ena

rafty table, chewing on

rifting toward

owed h

linen napkin to gently wipe a drop

ous tenderness - was something I had

lowered his head, star

began to wind down, Kael

t height casting a long sh

incts searched for the familiar, calming note of cedarwood to ease the political tensions of the morning. But I had gathered my aur

rd work with the regis

formal courtesy, the tone a l

r the silver medals on his coat to a po

in six years, I d

and I felt the words leave my throa

surprised by t

o speak, but I stood

We have pa

the hall and back

hambers, a maid was w

on the sill, pecking a

parchment scroll

om my Unc

r whose domain was the neutral

one line: The forest alw

me that day, and I tossed the parchment into the

he iron lockb

time, ensuring the Luna seal, the vaul

ower," I told the maid. "

ping, but pale and straight-backed, her

d devoid of emotion. "She was garbed in a silk robe. She smiled

ently. "Those items belong to the D

y desk to clear th

found the small wooden box th

s emp

up and tur

Kael's messy teenage handwriti

violent, uncontrolled Shift where I had remained by his side for thre

his desperation from that time. I shoved the empty box back into the deep

oon, the heavy oak

ped into

en to pour him mulled wine, my very presence a

e window, folding Leo's shirts

ous act of withholding that left t

ardly in the mi

amiliar tapestries and furniture. A frown creased his brow as his senses regis

his throat. "I just thought it was best. Elena manages th

ped fo

down at

of the ledgers and the grit of the he

hly, not looking up. "I

emed to unnerve him more than any argument wo

the woman before hi