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Eroan looked between me and Erix, who stood at the side of my throne. It was one of the items that had been retrieved from the ruined west wing of Imeria Castle. Turned out the rock it was carved from was so strong, not even tons of debris could shatter it.

Shame I wasn’t as robust.

“I thought you were already aware of Cassial’s proposition,” Eroan said, apology lacing his trill voice. “I’m sorry if something has been missed along the way.”

I felt as though there was abutmissing, but Eroan never said it.

“Robin has had much on his mind,” Erix added, catching another confused glance from Eroan.

“Then do you care to explain, Erix?” Eroan shot him a knowing look. I noticed it, like a silent telling-off. Eroan hadn’t questioned why Erix was here, nor did I feel obliged to explain. What was more pressing was that Eroan wasn’t expected to visit me for another six days, and yet here he stood with a small army of seamstresses behind him.

It was no different to when I first met him, in the city of Aurelia when I ventured into the fey realm. Back when my life wasn’t about demon-gods, new worlds and broken hearts.

“Clearly it has been a detail that has got lost along the way, Eroan,” I said, commanding his attention back to me. “How would I have known about it, if my own councillor is seeming to not, well,councilme.”

Erix cleared his throat. “Robin, the blame for this is mine. I take responsibility.”

My neck clicked as I snapped it around to face Erix. “What do you mean?”

For first time in a long time, I didn’t feel so exhausted. However, Erix looked as though he’d hardly slept. Clearly, from the shadows under his eyes, he took his task of watching over Duncan and me very seriously.

“You didn’t pass on the invitation?” Eroan replied cautiously, looking between me and Erix. “You told me that you had already informed Robin…”

“I did pass it on.” Erix shot me a look. “But I see now that Robin has yet to open it.”

My first instinct was: what letter? Then I remembered the note Erix had given me yesterday in Berrow, the one resting in the jacket pocket somewhere strewn in the depressed mess of my room.

“Never mind that,” I said, my knuckles pale as I clutched onto the armrests.

I hadn’t paid a thought to the letter Erix gave me in Berrow, not with everything that happened upon my arrival back to Imeria. “Someone can break the news to me now.”

Erix dropped his eyes to the floor, confirming he already knew the answer to my question. “I’ll let Eroan take this one…”

“Your presence has been requested in Durmain, with the leave to be imminent.”

Panic flared scolding hot inside of me. “Regardless of the wedding or not, my answer to the previous summons, and any going forwards, is still the same,” I snapped, fixing my gaze on Eroan. “I’m not leaving my responsibilities here. Send my apologies to Cassial and those who are celebrating, but I will be staying back to care for… my court.”

Eroan looked nervously around his fey companions. “I know your stance on these proposed celebrations in Durmain, but I do think you may want to reconsider this one, Your Majesty. If anything, this is the first time in weeks I’ve had the excuse to dress someone. If you take this away from me, I will never forgive you.”

It was easy to forget that Eroan didn’t know about my turmoil. I had to pretend that his excitement was in line with my own emotions, and not jarring like it actually was.

“If you prefer, I could go and retrieve the invitation,” Erix interjected, moving slightly from my side. “Then you can make an informed decision.”

I shook my head. Invitation or no, I wasn’t going to leave Imeria. Erix knew why, and yet one look at him and there was a sense that he thought I should go.

“I get the impression you are dancing around the answer, Erix,” I said, voice echoing across the barren, cold chamber.

Erix didn’t tell me I was wrong. Instead, he cleared his throat, only adding to the tension building inside of me. “Cassial has been petitioning for what celebration would best draw the fey and humans together, especially in light of the accords that are being drafted. But a… a decision has been made. And it’s been decided that the wedding is going to be between… Althea Cedarfall and Gyah Eldrae.”

The floor dropped out from beneath me. “Excuse me?”

It was as though a pitcher of ice-cold water had just been dumped over my head.

“Isn’t it wonderful,” Eroan clapped, practically jumping with glee on the spot.

I couldn’t share in the reaction, and he noticed, reigning his in subtly.

“When was this… when did they decide?” I could barely get my words out.