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“Just ‘Riven’ will do,” I tell him dryly. “At least when my father isn’t within earshot.”

“Old habits.” He shrugs, then turns to Sapphire. “Princess Sapphire. An honor to formally meet the woman who managed to teach this stubborn prince something I couldn’t.”

Sapphire raises an eyebrow. “And what’s that?”

“How to lose gracefully,” Calder says with a wink.

I scoff, but there’s no real heat behind it. “I never lost to you, old man.”

“No?” Calder crosses his arms, leaning against the carriage doorframe. “What about that time when you were fourteen and I disarmed you so thoroughly that your sword ended up embedded in the ceiling?”

Sapphire’s laughter fills the carriage, her water magic bubbling in response to her amusement.

Just the sound of it makes my heart swell. Because after the torturous days when Eros’s arrow poisoned her gaze with hatred and I agonized over the possibility that she’d never love me again, each laugh she offers is redemption—and I’ll chase this sound into eternity.

“I need to hear this story,” she says, and when she glances at me, the joy in her eyes is downright contagious.

“Another time,” I say softly, shooting Calder a warning look.

He completely ignores it.

“I’ll tell you on the journey, Princess. I have decades worth of embarrassing stories about your husband.” Calder’s expression sobers slightly. “Speaking of the journey, that’s why I’m here. I’ll be leading your personal guard detail.”

I straighten, since this is good news. If I had to choose anyone from the Winter Court to protect Sapphire, it would be Calder. His loyalty isn’t just to the crown—it’s to me. And now, by extension, to her.

“Who else?” I ask.

“Twelve of my best, including Lirabelle.” A hint of pride enters his voice at the mention of his daughter. “She’s waiting nearby to properly introduce herself to the princess.”

As if summoned by her name, a slender figure appears behind Calder. Where he’s all bulk and intimidation, Lirabelle is grace and precision, her dark blonde hair cropped short against her skull, emphasizing the sharp angles of her face. But despite her lean frame, I know from experience that she’s one of the deadliest fighters in the Winter Court.

“Prince Riven,” she says, her voice cool and measured as she steps forward. “Princess Sapphire.”

Lirabelle’s bow is perfect—exactly the right depth for acknowledging royalty, while maintaining the dignity of an elite guard, while also getting across the comfort shared between old friends. I’d expect nothing less. Even as a child, sparring with her in the training grounds, she never gave an inch more than necessary.

“It’s been a while, Lira,” I say, easily switching to her nickname. “Last I remember, you were being deployed to the northern border.”

“Three years on the frost line,” she confirms. “I’ve only just returned.”

Sapphire shifts beside me, her water magic twining with my ice, forming beautiful patterns that dance and shimmer through the air between us. I’m tempted to capture them, just so I can have one more part of her to hoard for the rest of eternity.

Forcing myself back to reality—and away from the beautiful distraction beside me—I return my attentionto the important topic at hand: every measure we’re taking to keep Sapphire safe.

“Lira is our best tracker,” I explain to her. “She’s deadly with her crossbow.”

“Looks like ‘crossbow’ just earned a spot on my private lesson wish list,” Sapphire replies, winning my heart all over again before she returns her focus to Lira. “Have you ever been to the Summer Court?”

Lira’s expression remains neutral, but I catch the slight tightening around her eyes. “Once,” she says. “Seven decades ago, on a diplomatic escort for a trade negotiation.”

Before Sapphire can press further, Calder clears his throat.

“We should depart, Your Highnesses. The longer we delay, the more likely we’ll encounter the Twilight Mists in Boundary Pass.” He looks directly at me. “And I think we all remember what happened the last time you crossed the pass after sunset.”

I wince at the memory. I’d been twenty-four, reckless and overconfident, pushing my scouting party to continue despite the approaching nightfall. We ended up trapped in the mists for three days, amongst creatures that fed on fear and doubt. I’d lost two guards before Calder found us.

“The Twilight Mists?” Sapphire asks.

“An unpleasant feature of the southwest borderlands,”I tell her, keeping my tone even. “Twilight is hunting time for the… things that live there.”