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Therefore, when the unsurprising news came that Dani and Fynn were engaged and, shortly after, married, the people went to the streets with shouts of happiness. Music, laughter, and cheer blanketed the nights across Pontia for weeks after the wedding; even in the villages far north of the palace, the people celebrated the union. Everyone was overjoyed to celebrate their future royals, for Dani and Fynn promised a bright future. A future where the people’s voices were uplifted and heard. A future of unbridled strength.

Then the Dark Night came. The night everything had gone to shit when the people’s hopes burned to ash alongside the crumbling houses on the outskirts of the village.

Not even a week had passed before some people began to spread rumors that Dani was to marry Terin to secure her place in the royal family. The people, it seemed, were eager to grab onto something to hope for. But those closest to Dani and Terin knew that would never happen. Not only did Dani not care about a crown, but Dani and Terin’s love for one another was strictly platonic, one similar to a pair of siblings. Both of them knew Fynn would want them to be happy, would want them to be loved. They would never be able to provide what a true romantic relationship did—what Dani and Fynn had once upon a time: a bond between soulmates.

The ancient blood of the gods had created the bonds. When a person found their soul bond, their gifts flourished. Their relationship balanced them, enhanced them. Soul bonds were two people whose gifts sang to each other. And Dani and Fynn’s connection could have filled a concert hall.

A person had one soul bond. One other half that made a person whole. The rings helped solidify that connection, for the metal of the gods strengthened the thread between the two souls.

Dani’s person was gone. Yet her love for Fynn continued to burn inside her, and it called for revenge.

Graeson knew that kind of love all too well.

He stepped forward.

“Dani has a point.” Everyone’s attention turned to Graeson. After standing in the corner for so long, many advisors had forgotten his presence.

Dani and Menides hesitated, unwilling to let the other win. But after a silent debate, they met an understanding and simultaneously took their seats.

Graeson continued, “The treaty states that no kingdom may attack another kingdom without just cause. Ardentol and Frenzia both broke the treaty.”

Esmeray sighed. “Yes, and from our perspective, they did not have the right to attack our lands.”

Graeson heard thebuton her tongue, and his shoulders sank.

Esmeray met the eyes of each of her advisors as she observed the room filled with her closest friends, allies, and confidants. “As many of you know, my daughter was taken from me when she was three. Kalisandre has lived in the enemy’s castle for years, unknowingly pretending to be someone she was not. The night of the attack, she sacrificed herself to save not only myself but Terin, Airos, and several others as well. In exchange for our safety, she was taken once again.”

The advisors nodded. They all knew this story already. Even still, some advisors found it hard to empathize with Kalisandre’s poor fate. Theena bit her cheek, and the northern lord’s jaw ticked at the mention of Kalisandre’s sacrifice. It didn’t matter that Kalisandre was the daughter of their queen. She was a traitor.

But not everything is black and white in the game of politics.

“Everyone believes Kalisandre is the daughter of Ardentol, that she is his blood and the daughter of his late wife. However, only we know the truth. Only our kingdom knows that the Princess of Ardentol does not exist. And the three of you,” Esmeray’s gaze fell to Graeson, Dani, and Terin, “witnessed most of those kingdoms vow to protect her if someone tried to get in the way of the marriage between her and her chosen suitor. King Rian was chosen. Frenzia attacked in the name of the vow they promised. To the rest of the kingdom,weare the ones in the wrong. To them, we were unjust.”

“Then tell them the truth.” Graeson crossed his arms in front of his chest, holding back the rising anger. He would not break now. His ire would do no good here.

Esmeray rubbed the side of her temple. “Kalisandre is in the hands of Domitius. From your account, Domitius was on that ship. We do not know if Domitius knows that Kalisandre knows the truth. It could endanger her life if we announce it to the world.”

“Her life?” Dani spat, her fists crashing down on the table as she leaned forward in her chair. “What about Fynn’s life? Because of her,heis dead.”

Esmeray arched a brow, the only visible sign that Dani’s words pressed a nerve. “Danisinia, heed your father’s words. Grief and a thirst for revenge will only get you so far.”

“It’s not about revenge! Can’t any of you see it?” Dani swept a hand in the air, nearly smacking her father. “Sheis the reason they came here in the first place! She brought them here, led them to our home. Kallie does not care about any of us. Why should we care about—”

Dani did not finish her sentence as she slumped back into her chair.

Menides’ jaw dropped as he stared at his unconscious daughter.

Graeson snapped his attention to Terin. Sadness tainted Terin’s countenance. While Terin’s gift was not as potent when he was not in contact with someone, it was still strong enough to knock them out cold.

The queen straightened in her seat, folding her hands on the table. “I hope that you all will forgive me. I do not enjoy silencing any of you.” Graeson did not miss how Esmeray’s gaze stayed on him longer than any of the others. They both knew her threat was futile in his case, for Terin’s ability did not work on him. None of their mental abilities did, not unless he let it.

“But I believe it is best for everyone. Menides, I will apologize to Dani after today’s meeting. To the rest of you, I will say this once and only once: I do not take my son’s death lightly. Like many of you, I am enraged. I not only lost my son but my daughter as well.Again. King Domitius has taken too much from our kingdom and myself over the past two decades. But if we do as Dani suggests, wewillstart a war. A war we are gravely unprepared for. We need time, we need a strategy in place, and, most importantly, we need the reparations to be completed. Our people here must come first.”

The queen’s blue eyes darkened as though a sea storm lived within her irises. “I promise you all, Domitius will pay in due time.”

A knock sounded at the door, and Harmonia jumped in her chair.

Wiping the building storm from her face, Esmeray waved at Airos, who stood near the door.