Chapter 86
Rosalina
“Come, Rosalina.” Ezryn holds out his hand for me. “It’s time to end this.”
“We’re with you,” Farron says. Late morning light illuminates the red in his hair. Dayton trails behind him.
“I know,” I reply and take his hand as we walk toward the enchanted door in Castletree that connects with the Winter Realm.
Yesterday, after Keldarion left, I’d returned to Castletree with Dayton and Farron.
It was true what Eldy had said. The Winter staff have lost themselves to their animal forms. I haven’t been able to turn them back, but thankfully, I was able to calm the wilder ones.
We’ve gotten everyone secured now, with special attention to separate the prey species from the predators to ensure there are no accidents.
Marigold and Eldy are taking charge of Astrid, but there’s been no change to her.
It’s the best we can do for now.
I’d fallen asleep wrapped in Dayton’s arms, but the bed felt too big for the two of us.
I’d expected Farron to join us, but he never did.
Apparently, he was in the Autumn wing, trying to banish the green flames that keep burning in the fireplace.
My stomach twists at the thought. He’d been able to break out of Caspian’s hold and save himself and Dayton.
I suppose I don’t have any other choice but to trust him.
Ezryn had stayed to settle things at Winter, though he joined Dayton and I in bed late at night, saying he’d returned Kairyn, who had gone willingly, to prison. He may have helped defend Ezryn, but Kairyn still has much to answer for.
And I have no doubt Faustrius will return for his creation.
My sister, who Caspian sacrificed himself for, is gone.
I thought the news that she ran away again would make me angrier, but she’s a bird who can finally fly. She has true freedom for the first time in her life. With the bow shattered and no longer under Sira’s control, she can’t be forced to hurt anyone anymore.
If there is peace out there for her, I hope she finds it.
A blast of cold air hits us as we step into the now familiar stone halls of Keep Wolfhelm. “If Kel hasn’t returned, I have to go after him,” I say.
“Rosalina—” Ezryn begins, his tone measured, but I cut him off.
“Farron ran from me in his beast form once,” I continue, my resolve hardening. “I found him. I’ll do the same with Keldarion.”
“You can do anything you set your mind to, sweetheart.” Farron leans down and kisses my temple.
Ezryn doesn’t respond but nods. While Dayton lingers behind, the three of us move in tense unison.
We’re drawn by the sounds of movement ahead—a clatter of tools and the faint hum of voices.
When we enter, I stop short. The throne room is alive with activity. Not just palace staff but citizens of Winter are here, working together. Some carry buckets of water to douse the last of the green flames. Others clear rubble or work to restore the shattered castle walls.
A young fae woman steps forward, her silver hair tied back and her hands dusted with frost and soot. She looks up at me with wide, shining eyes.
“Golden Rose,” she says softly, her voice filled with awe. “We’re so happy you’re safe.”
The words catch me off guard, and a lump forms in my throat. I manage a small smile, nodding in thanks, but don’t trust myself to speak.
Then my gaze shifts, narrowing in on a familiar figure near the base of the throne.
Keldarion.
He’s not standing above them, issuing orders like a prince. Instead, he’s among them, lifting broken shards of ice, clearing the wood. His shoulders are hunched, his expression focused. There are no signs of the beast that fled yesterday.
He doesn’t seem to notice me.
I take a step forward, my heart aching at the sight of him.
“I need to check on my brother,” Ezryn says. “You know your path.”
I’d found time yesterday to tell each of my mates what had happened with Caspian on the mountain. My promise and vow. While they aren’t happy about it, my mates trust me.
“We’re with you always,” Farron adds. Dayton nods as well before they turn and follow Ezryn out.
I move deeper into the room. Keldarion lifts his hands, sprays of ice crawling up the palace wall, fusing a piece of wood in place.
I step forward. “Keldarion.”
He freezes, his back still to me. Finally, slowly, he turns, eyes meeting mine. They’re weary, clouded with pain.
For a moment, neither of us speaks.
“Let me help.” I move closer. “I’m not great with ice, but maybe you can teach me.”
A thin smile appears on his face. “Just like summoning water but colder.”
“So simple,” I say, allowing him to guide my hand to the wall. A wave of magic pulses through him, and I summon my own to match.
A shiver shudders through my body, pulsing its way up my spine and tingling out of my fingertips. Ice grows along the broken wall, clinging to the wood and reinforcing a section.
