37. Winter
Winter stood in the throne room with his hands folded just below his waist and his back pressed against the wall.
He had positioned himself so as not to draw his grandmother’s eye and thereby had made himself as invisible as possible in the royal setting. Or, given his complexion and hair, any setting not drenched in white marble or snow.
Valen held the center of attention. He pleaded Raven’s case―Winter’s friend, current puzzle, and now missing guest.
“She put an end to the specters, my queen. She fulfilled her part of the agreement. It’s now up to you to follow through on your end.” Only family or Valen would be so bold as to speak to the queen in such a manner.
Winter’s grandmother scoffed. “We have no proof that the girl did anything of the sort.”
“My hunter witnessed the deed,” he countered.
What hunter? Winter wanted to ask, but he remained silent, pressed against the wall. Was the so-called hunter the creature and thing Valen kept in that cage tucked away in the hidden room behind his workshop?
“Chiara Badden is dead,” Valen continued. “They brought me her body.”
Somebody is dead? Winter’s muscles stiffened.
The queen tapped her fingers on the throne’s chair arm. “And you consider this good news?”
“Well…I…” Valen stumbled for words.
Winter shifted his weight, a muscle in his jaw pulsating.
The answer is no, Valen. Things are not good. Not good at all.
The queen stretched her neck, raising her chin higher. “Where did the girl even get the idea that the specters were the key to our citadel’s situation? Hmm? We both know they were never an issue, nor my goal.”
Despite the nature of the information being exchanged, the queen held herself as if she were discussing which tea to include with her morning meal.
How did she remain so removed? Someone is dead. And Raven is missing.
“And what of my grandson?” Her gaze shifted to Winter, but it was not him of whom she asked.
He’d learned plenty of curious things over the course of the night, and the fact was clear―the Crown kept far too many secrets from the potential heir…
or spare, as he was. One such secret being the known state of his missing brother, August. Winter’s blood froze at the mere thought of all the lies, spoken or not.
“Nothing yet, but we are still looking. Just as we are searching for Ms. Gunn.”
“And the boy?” The boy being Chace. The queen clasped her hands, weaved her fingers. “Mr. Badden, is it?”
Winter’s eyes widened. Chace’s last name was Badden. Just as the dead woman’s name was Badden. Were they related?
“Nothing on that front as of yet,” Valen replied.
His grandmother exhaled loudly. “Do you have anything of any interest to report?”
Valen’s shoulders stiffened. “Is not the end of the specters of interest? You can now safely remove the barriers on Veritas and the magical hold on her citizens. Life within the citadel may start improving starting today.”
“You know that not to be true, and I will do no such thing.” She slammed the base of her scepter onto the dais floor. “Ask no more.”
Winter’s jaw clenched. He could listen to no more. He turned and strode from the room. Stepped into the outer hall where his family awaited.
“Walk with me,” he said without sparing them a glance.
He knew they would follow, and when they were beyond the range of prying eyes and listening ears, only then would he free his words.
He led them through countless passages, sitting rooms, and staircases to a far-removed terrace overlooking the citadel. The morning was young and the people silent, sleeping off the revelry of the night prior.
He dropped his palms upon the rail and slid them wide. Closing his eyes, he listened to the whispers of the wind. All was quiet.
“Anything yet?” he asked of the child behind him.
Myla stepped to his right. “Nothing yet, but I do not believe she is dead. She’s out there…somewhere.”
She had to be, for she was the hope of the afflicted. She had, after all, cured Earl and Myla. Had Raven realized she was curing Myla that day in the pub? It didn’t matter. His niece had returned to him.
“We’ll find her,” Lucas placated, to which Camilla agreed and said, “I sensed she was intended to help our people, and maybe what I felt has already come to pass. But still, I do not believe this is the end of her story.”
No. Winter had to agree it was not.
“Chace will find her,” Kira added. “He’ll stop at nothing to find her.”
Winter grunted, unsure how he felt about the reason behind Chace’s dedication. But the guards’ active hunt for him would hamper Chace’s search efforts―limiting his options and freedoms.
Nevertheless, he was out there somewhere. Since he’d been chased from the palace, no news had reached the prince’s ears, so he was confident Raven’s coworker had managed to elude capture.
Winter hadn’t forgotten the exchange that took place in Valen’s workshop. Between them and the creature…Valen’s supposed hunter?…Chace had let go free. Everything about that interaction settled uncomfortably in the prince’s gut.
Yeah, he didn’t want that guy to be the one rescuing Raven. He wasn’t worthy.
Plus, Winter rather relished being the hero, preferred to be the one to find and save Raven, earn her favor once again.
He heaved a breath and carved out, pushed away his arrogance. Raven’s welfare was important, not who located her and saw to said safety.
Kira stepped to his left side at the terrace rail.
Both girls dropped their tiny hands over his.
A sign that they were united in the search to find the wondrous puzzle, Raven Gunn.
She’d supposedly put an end to the specters and could cure the afflicted.
Why was his grandmother not more invested in the search?
Winter agreed with Camilla’s sentiment—Raven was meant to help the citizens of Veritas, and she was out there somewhere―alive.
There is far more to her story yet to be revealed.
Neive cleared her throat. “If I may, sire. I suggest we watch the crows. They seem… Well…they seem to belong to her. And look at them…”
She pointed to the sky, to the squiggly lines and circles of birds in flight.
As crazy as Neive’s comment sounded, it made sense to him. How utterly appropriate that the Raven queen would have a connection to the black birds. A tiny smile teased his lips, and for a brief moment, his eyes warmed with the thought.
“I’ll find her.” Myla squeezed Winter’s hand.
“No,” Kira interjected. “We’ll find her. Together. As a team.”
“Hear, hear!” Lucas half-heartedly cheered at Winter’s back.
The prince exhaled, closed his eyes, and released his winter wind across the citadel. The breezy wisps curled through and explored every inch of the world trapped within Veritas’s walls.
Winter wouldn’t stop until he found Raven.
A shimmer of light shone from somewhere down below, drawing the prince’s gaze. The heated moat surrounding the palace bubbled and glowed. He had not seen that since…
“August,” Camilla whispered.