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Three years had passed since Graeson had last seen Ellie. Back then, Ellie wasn’t standing beside Cetia as the Queen’s first warrior, a title not easily earned.

Ellie’s heeled boots clapped against the floor, her steps echoing in the surrounding silence. With her hand still on the leather-wrapped hilt, Ellie tilted her head. “A while?” Her near-black eyes were cold as she glared at him. “It’s been almostthreeyears, Graeson.”

Graeson nodded.

“A lot can happen in three years,” Ellie said, tapping a finger against the sword at her hip.

“More can happen in even less.”

Only a foot separated them. Although Ellie was a few inches shorter than Graeson, she managed to somehow look down on him, her gaze narrowing.

Even though they were friends, the last time Graeson saw Ellie, they had argued—loudly and without holding anything back. Yet here he was, standing before her and seeking her queen’s help. Anger and pain flashed across her face.

Then, Ellie’s hand flew out, and Graeson tensed.

But when Ellie squeezed his shoulder, he exhaled, and the muscles in his back loosened.

“Let it not be so long next time,” she whispered, pulling him into a hug and shoving her face against his shoulder. Sage and smoke wafted from her hair.

He smirked. Some things never changed.

She finally pulled back and gripped Graeson’s shoulders with both hands. As Ellie stared at him, she observed him as if she could find the answers to why he was here after three years hidden beneath his countenance.

She inhaled sharply.

Graeson jerked back, and Ellie’s hands fell to her sides, a knowing smile creeping onto her face. He knew that look all too well. Sometimes, Ellie could read him too well.

“You found her, didn’t you?” Ellie whispered.

When Kalisandre had disappeared over fifteen years ago, the details about her disappearance were closely guarded. With the kingdom shrouded in secrets, outsiders would not have suspected anything amiss. Esmeray did not want the rest of the seven kingdoms to believe that Pontia was weak (a fact that was currently biting them in the ass). She didn’t want news spreading that someone had found a way to break through Pontia’s defenses. An island once impenetrable but no longer. Their enemies—which the Pontians had plenty of after living a life of secrecy—would have quickly attacked them if they discovered that Pontia had been invaded. Rulers did not like secrets. And the rulers of Pontia always kept their secrets close to home, a habit the other kingdoms did not appreciate.

Still, Pontia continued to maintain their relationships with one-half of the divided Borganian kingdom and with Tetria for the past one-hundred years.

When the Tetrian tournament occurred years ago, Esmeray sent a select few Pontians to represent the island kingdom and nurture the kingdom’s relationship with Tetria. The twin princes had been sent as a sign of respect and trust. Predictably, Graeson and Dani tagged along—with the stipulation that they didn’t do anything stupid or reckless. Like running off to Ardentol and starting a war, a thought that indeed crossed Graeson’s mind once or twice at the time.

Although their time in Tetria was short, strong friendships were built. Ellie and Graeson became fast friends. However, their friendship came with a price Graeson hadn’t realized he had paid. For when Ellie set her mind to something, there was no stopping her from achieving it.

The Pontians’ secrets were easily extracted. At least some of their secrets, anyway.

They soon discovered that the queen of Tetria, the princess, and Ellie knew of Kalisandre’s disappearance. The Tetrian women didn’t know where Kalisandre was or who had taken her, but they did know about the kidnapping on a basic level. And the three women knew that Graeson and the others were planning to rescue her.

Even a decade later, Graeson and the others couldn’t figure out how the Tetrians acquired their knowledge. Only that they always found a way.

“It’s . . . complicated,” Graeson grumbled in response.

Ellie surveyed the other Pontians standing before her. Both familiar and unfamiliar faces looked back at her.

Shaking her head, she released a strained laugh. “The runaway bride, of course.”

Graeson had said nothing, but Ellie was quick to unravel his secrets. Too quick for her own good. One day, it would get her killed.

“Euralys,” the queen snapped from her throne.

Ellie straightened. Turning slowly, Ellie dropped her head.

The queen tipped her head to the side, ordering Ellie to return to her post. “Let our guests speak.”

“Of course, My Queen.” She returned to her spot beside the queen, folding her hands behind her back.