Page 132 of Ascendant King

Cade’s smile fell. “Let me get dressed.”

I followed him into the closet, not at all surprised to see that Cade’s outfits took up two walls, his shoes half of another. Two small bars were dedicated to pants for me. A couple of alternate collars hung on the wall.

None of the shoes were in my size, which told me exactly how I was supposed to dress here. Cade picked out a neutral outfit, the dark colors reminding me of how he had dressed when we first met. The high collar and the long sleeves hid any hint of his magic.

When we were dressed, there was another knock on the door, and this time, Cade reached forward first to open it. He startled backward, grabbing hold of my hand with his.

Jesaiah was on the other side, whole, his flesh the warm pink indicating a beating heart. He looked at both of us strangely. Without a shirt, you could see the dusting of gray hair on his chest. He wore dark pants that clung to his legs, and I remembered how powerful he had been when I first met him, his age no impediment to his strength.

“Prince Bartlett?” Jesaiah gestured to the door. “I thought you heard me knock.”

“Yes, sorry.” Cade trailed off, and I squeezed his hand. He rallied, pulling back his shoulders and raising his chin.

His old self, the ice prince of House Bartlett, came over him like a costume that no longer fit. He managed it, but just barely.

“What is it?” he asked imperiously.

“The king wanted you to have this for the dinner.” Jesaiah offered over a square velvet box, four inches high.

Cade reached out, hesitating, before he grabbed it from Jesaiah’s hands. He nodded, struggling to open it. Jesaiah reached out, and for half a moment, I thought his skin looked gray, his eyes briefly flashing that horrible white.

Then he smiled at me, looking completely normal. “Is he nervous about the dinner tonight?”

I forced myself to smile noncommittally, something close to a grimace.

“If you’ll forgive an old consort, Your Majesty, there’s nothing for you to be worried about.” Jesaiah got the box open, revealing a silver circlet dotted with sapphires.

“Thank you, Jesaiah.” Cade’s tight lips revealed nothing, and Jesaiah nodded.

“I’ll take my leave, but if you need anything, please let me know.”

When he was gone, Cade thrust the box at me, practically throwing it. I shut the door, asking quietly, “What is it?”

Cade’s mouth opened, then closed, and he swallowed once. “When an heir comes of age and is recognized, he’s given a crown like this. It belongs to him, the start of his own royal jewels.”

I stared. “So the king is recognizing you as his heir.”

“SoLeonis recognizing me as his heir.” Cade shoved his hands into his hair. “What game is he playing? What is this about?”

I tossed the crown on the bed. If everything was fake here anyway, there was no sense in being careful with it.

“I don’t know. But whatever it is, you can see the reality.” I waited until Cade’s eyes were on me, wide and confused. “You didn’t see it? Jesaiah?”

“That he’s alive again? For real this time? And not some zombie monstrosity?” Cade shuddered. “I noticed.”

“No, that he…” I trailed off. “Is there a chance this is like Summer’s transitional space? Or that alternate magical reality you were talking about earlier? Maybe this is Leon’s version of whatever Summer’s nightmare house was.”

“I don’t know,” Cade said softly. “It doesn’t feel the same. It doesn’t feel the same at all. This feels real. I can feel the magic. Despite what I’m seeing, everything about it says it’s actually true.”

I shook my head. “It’s not. It’s a game we just have to play until we see his goal. We should go see your parents.”

Cade stilled, his skin going as pale as marble. When he looked up, he had pulled on the ice prince costume again, but I could see him trembling underneath, the scared little boy that made him snap, “Who are you to tell me what I should do?”

I waited until his shoulders slumped, his eyes going down. Then I reached forward, cupping his cheek until he leaned into my palm. “I’m the guy here in the trenches with you, so don’t turn your gun on me, Cade Bartlett.”

“That’s King Bartlett to you.” But I saw a trembling smile on his lips.

Drawing back, I said, “Technically, I think it’sPrinceBartlett again. Does it feel like a downgrade?”