by Cait Marie
He let out a breath before tugging her forward and wrapping his arms around her short frame. She relaxed against him, and he tightened his hold on her. “I’m glad you’re here. Even if it’s just for a short time.”
“Me too.” She nodded against him. “Are you all right? Do you want to talk about it?”
“No, I’m fine. I’ll be fine.” He smiled, already feeling better—the darkness receding. “There is something you can do for me though.”
“What?” she asked, moving away from him to peek under the cover on his breakfast dish that a maid had brought up earlier. Ada grabbed a grape and looked back up to him.
He needed to tell her, but it could wait a little longer. “Will you talk to Phillip? He’s wary about the position. He doesn’t think he deserves it, and he still feels guilty about working with our father.”
“Of course.” She took another grape. “How is our dear father?”
The acidity in her tone surprised him. He knew she’d changed in the past couple months, but he hadn’t realized just how much. His sweet sister was gone—chased off by their father the night he’d sent his men after her.
“He’s delirious,” Shane said. “He keeps going on and on about the kingdom’s secrets. Do you remember the story of the lost prince?”
Adalina gave him an amused look with a raised brow. He let out a laugh. Of course she remembered the story.
“Shane, I already found a group of immortal warriors, and now I’m looking for a mythical healing flower. Let’s deal with one fairy tale at a time.”
He chuckled again and grabbed a piece of bread as he sat at the table. Around a mouthful, he asked, “When are you leaving?”
The mood immediately shifted. Adalina sighed and looked down, taking the seat beside him. She held her face in both hands. “I don’t know.
Shane put a hand on her shoulder. “Hey, it’s all right. I was just asking.”
“You’re not mad that I’m leaving?” she asked, glancing over at him.
“Adalina, you’re off looking for a cure for your people,” he said. “You’re trying to break a curse placed by our ancestors to right their wrongs. How could I ever be mad at you for these things? I am so proud of you.”
A knock on the door interrupted whatever she’d opened her mouth to say. Phillip walked in, closely followed by Loxley. Without prompt, Phillip led him to the table.
Shane smiled. “Yes, please join us.”
Phillip mumbled something under his breath and let out a huff as he dropped into the chair beside him. He grabbed at some of the food, and Shane couldn’t help but laugh. With his two favorite people sitting on either side of him, things didn’t seem quite as bad. Even if they were both in a weird mood and stealing his breakfast. Shane didn’t want to fight the glimmer of hope they gave him.
Loxley kissed the top of Adalina’s head before sitting on her other side. Looking toward his sister, Shane met her eyes and nodded toward Phillip.
She sat up straighter. “Phillip, I was actually about to go find you. How are you feeling?”
The look he shot her filled Shane with guilt. Maybe he’d made a mistake. Phillip was the right man for the job, but Shane hadn’t asked if it was what he wanted. It was Phillip’s dream growing up, so Shane just assumed…
“You know you deserve this, right?” Adalina asked in a softer tone.
Phillip shrugged, leaning back in his chair. He looked down at the table and fidgeted with an unused fork. “There are older, more experienced guards.”
Adalina stood and moved to the side of their friend’s chair. She knelt, putting a hand over his. In that moment, a spark of jealousy ran through Shane. The two had always comforted each other with such ease. A skill he did not possess.
“But no one we trust more.” Adalina’s words did not waver. He opened his mouth, but she shook her head and continued, “No. Do not bring up my father manipulating you. You did the right thing.”
Phillip let out a shuddering breath. Closing his eyes, he tilted his head down. Adalina raised up to hug him, and he wrapped his arms around her. Shane glanced at Loxley, wondering how he felt about their closeness, but one side of the man’s mouth simply lifted.
“Fine,” Phillip said, leaning away from Adalina. “I should probably go get dressed then.”
Shane agreed, once again grateful his sister was there. She would make a great queen one day. He just didn’t know how soon that day would come.
