from Seth. Guess you forgot we were here, did you?”
“I saw Mother yesterday. Didn’t she tell you?”
“She’s been busy with the wounded. I think she went out to stock up on her supplies, though. I haven’t seen her all day.” Tara scanned my face. “Is everything all right?”
“Not exactly. Anywhere around here safe? Free from listening ears?”
Tara frowned then nodded. “Follow me.”
Ciaran gave me a worried glance. “I’m going to find my family. I’ll meet you back here in an hour.”
Amahle and I accompanied Tara down another corridor, a winding passage cut deep into the rock. Closed doors lined either side, offering sanctuary to the weary souls who found refuge here. We didn’t stop until we reached the one where Tara was staying.
There was no bed inside, just a bedroll on top of clean straw, and the space was small and windowless, crates stacked high against one wall, filled with what little my family still owned. Nowhere to sit.
Tara closed the door behind us. “What’s going on?”
“Father’s here.” I surveyed the space, my pulse beating faster. “Haldron has Esme. He’s the one who kidnapped her.”
Quickly, I explained everything my father had told me.
Tara’s expression darkened with every word. By the time I finished, her entire body had gone rigid.
“No.” The word escaped her like a breath before her jaw clenched. Her hands curled into fists, shaking at her sides. “No, no, no.”
Faster than I could react, she grabbed the nearest crate and flung it against the wall. The wood splintered, trinkets spilling onto the ground.
“He took Esme?” Her voice cracked, her chest rising and falling with shallow breaths.
I nodded, throat tight.
“I’ll kill him,” Tara hissed. “I swear it. I’ll carve his heart out myself.”
She turned toward the door as if she might storm out right then and there.