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Chapter 49

NEVE

Iawoke, clothed, in Lord Riis’s childhood bed with my arm wrapped around Vale.

When had I fallen asleep?

I recalled making it to the bed and kissing and talking some more and then . . . things got hazy. I had to have fallen asleep first, but as sleep slowly left my mind, I recalled waking up a couple of times to find Vale tossing and turning. Though he’d assured me he was firm in his choice to be with me, he was still troubled. No matter how strong he was, he might remain that way for a long time.

However, as I looked down on him now, the morning light streaming in through the window and dappling his cheeks, he slept peacefully. I eased out of the bed, not wishing to wake him. He needed the rest, and not just because we’d stayed up late talking. No, during our pillow talk the night before, he’d also agreed to come with me to the western territory. To help me confront Roar.

My heart swelled. We’d been through so much, andwhile I was sure we’d go through more, last night had been healing.

I slipped from the room, down the corridor. I paused only at a window, taking in the conditions. Sunny, though dark clouds loomed in the distance, threatening more snow. When I reached my bedroom, I found Clemencia inside.

She eyed me with barely concealed amusement. “Where have you been?”

“Upstairs. Why are you sitting in my room like a nursemaid?”

“With the prince?” she asked, ignoring my question.

“Stars, you are nosy.”

“And you’re avoiding my question.” Clemencia leaned forward and clasped her slender-fingered hands together. “Did you make up?”

A smile spread across my lips. “We did. And we slept in the same bed.”

She squealed, which made me laugh. I pulled out warm clothes to change into, so I could go outside and practice magic. I needed to take advantage of every opportunity to do so because after I confronted Roar, I wasn’t sure my identity would stay a secret for long. The moment news that a Falk princess survived the White Bear’s Rebellion got back to King Magnus, he would hunt me down.

“What about you and Luccan?” I asked Clemencia, slipping out of my clothing and pulling on scratchy woolen pants and a top. “He eyed you often last night.”

She blushed. “Nothing more than flirting has happened. I long for more, but he’s been so tired.”

I cringed. Luccan worked himself to the bone for me. I owed my friends so much.

“Is he up already?” It wasn’t too early but also not so late that I’d assume everyone was awake—particularly after all the drinking. Somehow, I felt fine, a small miracle that I wasn’t taking for granted.

“I don’t know.”

“Let’s go find out.” I pulled on my boots and my warmest cloak and gestured to the door.

“I’m not dressed properly,” Clemencia argued, all the while going to the door, a gleam in her eyes.

“You could wear a sack and he’d still be in love.”

“Please, the Riis males are far more stylish than that.”

“Except Arie,” we said in unison and giggled.

We left and made our way to the courtyard, where Luccan had been working on the gateway. If he was awake, I was certain he’d be there, and sure enough, the moment we exited into the courtyard, red hair glinted in the sunlight.

“Is hetrembling?” Clemencia gasped.

I nodded. “Let’s not startle him.”

Luccan was working difficult magic, and I did not want to ruin his efforts, so we rounded him slowly and gave a wide berth so he would see us coming. When he looked up from the spot in the air that shimmered when the light hit it right, he spotted us and gave a single nod.

“I think that means we’re good to approach,” I said.