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The sun crested over the horizon while Valeen rolled the metal throwing star between her fingers, and Piper drew back an arrow. Valeen thought if they did something they used to do together, Piper might warm up to her again. Ever since she’d returned with her memories her friend avoided her. They hadn’t even had a conversation other than a few words shared here or there when necessary.

The arrow cut through the air with a whistle and embedded into the center of the red target. “Nice shot,” Valeen said.

“Thanks.” Piper pulled another arrow and knocked it back. Her irritation was obvious simply by the way she jerked on the bow.

“Are you nervous to go to Ryvengaard again and see Prince Ronan?”

“Not really.” The arrow hit its mark again. “Did you ask me out here for small talk or was there an actual reason?”

Valeen pressed her lips together and threw her star into the target dummy. It was painted white to look like a pale one and even had a tuft of white horsehair sticking out the top of thehead. “I can’t ask my friend to do something with me? We used to do this all the time and didn’t need areason.”

“That was before.” She dropped the bow to her side.

“Before what? I want to make sure we’re good before you leave. I don’t know when I’ll see you again.”

“It would have been nice if you had givenmethat courtesy before you left with Hel months ago.”

“Thane told me to go, Piper. I was—heartbroken.”

“Well, that got cured rather quickly.”

“Don’t do that. It’s not fair.”

“What isn’t fair? That after everything Hel did to us and to Palenor, you chose him over Thane! I can’t even fathom it. You broke Thane in a way no one ever could have. Sure, he puts on a good face, but you didn’t see him after you left, and you haven’t been there for him like I have after youcrushedhim.”

“I never wanted to do that, Piper.” She could see Thane’s hurt. The way they interacted changed immensely but she didn’t know how to make him feel better. It wasn’t as if she could console him when she was the reason he was hurting. And she didn’t dare risk getting too close or she’d hurt Hel. “It wasn’t a decision you could ever understand. You don’t know Hel like I do.”

“I know enough about him to know he is a terrible person.” Piper pinned her with a glare. “And I know Thane. I know how much he adored you and how much he sacrificed for you even when you were awful to him. And nothing that happened in the past could excuse Hel creating the pale one curse and not to mention the way he treated you. I was there during your training, and he was even worse to Thane.”

She had points. Valeen would give her that. But Hel thought he’d been betrayed by the people he loved most. Thane had sacrificed more than she deserved, and a part of her was broken for walking away from him. He was good and frankly deservedbetter than her. Even as Layala they’d been at odds in one way or another. First about being forced into a mate bond and arranged marriage, then discrepancies over what to do about his father. One thing she knew for sure was that Hel wouldn’t have had an inner conflict over what to do with Tenebris after the things he’d done to Layala: killing her parents, trapping her in a tower to starve. He wouldn’t have even hesitated to take him down, father or not.

And someone better than her wouldn’t have asked Thane to kill his own father…

“He didn’t create the pale one curse on purpose. Yes, he made loyalty to him a clause in his spells, but the curse was an unforeseen consequence of magic.”

“And that makes it better? You fought them. You almost turned into one! The white streak still in your hair is proof of that, and it’s all his fault.”

Valeen tried to understand where she was coming from by putting herself in Piper’s place. Hating Hel was reasonable and warranted. She couldn’t begrudge her for it. “I know that, but doyouknow why he did it in the first place? He did it for me.AndThane. He did it so he would have an army on his side to fight when we need them. If the person you loved was killed over and over and you were doomed to keep forgetting each other, wouldn’t you be a little unhinged? And if you thought your own cousin, yourbrothertook your wife from you, would you not be bitter? No, Hel is not Thane. Hel is not perfect, nor does he share all our morals, but he will do anything for those he loves, and I do meananything.”

With a heavy sigh, Piper tore her gaze away. “I wish I could understand but I just don’t.”

“You don’t need to understand because he is the love ofmylife. He ismysoulmate, not yours.”

Piper turned to her with glittering eyes. “You were supposed to be our queen. You are Lady Lightbringer… You were supposed to be Queen of Palenor. Once you get what you want you will forget all about this place for your new home and leave us… forever.”

Valeen’s chest tightened. That struck her harder than she thought it would. She let out a slow breath, forcing her own tears back, swallowing the lump in her throat. “I am Queen of Villhara, goddess of night, but I am Lady Lightbringer too. I will always be your friend, Piper. I willneverforget this place or you.”

Piper suddenly threw her arms around Valeen. It felt completely out of character, and at first Valeen stiffened but then she wrapped her arms around her friend. Her quiet sobs brought more tears to Valeen’s eyes. “I thought you were gone,” Piper whispered. “I thought we lostyou. I thought the part of you that I knew, the part of you that is Layala was gone. When I first met you, I never thought we’d be friends but you’re one of the people I care most about.”

“You didn’t lose me, Piper.” A tear slipped down her cheek. “I’m still the stubborn elf you know and love.”

“The stubborn part I don’t love so much.” They both laughed and Piper pulled back, wiping under her eyes. “And I lied. I’m so nervous about going back to Ryvengaard I want to throw up. Especially with Fennan going.” She shoved her hands into her hair. “What am I going to do?”

“I think you’re going to have to make the choice on who you want to try a relationship with.”

“But what if Ronan just wants a fun roll in the sack and that’s all? Fennan said he wants to marry me.”

Valeen grinned. “When did he say he wanted to marry you? Did he get down on a knee and propose?”