Page 48

Chapter

Forty-Seven

W hen she woke in the morning, Loche was gone.

The next few days, she didn’t see him or anyone else except Merrick, who barely spoke a word to her when he brought in food three times a day.

Lessia passed the time reading after forcing Merrick to bring her books from the library, trying to prepare as much as possible for the commoner’s debate that was due sometime in the next week.

When her broken bones finally healed and she could leave her room, Merrick made her continue her training, although he didn’t slam her down as hard as he used to the first few days.

He remained quiet during their training sessions, and even when Lessia tried to rile him, he responded with only a few muttered words. His mind seemed elsewhere, and after his reaction to her confession, she thought it best not to push him too hard.

In the evenings, she’d venture to the library, and every night, she scolded herself for hoping to run into Loche .

But he was nowhere to be seen.

Neither was Venko or Craven when she made her way down into the dining hall.

Although that wasn’t too surprising. As humans, they needed more time than her to heal, even though she’d heard neither of them had walked away with broken bones.

After a week on her feet, she was nearly climbing the walls, and when Merrick announced he had more business to attend to, she sent a note to Amalise and Ardow, asking to meet.

Amalise had written back that she was planning on bringing the children out to the woods to let off some steam, as Ardow had some deliveries to attend to, so Lessia slipped into her usual black tunic and breeches, pulled her thick wool cloak over her shoulders, and left the castle.

It was a beautiful winter day, the snow sparkling under the rays of sunlight dancing over it, and she filled her lungs with crisp, salty air.

Her shoulders lowered as she walked the familiar streets of Asker, making sure her hood covered her face whenever she passed any townsfolk.

It felt as if she’d been inside forever, and she hungrily took in the glittering ice-covered buildings, the bustling taverns packed with soldiers, and the fishermen heading to the harbor to make the most of the sunny day.

When she reached the edge of the town, she walked south toward a thick copse of trees on a rock formation jutting out over the sea, watching her steps on the narrow, glassy path.

Few people in town ever came out here. The area was rocky and uneven, and the farther she walked, the narrower the path became—until there wasn’t a path at all. Lessia had to wade through snow, following the small footsteps that marked the white ground .

It was the safest place they’d found to bring the children when they wanted them to feel comfortable expressing their Fae side, whether by practicing their magic or just running around and playing.

Lessia heard them before she saw them, trickles of laughter drifting toward her over the chill breeze, and she smiled when branches around her rustled in welcome as Fiona noticed her.

Waving, she walked into the meadow, then ducked when Fiona made a branch beside her snap down instead of the wave back she’d planned.

At least Lessia hoped that’s what she’d meant to do instead of nearly slamming it into her face.

“Lia!” she squealed, running up to her, snow swirling around her feet before she jumped into her arms.

Burrowing her face into Fiona’s auburn hair, Lessia let out a sigh.

They could be a handful to deal with, but she loved each and every one of them.

Even if they reminded her of her sister.

A dull ache spread in her chest at the thought of Frelina, and as she set Fiona down, lifting her eyes to find Kalia and Amalise approaching her, she tried and failed to muster a smile.

“What is it?” Kalia searched her face, the pain inside Lessia mirrored in her eyes.

“I’m sorry, Kalia.” Lessia pulled her into a hug, trying to shake the guilt and sorrow.

Kalia could sense and influence emotions, and like Lessia, she hated her gift.

When she was younger, she couldn’t shut it off and was constantly overwhelmed by what everyone around her was feeling.

When Lessia realized, she’d tried to help her.

Kalia’s magic was similar to her own, and she’d been able to show Kalia how to lock it down.

But here in the meadow, Kalia typically didn’t bother, especially since most of the children were overjoyed by being outside without the restrictions of having to hide a part of themselves.

Pulling back from the embrace, Lessia finally managed to curl her lips into a smile. “I just miss you, that’s all.”

Amalise placed a hand on her shoulder, blue eyes rounded. “And here I thought you were too occupied with that handsome regent of yours and had forgotten all about us.”

Lessia’s cheeks heated. “I am not occupied with anyone.”

“But you want to be.” Kalia’s brows rose. “You’re disappointed that you’re not.”

Amalise threw her head back and laughed. “Elessia Gyldenberg! I was only teasing, but the regent has truly caught your eye?”

“Don’t call me that.” Setting her jaw, she eyed two of the boys as one melted the snow around them and the other quickly froze it into clear ice.

Amalise winced. “I’m so sorry, Lia. I didn’t think.”

Blowing out a breath, Lessia made herself smile at her. “I know.”

Kalia flitted her gaze between them and took a step back, gesturing toward Fiona, who’d wrapped a branch around another girl and appeared to be yelling at her. “I’ll give you some space. I’ll deal with them.”

Lessia’s eyes trailed Kalia as she walked over, urgently trying to convince Fiona to let the poor girl go.

Over the whistling wind, Fiona argued that the girl had said something mean and that she deserved it.

But when Kalia explained that she was now the one doing something mean, Fiona grudgingly released her .

Lessia offered an encouraging smile when Fiona’s eyes flicked her way.

Fiona had been in rough shape when she arrived in Ellow.

Mistrusting, all skin and bones, and with a penchant for lashing out whenever she was told to do—or not to do—something. It had taken months for Lessia to get her story out of her, and when she did, she almost wished she hadn’t.

Fiona, like herself, had grown up hidden, with parents who loved her and would do anything for her. But one day, someone spotted her, and the village banded together and killed her parents before her eyes.

Fiona was only six years old when they left her to die in the woods.

Somehow, she’d managed to get to the harbor in Vastala, where one of Lessia’s men spotted her as they rescued another child.

He’d nearly lost an eye dragging the small girl onto the ship.

But in the year she’d been in Ellow, she’d blossomed—had become the kindest and most caring little girl. Even if she still had a temper.

Lessia let out a sharp breath.

She couldn’t let King Rioner destroy the home—the safe place—they’d built in Ellow.

Her eyes darted toward the castle.

If Loche was true to his words, they might even be able to do more.

Bring more children over.

Give them a chance at a normal life.

“Daydreaming about the regent?”

Snapping her gaze to Amalise, Lessia scoffed, “Not in the way you’re thinking.”

Amalise wrapped an arm around her. “It’s all right to want him, you know. From what I could tell, you’ve caught his eye too.”

Lessia rolled her eyes. “I don’t want him. He frustrates me, is all.”

Amalise eyed her. “Lessia, you need to let go of the guilt at some point.”

She moved to stand before Lessia, her blue eyes glossing as they met Lessia’s. “You deserve love. Promise me if there is a chance you find it, you will. I will never regret loving Karich. Not for one moment. Not for all the pain in the world.”

Lessia grabbed her hand, thickness filling her throat. “I will if you promise me the same. He wouldn’t want you to be alone forever, Amalise.”

When Amalise began to shake her head, Lessia lifted her chin.

Amalise, if anyone, deserved to find love again.

She loved fiercely, wholly, and she had so much more to give.

Groaning, Amalise let go of her hand to twist a lock of her hair but finally fixed her gaze on Lessia’s again. “I promise. Once I’ve seen you fall in love, I will try too.”

Lessia grinned at her. “What about Zaddock? He seemed quite spellbound by you.”

With a snort, Amalise turned around to join some of the children in the snowball fight that had broken out, but not before Lessia caught a glimpse of the pink creeping up her neck.

A smile overtook Lessia’s face as she followed her, a giggle escaping when a snowball hit an unsuspecting Amalise right in the chest.