Page 70

Another map?

Beside the book is a slip of paper with Rhiann’s handwriting.

Is this what you seek? I found it in the old wing.

Carefully, I pull out the paper and flip it over. A few moments pass before comprehension dawns. This isn’t a map of Tirene. In fact, the island kingdom doesn’t appear at all. Instead, the southern edge of Aclaris takes up the top of the page. That means the Hidden Valley must be in Kamor, the large kingdom south of Aclaris.

I quickly scan over the map, committing the contents to memory. By the time I’m finished, the sun has started to settle in the sky.

Dammit. I’m going to be late.

After a quick wash of my face and trading my wrinkled dress for a clean, jade-green gown with three-quarter sleeves and a fitted waist so snug I’m tempted to swear off cake for the rest of my life, I’m out of time.

I twist my hair up into what I hope is an elegant updo and slap my cheeks. That will need to be good enough.

I navigate to the large sitting chamber near Sterling’s room that doubles as a dining area when there aren’t many guests to entertain.

The guard swings the door open, revealing the inner circle gathered around a table set with steaming dishes. There’s no sign of the council or noble visitors. Relief washes over me.

Bastian offers me a kind smile, Agnar dips his chin in greeting, and Blair continues chewing on the grape he just popped into his mouth. But Leesa…there’s a stillness in her tonight that wasn’t there before.

She looks at peace. Maybe she’s finally feeling better.

Sterling stands at the other door, using a basin and hand towel to clean his hands. Seeing me, he crosses the room and gathers me in his arms.

“Hey there.” His lips close over mine, and for a few seconds—or maybe a few minutes—the world melts away.

He tastes like whiskey, and I have a feeling he poured himself a glass after a hectic day with the royal council.

Someone clears their throat, and with reluctance, I pull away from Sterling to glimpse Blair raising an eyebrow.

His lips tilt up in a boyish grin. “I’d tell you two to get a room, but then the rest of us would have to leave. And that would suck because I’m starving.”

“I second that.” Agnar finishes securing his coppery hair in a leather cord at the base of his neck. “We’re all happy you two don’t have to hide your relationship anymore, but can the make-out session wait until after we eat? We missed lunch because of the dampening training.”

“Can’t let you two wither away from starvation, can we?” Sterling squeezes my hand and heads to the table. Once he’s seated, everyone follows suit.

I take my place next to him and scoot my chair closer to the table. “Where’s the queen?”

Agnar settles on my other side, and Blair sits across from him. Beside Blair, Leesa and Bastian take their seats.

“Mother is resting. The training took its toll on her, I’m afraid.” Sterling reaches for the potatoes, offering some to me before plopping a generous portion on his own plate. “Sorry about earlier. I was in the middle of…” He trails off.

“Middle of what?” I pat his thigh, glad he’s back to his normal self.

His brows knit together. “I don’t know, honestly. I started spacing out even before you walked in. If that’s what Jasper had to deal with all the time, it suddenly makes sense why he often held meetings in his chambers. That way, you only have one person droning at you at a time.”

“Maybe.” Agnar spears several slices of ham and puts them on his plate. “But doing it your way gets them all out of your hair sooner.”

I pick at my food, sending surreptitious glances at Leesa, then Sterling. They’re calm, collected. I chew on my thoughts along with a bite of steamed carrots, the delicious seasoning doing little to quell the disquiet brewing inside me.

Nothing strikes me as amiss. I think I’ve just gotten into the bad habit of worrying. I need to take a deep breath and quit second-guessing our good fortune.

“Ugh.” Sterling grimaces. His eyes turn dreamy as he shifts his focus to me. “Lark, remind me why we didn’t run away together before now? We could be living life in a little cottage, blissfully ignoring all of life’s problems.”

“Because I’ve only just been reunited with my little sister. If it’s all the same to you, Your Highness, I’d appreciate not losing her a second time.” Leesa slices her meat and directs a sly grin at Bastian. “And I know Bastian feels the same way about Lark too. It’s been years since he’s seen his sist—oh, crap.”

All around him, everyone goes still. My pulse drums in my ears and my fork clatters to the table. “Sister? Are you saying Bastian is the brother that Nyc referred to?”