One by one, guards of all ages stepped up to pledge their loyalty to Shane. Each one knelt, repeating their vow to uphold the laws of the kingdom and protect their new king. It would happen again with an official coronation, but he needed to know his men were on his side as he tried to piece Detmarya back together.
When the last man stood and joined the others along one side of the large throne room, a familiar set of eyes met Shane’s. He bit the inside of his cheek to keep from grinning as Phillip got to one knee before him. Shane stood and looked to his sister beside him then to the surrounding audience.
With a raised voice, he said, “My good people, I thank you for joining us today. There is one left who must take his vow, but it is not the same as the others. Phillip Lavens has shown bravery and loyalty beyond what was asked of him in recent events. His skills with the sword are unmatched throughout the kingdom. The love and support he has shown the royal family and the people of Detmarya began long before his days as a guard.”
Shane paused. He glanced around the room, looking for any who might disagree with his decision. He found none. Everyone watched with pride in their eyes. No one more than Phillip’s family.
“I have no doubt he will continue for years to come.” Shane brought his gaze back to his best friend kneeling at the bottom of the dais. He walked down to the last step. “Phillip Lavens of Ferda, son of former Captain Joseph Lavens, do swear to serve the kingdom of Detmarya, protect its people, and remain loyal to myself and Princess Adalina until such a time you cannot perform your duties as captain?”
“I swear.”
Failing to hide his smile, Shane nodded once. “Then, rise. People of Detmarya, it is with great pride that I present Captain Phillip Lavens!”
Phillip stood as the crowd applauded. He bowed to Shane and then to Adalina before turning toward the rest of the room. All at once, the room burst into celebrations. It was why Shane waited to anoint him last. Mrs. Lavens and Carys approached, and Phillip lifted his sister high into the air.
Green eyes caught his, and Shane took the remaining step to join his people. When he reached Gwyn at the edge of the crowd near the wall, she curtsied. He lifted her hand to kiss it but stopped just above her skin to avoid the risk of spreading the Kald.
“How is your father?” he asked, stepping closer and facing the room beside her.
She shook her head slowly. “Not well. He’s miserable, and I don’t know how to help him.”
Despite the dozens of people around them, Shane put an arm around her. Pulling her close, he said, “I am so sorry.”
Before she could respond, Adalina and Loxley approached arm in arm. Over his sister’s shoulder, he spotted Phillip watching him. As soon as their eyes met, he smoothed his features, but Shane had seen the furrowed brow and clenched jaw. He didn’t know why his friend was upset—he was fine all day after their breakfast chat. It was supposed to be a happy occasion. Something was going on with Phillip. He felt more distant lately, and Shane hated it.
Adalina greeted Gwyn with a hug, as if she’d known the woman all her life. Beside her, Loxley chuckled and said hello to his great, great, great, great niece.
“This is still so strange,” Shane said, looking back and forth between them, noticing the similar features.
“Agreed,” Gwyn said, but a small smile had replaced some of the sadness.
When the musicians began playing in the corner, Loxley pulled Adalina away to dance. Shane watched as his sister’s face lit up. Her happiness rolled off her in waves, drenching the room.
> “Excuse me,” Gwyn said as she pointed to someone on the other side of the room.
He nodded and moved to mingle with the guests. Several of the noblemen attended to witness the ceremony. Most had already consented to him taking the throne. For years, King Emyr had shown his greed as the ruler. Many seemed eager to put Shane in charge with his promises to do better for Detmarya. He knew the people in the smaller villages often suffered through the colder months, and they didn’t have the proper resources for education or healthcare. With winter approaching, he had plans in the works to help them.
A flash of blue caught his attention. He turned just in time to see a familiar figure leaving out a side door to the council chambers. Excusing himself, Shane followed as quickly as he could through the crowd. The music and chatter cut off as he closed the door behind him. The room was empty save for a woman in a deep blue dress that matched her eyes.
