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The princess rarely brought up her childhood; rarely shared any details about her past. Alex knew D.C. had grown up building walls around her heart, and her trust issues were beyond compare. But with Jordan… if there was any hope of D.C. getting through to him, she would have to be vulnerable with him—something the princess was no doubt struggling with.

While Alex felt like the worst friend ever since she was so focused on her plans to rally the mortal races against Aven, she still wanted to offer whatever support she could. No matter how scarred Jordan was, Alex knew D.C. was perhaps the only person who could help him heal—just as long as D.C. didn’t surrender to her own insecurities before she could get through to him.

“I know you’re missing sleep to be with Jordan,” Alex said quietly, meeting D.C.’s surprised gaze. “I can’t imagine what it must have been like for him, spending so much time trapped under Aven’s command. I know his pain must run deep, even if every time I ask how he’s doing, he laughs it off and says he’s fine. I’m so glad—” Her voice broke, but she cleared her throat and tried again, “—I’m so glad you’re out with him every night. I’m so glad he’s not alone in this, even if he might want to be.”

Tears welled in D.C.’s eyes as she whispered, “I don’t know if I’m helping him. I don’t even knowhowto help him.”

Alex reached for D.C.’s gloved hands and gave them a firm squeeze. “It’s enough that you want to,” she whispered back. “I’m not sure what’s going through Jordan’s head these days, but I do know how he feels about you. Aven may have stolen his will, but he couldn’t steal his heart. Don’t ever doubt that, Dix.”

A tear leaked down D.C.’s cheek, dropping off her chin and onto the snow. “It’s just—it’s sohard, Alex. I hate seeing him like this. I hate not knowing how to make it better. I hate not knowing if I evencan.” Even quieter, she admitted, “And I hate being afraid of why I so badly want to try.”

Alex wished she knew what to say to ease D.C.’s mind, to ease her heart. She called to mind the wizened old Lady Mystique and the counsel she might offer. “Nothing worth anything is ever easy,” Alex said. “If you open yourself to him, we both know you won’t regret it. Give him time, give him comfort… give himyou. And whatever you do, don’t give up.”

A final tear escaped before D.C. straightened her spine, her blue-green eyes steeling with resolve. “I’m not going anywhere. Even if that means I have to freeze my backside off every night from now until summer.”

That’s my girl, Alex thought, prouder than she could say. She offered a smile and another hand squeeze before releasing her grip. “Warmth is overrated.” She wiggled her brows and added, “And besides, you could always use him as a human-sized hot water bottle. A little snuggling might be just what the doctor ordered.”

D.C. snorted, wiping her glove across her face to dry the remaining wetness. “Maybe you should listen to your own advice and find someone to—”

“We’re not talking about me,” Alex hastily cut in, not wanting to hear whatever her friend might have been about to say.

“You’re no fun,” D.C. teased, her humour returning. She did, however, let Alex off the hook, and instead went on to say, “Now that my emotional crisis has been dealt with, how about we go and have that chat with my parents?” She gestured to the waiting Bubbledoor and invited, “After you.”

Moving forward, Alex made sure to imagine the palace’s receiving room clearly in her mind before she stepped into the portal. Within seconds, she was transported thousands of miles away to Medora’s capital city.

“Right on time.”

Alex spun around and grinned at the young woman waiting for her. “Jeera. Good to see you.”

The Warden smiled back, the resemblance between her and Kaiden startlingly obvious now that Alex knew they were related.

“You as well, Alex,” Jeera said. “Though, I have a suspicion I won’t be feeling that way when you leave.”

Alex looked at her in question.

Jeera’s lips rose up at the corners. “Call it intuition.”

Before Alex could ask, D.C. stepped out of the Bubbledoor and Jeera bowed deeply.

“Princess Delucia,” the Warden greeted.

“Jeera, how many times have I told you to call me Dix?”

“About as many times as I’ve said how inappropriate that would be,” Jeera returned, her blue eyes sparkling. D.C. only had time to utter a longsuffering sigh before the Warden continued, “Don’t shoot the messenger, Your Highness, but I have some bad news.”

Both Alex and D.C. looked warily at Jeera.

“The king and queen wish to speak to Alex alone,” she said, pulling a Bubbler vial from the folds of her fitted black uniform and holding it out.

D.C. didn’t take the vial. “My parents… don’t want to see me?”

While Alex knew little about her friend’s upbringing, the one thing shedidknow was that her family loved her more than anything. There was no way they—

“Of course they want to see you,” Jeera quickly reassured D.C. “It’s just… Given the nature of this meeting, they want to be careful to avoid any distractions.”

D.C.’s eyes narrowed. “I’m adistraction?”

When others might have swiftly backpedalled, perhaps even begged forgiveness, Jeera instead held D.C.’s stare and said, “Think about it, Princess. You’re their beloved daughter and the news they anticipate hearing won’t bode well for anyone. They need to focus on solutions rather than fearing how the ensuing discussion might affect you.”