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Footsteps thundered down the staircase, and Filip appeared, a letter in hand.

“My prince, Lord Arie sent a message. They have announced the next Courting Festival event. It’s this afternoon.”

I groaned, which did not fail to catch anyone’s notice.

“I agree,” Sian muttered. “This farce of a festival has gone on for too long.”

“It just started.” Luccan took the paper.

“Too long,” Sian said emphatically.

“I suppose that means we need to return to the palace,” Vale said. “You’ll need to prepare for whatever my father has in mind.”

“It says a gathering. With wine, so at least there’s that.” Luccan waved the paper. “It’s a few hours from now, in the middle of the afternoon. Odd time for it.”

“Then he has something planned,” Vale muttered.

“Well, at least I got in one win,” I sang as though the idea of the king calling a gathering didn’t make my blood run cold.

My jest lightened the mood a bit, and we began to put away the sparring swords and weapons. Vale told Sian and Filip that he wanted to walk the city alone with his new wife. The brothers shared twin grins as they left, Thantrel following close behind, while Luccan rummaged deeper into the armory for something. Vale and I were about to leave as well when Lord Riis approached.

He hadn’t sparred much. Rather, he watched the younger males and gave me advice. During the hours spent training, I’d learned that Lord Riis had been quite the fighter in the Aaberg Rebellion, and he had much to offer. Was he about to share one last tidbit?

Maybe he’s about to tell Vale not to get distracted by a pretty face.I smirked, loving that I’d get to tease the prince about that.

“Prince Vale, Princess Neve, I have something I’d like to share with you,” Lord Riis said before twisting toward the armory. “Luccan! A word.”

Riis’s eldest son poked his head out of the training armory, his eyebrows drawn together in confusion. “Yes, Father?”

“Come here.”

Luccan wiped his hands on his trousers as he ran over. When he came to a stop, Lord Riis pinned his gaze on his son.

“I’m going to show them our family secret. You need to tweak the magic on it to accept their blood.”

Luccan sucked in a breath. “Are you sure?”

“They might need a fast escape.”

Luccan still appeared dumbstruck. I shot Vale a sidelong glance, but he looked as confused as me. What were they about to show us?

My bewilderment only grew when we approached a wall and Luccan took out a dagger and cut his hand. Blood welled, spilling over on to his palm as he placed it on the wall.

Light flashed, ripping a gasp from my lips.

“Is thata gateway?” Vale murmured. “But how do you have one here? Does my father know?”

My eyebrows furrowed, which Lord Riis caught. “Gateways are also known as portals, some to places within this kingdom, some to other realms, such as the human world, or sometimes, parts of other kingdoms. This one was made in secret.”

Vale shook his head. “Leyv, having a new gateway made within the kingdom is a capital offense.”

“I’m aware,” Lord Riis murmured.

A muscle in Vale’s jaw tightened. “Their mere existence was a great matter of contention between him and the previous Warden of the West.”

“Roar’s father?” I asked, unable to help myself.

“Yes,” Vale answered. “The previous Warden of the West was the last known gateway maker in the kingdom. Father forced him to close nearly every gateway in the kingdom, most of them within the western territory. He only allowed him to keep one open outside Guldtown—and an additional portal to the human world not far from Avaldenn. Those only exist should we require supplies. The warden wasfuriousthat his gateways were taken away.”