“Mother?” he whispered, walking forward. It had been days since her last visit. He knew it was a hallucination, but seeing her nearly stole his breath away. She looked so real.
“You need to find it,” she said, her voice faint and echoing.
“Find what?” He took another step closer, reaching out as she began to vanish. “Wait, what do I need to find?”
“Shane?”
The prince whirled around at Phillip’s voice. He glanced back over his shoulder to find they were alone. Swallowing past the lump in his throat, he lifted a hand to rub his temple.
“Who were you talking to?” Phillip asked as he closed the door and moved toward him. He looked around the empty room before settling his concerned gaze back on Shane.
Shane didn’t know what to say. “No one. I was just practicing a toast to give later.”
Phillip raised a brow. He stopped in front of him, softly bumping his knuckles along the top of the long table. “What’s going on?”
“I…” Did he tell him the truth? Would he believe him?
“Shane,” he stepped closer, “are you all right? You’re as pale as a ghost.”
The air grew heavy and hot. Dizziness overwhelmed Shane, and he nearly toppled forward. Phillip caught him.
“Come on, let’s get you upstairs.” Phillip pulled one of the prince’s arms around his neck and led him to the door that connected to an unused side hall.
“I can’t just disappear from the celebration,” Shane said.
Phillip ignored him as he half-carried him up the stairs. A couple of guards in the main hall offered to help, but he waved them off.
“Phillip, it’s your celebration,” Shane tried another tactic. “You need to be there.”
“I need to help you,” he said. When they reached Shane’s bedroom, he helped him out of his ornate coat and shoes before he all but shoved the king in bed. “You need rest, and you need to talk to Ada.”
“No,” Shane said, sitting up against the headboard. When he began coughing, Phillip cursed and moved to get him some water.
Phillip handed him the glass. “You’re so stubborn.”
As Shane worked to get his breathing under control, Phillip started a fire in the hearth. He waited for the crackling flames to grow then stood to face Shane. It was no longer anger filling his gaze. Sadness had replaced it, along with something Shane couldn’t name.
He thought back to the emotions he’d seen in the throne room, as well as the distance he’d kept the past few months. “Phillip, what is going on with you? You seem on edge lately, and I know something is bothering you.
Phillip took slow steps back to the bed. “Nothing.”
Shane saw the lie in his friend’s eyes. “Since when can you not talk to me? I know everything that happened with my father was more than you should’ve had to deal with, but I need us to get past that. I need you back.”
Phillip hesitated a moment before he placed a hand on Shane’s arm. “Shane, I—”
“There you two are,” Ada said as she barged into Shane’s room with Lee and Gwyn on her heels.
She froze a few feet in, and Lee bumped into her back. Phillip snatched his hand back from Shane’s arm and took a step away. She immediately regretted disrupting what was clearly a private moment. Especially when she saw the hurt flash across Phillip’s face.
Ada grimaced as she walked over to the end of the bed. “Sorry, I didn’t—”
“It’s fine,” Phillip interrupted.
His eyes widened a fraction, and she looked from him to her confused brother. She nodded once, trying to keep a passive expression in place. “You two just disappeared from your own party. So, we came looking for you…”
“Shane needed to rest,” Phillip said.
Gwyn moved closer. “Are you all right?”
Ada didn’t miss Phillip stiffening as Gwyn passed him to stand beside Shane.
“I’m fine.” Her brother lifted both hands in front of him. “Just a little too much celebrating, and I didn’t sleep much last night.”
“Seems to be a family trait,” Lee mumbled.
Phillip coughed, failing to hide the snort he let out. Shane narrowed his eyes, and Ada raised a hand to cover her face as heat crept up her cheeks.
As if just realizing the implication behind his words, Lee quickly said, “I meant the too much celebrating, not—you know what, I’m just going to stop talking.”
“Thank the stars.” Ada laughed. “I have been trying to get him to stop talking for months.”
