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“Who is ruling the kingdom now?”

I straighten my shoulders and lift my chin. “I am.”

“I see. So, you are not Princess Taelyn. You are Queen Taelyn now?”

I shake my head. “Not yet. There’s been no time for a coronation, and it would be wrong to conduct it before the official seven days of mourning is over.”

I brace myself for a glitter of hope in his eyes, but instead he lowers his head again.

“You are my queen, coronation or not,” he says.

His declaration surprises me.

“Thank you, brother.” I put out my hand to help him up. “Rise now.”

He reaches up and takes my hand. The contact is like a lightning bolt to my heart, fizzing through my veins. I swear it stops for a moment. Despite what he’s been through, his grip is strong, his fingers dry and warm. I find myself not wanting to let go, and though he stands, we remain this way for a heartbeat too long, our fingers entwined, our palms pressed together.

I remember myself and snatch my hand away. He is on his feet now but is still naked under that cloak. To touch him in such a way, especially with no one else around, is inappropriate, especially for a woman of my standing.

He is your brother,a little voice says in my head.Why would it be inappropriate to touch his hand?

But I know exactly why. This energy between us is like nothing else I’ve experienced before.

No, that’s wrong. I have experienced it—once, in the Great Hall, on the day I arrived at the castle, when I was dancing with him. There had been a charge between us, even then. Had he felt it, too? I can’t help but wonder.

“Let’s leave this place.” I spin on my heels, eager to be out of here. “I’m sure you’ve seen quite enough of it.”

“Enough to last a lifetime.” He falls into step beside me.

“I’ll have someone stoke the fire in your room for you,and bring you fresh bedding and towels, and food as well, of course.”

“You’re too kind, Princess.”

How am I going to break the news to the rest of court that Prince Ruarok is back with us? I feel like I should be announcing his return, but truthfully, he hasn’t been anywhere. He’s been in the castle all these years.

Together, we walk through the door and out into the long, damp corridor I’d found my way through only a matter of minutes ago.

Once more I marvel at how a matter of minutes can change everything.

15

RUAROK

It isstrange to return to my chambers after so many years.

The rooms are the same as when I left them. It’s as though no one has stepped inside these walls in ten years. The staff must have been in here, though, as otherwise dust and spiders would have taken over. It doesn’t smell overly musty, and it seems fairly clean.

I check the closet for my clothes. Just like the rest of the room, it looks as though they haven’t been touched.

Is it possible my father had anticipated my return? That he was keeping this place ready for me for when he decided to release me? Or had he never planned to free me, and simply couldn’t stand to think about what to do with all my belongings?

I hate that even after everything he’s done, a part of me still longs for his approval, but sadly, I suspect the latter. If he was cruel enough to leave his only son locked away for so long, it is unlikely he’d ever have freed me. He’d have known that I’d have wished to seek my revenge.

Except now he is dead, and revenge is no longer an option. The only person left is Princess Taelyn.

I stand at the window and stare out at where the King’s Tower once stood. Being told the tower has fallen is very different from actually seeing it. It’s hard to put into words how it feels to see the building missing. Like I’m looking at a person who no longer has their arms or legs. I’d believe myself to not be someone who is easily shocked, but the collapse of the tower is like someone has torn away some vital part of me.

“You got what you deserved,” I say to a man who can no longer hear me.