Epilogue #2
Narza grinned softly. “I have bandaged more than one scrape on your knees, Grandson. Whether you recall it or not. I’m not afraid of your blood.”
My blood landed in the opposite bowl. One by one, those of our blood families were added. Tavish winked before he added his. We’d never admitted to each other the truth, nor had I said anything to Maelstrom.
It was simply known by the way they’d begun to share stories about my mother, whether through a look I gave, and Maelstrom would say, “Gods, that is how Oline used to frown.” Or if something reminded them of my mother—how she hated the scales of fish or how she’d once determined to be the first Lady of Blades, and that she would’ve been proud to know her son made such a thing possible.
Thorvald would be disappointed, and it made the new bonds all the better.
Narza heated the blood with herbs and incense, then carefully ladled both into one mortar, two bloodlines united. “Join hands.”
Livia and I held our clasped palms over the bowl. Narza began to sing, gentle and sweet.
Skin prickled; our palms heated. The longer Narza sang, the warmer our skin became.
Livia winced. I nearly did when the bite to my forearm dug to the bone. Not like a blade, more a weak burn that spread through meat of the body to the marrow, then the veins, until my chest bloomed in warmth. A soothing heat, like a gulp of hot tea, felt all the way down to the belly.
Narza’s song slowly tapered off. She wiped a tear from the corner of one eye and gestured to our hands. “May you always honor the bond between you.”
Breath went quiet in my lungs. I dropped my gaze to the bare skin on my arms and let out a rough gasp.
Livia laughed, wiping tears away. Branded on our flesh, in the same place that once bore the bind rune of the House of Kings, was a new one tangled in what looked like ivy vines.
“House Ferus,” Elise whispered, grinning. “That is the seal.”
I kept rubbing the place over my heart, reveling in the familiar fullness. Gods, I’d missed it.
Livia rose up on her toes and kissed me, her tears wetting my face. When she pulled back, our families applauded. I looked only at her as her delicate fingers traced the bottom line of my lip.
A thousand turns would not be enough with her, but it would be a start.
While our people cheered and awkwardly came together, houses joined and all, I brushed Livia’s hair from her eyes and smiled.
Without words, only using what was felt, I whispered. Hello, love.
Livia’s eyes burned in a new heat. Hello, Serpent.
The Nightmare Prince
It’d been ages since I’d walked the halls of my own damn palace. Most often, I had a great deal of fun whenever we returned from the Crimson Festival. Hells, I’d even planned to irritate Sander by flaunting our heroics once we’d determined to break out the Ever King and fight beside sea fae.
This return, nothing about it was as I imagined.
Doubtless, nothing about life would be as I imagined after tonight.
I hesitated at the door leading into the wide chamber where an expansive inglenook heated the lower levels. Our main city of Klockglas was often cloudy and cold, as were the walls of the palace. Fitting for us royals, since the king manipulated the fears of others and his sons created nightmares.
Still—and I gave credit to my mother entirely—the palace was warm with laughter and loyalty.
I clung to the hope that it would remain after I admitted to my mother and father what I had done.
I’d sent word to the Ever already, so they wouldn’t be surprised when I returned. Once details were confessed, Erik would think I’d lost my mind, but he wasn’t a man of many words. In truth, he’d see the merit before Livia.
Livie would be like my mother—I could feel it in my gut—but she had no damn room to protest. She’d bleeding fallen in love and in bed with the man who kidnapped her and planned to murder her father.
Not one bit of room to protest.
I blew out a breath and entered without a sound. As a son of thieves, I’d long ago learned how to move like shadows. I was glad for it, not being noticed, for it gave me pause to take in what I loved most about the palace.
Sander, well into being healed, picked at a few dried currants while he read something new about sea fae sent from the witches. He was the one I worried about most. Perhaps he’d see this as a betrayal.
Then again, my twin was the more forgiving one of us.
I watched my parents for a heartbeat or two. I’d always thought my mother was the most beautiful woman. Fiery hair she kept a little wild, a smile that was equal parts devious and loving. She was laughing, the way she always did when my father whispered in her ear—head back, eyes squeezed shut.
Even Daj smiled. Kase Eriksson was who I aspired to be, different as we were.
Where I loved to attend the masques and have plenty of company, my father would be content to never leave this palace or see another soul beyond his family ever again.
A possible exaggeration; he’d nearly torn the Kunglig palace apart—or so I was told—when Livia was taken, then once more when he learned his sons had disappeared.
He was close to every royal house in our realms. He simply enjoyed grumbling about them.
With one arm draped around my mother’s shoulders, he pulled her close, all so he could press a kiss to her temple, again and again, like he could not get enough of her. It was a bond I’d never really thought about having.
Until now, when I knew I certainly would never have it.
I cleared my throat.
“Jonas. Come sit with us.” My mother patted the place beside her. “I’ve missed you too much.”
“Not as much as Daj, I’m sure.” I shoved my father’s shoulder as I strode past.
“Frankly, I don’t know why you’re still here,” my father said, a sly grin on his face. “I thought I made it clear that I enjoyed the empty halls and alone time with your mother.”
“Please, contain yourself.” I sat on a bench across from them and wove my fingers together, gaze locked on the threads of the woven rug beneath my boots.
“Jonas?” My mother tilted her head to one side. “Are you all right?”
“I have something I must tell you. All of you.”
Sander slapped the pages of his book closed and perched on the arm of the sofa, concern on his face.
My father said nothing, but his eyes turned to black ink, blotting out until they were empty of any light.
“Daj, please.”
“You’re afraid to tell us. Why?”
Gods, it was damn aggravating when your family could literally know your fears. I let my shoulders slump. “Because you will not like to hear it.”
“Son,” my mother said softly. “Whatever it is, you can always tell us.”
“This bond with the Ever, you know it compels me to keep them safe.”
My father frowned. He’d been furious—no, enraged—at the notion of me taking a lifelong bond. But the man did not care for anything that took away a bit of will. Trapped by dark mesmer magic for a great many turns as a boy had left him furious about the whole notion.
Only after a dozen explanations that it was not a forced bond and merely a need to do what I could to stand with the sea fae, did he find any solace.
“The missing elven prince, he’s left me unsettled. His ambitions, the way he spoke of not only the sea but also our realms, won’t leave me.”
“Jonas,” Sander said. “You know as well as me King Eldirard said he’ll be kept at bay by his father for some time.”
“The risk remains. If it did not, I don’t think the bond would be .
. . feeling this way.” My stomach bottomed out.
“But I’ve figured out how I can defend them.
This is already done, I’ve sent missives, and I am choosing to do this.
For all of us. Not only Livie and Bloodsinger, but our people and realms.”
“Jonas, gods, you’re starting to frighten me.” My mother leaned forward. “What is it?”
I held my breath until I reached the count of five.
“To be the kin of elven means their magic will not be a threat. After his failed battle, the betrothal arrangement with the prince can be challenged by a title of equal status.”
“Jonas—”
My mother cut off her own words when I shook my head, silently pleading for them to let me finish.
“I petitioned the king of the shadow elven for permission to take marital vows with his granddaughter. To make her our kin.” I hesitated. “And he agreed.”
It looks like there is an arranged marriage on the horizon.