Lee pinched her side before moving to sit in one of the nearby chairs from the table. He turned it around to face them and crossed his arms in mock annoyance. Ada laughed again as she leaned against the bedpost.
“You’re pale,” she said, really looking at Shane.
“I just had too much wine,” he said. “I will be fine in a little while.”
Phillip shifted near the window, watching his best friend.
“You should get some rest.” Gwyn laid a hand on Shane’s, squeezing his fingers.
When he smiled up at her and said, “I will,” Phillip’s fist clenched at his side.
“I should get back down to my family.” Without another word, Phillip vanished through the door.
Running a hand through his hair, Shane leaned back with a sigh. “Gwyn… did something happen between you two?”
“Phillip and me? No, why?” She sat on the edge of the bed beside him.
“I don’t know.” He glanced at Ada. “You noticed it, right? He was tense.”
Ada shrugged, trying to play off the pure jealousy she’d seen since returning. “He has a lot going on. I’m sure he’s fine.”
“No, this is more than just being stressed. He’s been off for months.” He looked back at Gwyn before adding, “He tenses up every time you two are in the same room. Surely you’ve noticed.”
Stars above. He really was oblivious. Ada chewed on the inside of her cheek. It wasn’t her place to say. Besides, what good would it do? She didn’t know if Shane felt that way toward men. He was also betrothed, even though his fiancée was currently missing. And he was the king. Gwyn had to know that too. She needed to know he could never—
“Because he’s in love with you.” Gwyn’s tone held a sincerity to it, but it also sounded as if she was stating something as simple as the sky was blue.
Ada choked on air. Behind her, Lee sucked in a breath. She heard him get to his feet, patting her back as he neared, and she coughed.
Shane’s eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about? No, he’s not.”
“Yes, he really is,” Gwyn said. “He’s jealous because he thinks you and I have something going on.”
“He is my best friend.” He looked from Gwyn to Ada. “He’s like our brother. Tell her.”
Ada couldn’t speak. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. Lee laced his fingers through hers, silently telling her he was with her.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?” Shane asked, his voice dropping to a near whisper.
With a deep breath, Ada said, “He’s like my b
rother.”
It was all she could manage. Shane’s eyes widened. Then, he looked away, fixing his gaze on the fire. “I… I need some rest.”
Gwyn patted his arm before turning to leave. She hesitated beside Ada and whispered, “He deserved to know the truth.”
Ada nodded. She couldn’t argue. When the girl left, Ada stepped forward and hugged her brother. “This doesn’t have to change things.”
As she backed away, he asked, “How? How could this possibly not change everything? He’s my best friend…”
“Who has been in denial for years,” she said.
“Then, what changed? Why now?”
Because she pushed Phillip to admit it just before he had to watch Shane announce his betrothal to someone else. Because Phillip felt like he betrayed not only his best friends but the man he loved. “Everything has changed. There is so much on the line—so many things have happened recently…”
Shane looked down at his hands, hiding his thoughts and feelings from her.
Ada sighed and put a hand over his. “He thinks you’re oblivious, so you have the option to pretend you don’t know. If that’s what you want.”
She added the last part in hopes that he understood he had the choice. He could go on as if he had no idea, or he could do something about it.
She walked back toward Lee at the end of the bed, and hand in hand, they moved to the door. Before opening it, she turned. Shane’s eyes met hers across the dim room.
“But I really think you should talk to him.”
“So, when you said I didn’t have to worry about Phillip…” Lee said with a smirk from his spot on Ada’s bed. He sat relaxed with his hands behind his head and his ankles crossed.
Ada’s heart fluttered at the sight of him so comfortable in her home—a place he hadn’t wanted anything to do with in nearly a century and a half. She combed her long hair as she let out a small laugh. “Mhmm.”
“How long have you known?”
She pulled her hair over one shoulder and set the brush on the vanity before walking toward the bed. “Years. But I didn’t think Phillip would ever admit it, and my brother was too focused on his duties to notice.”