Keldarion steps back, and a wry grin spreads across his face. “I’m sure the fae architects of old would scorn such a design, but it’ll keep the breeze out.”
“We do what we can.”
Keldarion looks down at me and gently touches my face. “I’ll only be another few moments, then we’ll talk. Promise.”
“Let me help.”
Walking to the far end of the broken room, I join a crew clearing rubble.
“It’s true,” I hear one of the fae say to his companion as they grab a large stone. “We heard the clatter in the ripe hours of the morning. Imagine our surprise when we looked out the window to see the High Prince of Winter himself repairing our shop.”
“Would have been a travesty without your bread, Giles.”
The other fae smirks. “It didn’t take long for everyone to join in, and the town was fixed up in no time. Not much damage there. Luckily, I heard the Golden Rose got to the Prince of Thorns before he could do more harm.”
They both look over at me, and I try to appear busy, like I’m not eavesdropping on their conversation. It hurts my heart for people to view Caspian that way. He would rather have died than become what he is now.
But Keldarion…he came for his people, to rebuild what was broken.
“Once it was done, we all followed him to the castle.” The citizen smiles. “He said it was unnecessary, but we insisted. This keep is a symbol of our home, our pride in Winter. It wouldn’t do for it to be in shambles.”
Their voices fade down the hall, and I turn back to the High Prince of Winter. There’s only one small hole in the wall now.
I walk over to Keldarion, the chill morning air tugging at my hair.
“I didn’t expect them to come,” Keldarion says. Beads of perspiration dot his brow. His eyes are alive and vibrant. “I was never there for them before. Never there for Winter.”
“You were trying to protect them in your own way,” I say. “And this last month, the people have seen you, Keldarion. They’ve seen the ruler you can be.”
I follow his gaze outside. Caspian’s magic destroyed the entire wall around Keep Wolfhelm. The once towering structure is now nothing but piles of ice and stone. The town of Frostfang is completely visible. Plumes of smoke curl into the sky.
“And what of the wall? Will you repair it as well?”
Keldarion places his large hand flat along a wooden plank. Ice begins to creep up in sparkling fractals.
“No,” he says lowly. “I will no longer separate myself from my people. Keep Wolfhelm will be open to Winter forevermore.”
He lifts his chin to where Mount Rhuvenmark churns up smog. The choking substance hasn’t crept over the city yet, but it’s thick and dark as oil.
“How long do we have?” I whisper.
“The stone magister thinks three days. Maybe four if we’re lucky. The people don’t know about the eruption yet. They blame Caspian for the smoke. Finally a blessing that they’ll blame everything on him.”
“You know what needs to happen next.”
“How can I do it, Rose? How can I let you go to my worst nightmares?”
“Because you trust me,” I say and force him to look at me.
“I trust you. But you will be his thrall.”
“No. There is only one magic stronger in the Enchanted Vale than that of a bargain, and it’s a mate bond.
Caspian and you are both my mates. He asked me once to try to fight it.
He believed it was possible. If I’m in the Below and Caspian thinks I’m his thrall, imagine what we can learn about Sira.
I might even figure out how to rescue my mother and Cas. ”
Kel shakes his head and drags me to a corner of the room where we’re out of sight.
“That’s a lot of ifs, Rose. The Prince of Thorns may need you.
He may not harm you as he still recognizes you as his mate, but he’s under Sira’s control.
If she finds out about your mate bond, she could order him to kill you.
And then it doesn’t matter how much he wants you. He’ll be forced to obey.”
“Then I won’t let her find out.” Tears threaten to fall, but I steel myself. “Sending me to Caspian, letting me take on the Below—it’s dangerous. It might kill me. But there’s a chance I survive it and come out with my mother, with Cas. Keeping me here, Kel? That will kill me.”
“Rose.” He cups my cheek, and I lean into his hand.
“Listen, Kel. It will kill me watching you turn into your beast forever, your rose wilting, never bringing back our friends from their animal forms. And it’ll kill you too.
You may have me, your Rose, protected and safe in a glass jar, but everything around you will wilt and rot and die.
Castletree will fall without the High Prince of Winter, as will your realm. ”
Keldarion’s hands tremble, and he brings his forehead to mine. “How can you be so brave?”
“It’s easy when I’m doing it for the people I love. I love you, Kel.”
He kisses me, softly at first, then deeper. “If we are to do this, there is one thing I ask of you.”
“What is it?”
“Take a walk with me, Rose.”