Page 13

CHAPTER 13

Korven

“Without a doubt, the most insurmountable mountaintop was the tip of the Icenree. However, I did find myself atop its highest peak, and there I saw all of the Silver Isle. I could see our great realm of Revelry for miles and miles.”

Lord Pilford of Wendlyn’s voice echoed alone through the room. Beside me, Seraphine’s blanket covered her chair, masking her feet at the bottom. With her arms folded at her chest, she scowled. I doubted mountain climbing was something she desired to pursue.

“Very interesting, Lord Pilford,” I drawled. I finished the last spin for my current cop of yarn, setting the spun wool on the table next to the other five. One more tuft and I’d have enough. I pulled on the fibers, beginning again. “You seem to be quite adventurous. Tell me, what do you enjoy doing when you are actually at your estate?”

He stroked his red beard. “Well...that is...to be truthful, Prince Korven, I am never home.”

“Ah. Thank you for your time, Lord Pilford. You may go.”

“What exactly are you doing here with all of us?”

I lifted my gaze to really look at this bachelor. He was tall and well built with strong arms, like he really did climb frozen mountains regularly. But he was not the one for Seraphine. And he wasn’t that good looking. I turned my head to meet her eyes, but she was watching Lord Pilford’s face, the slightest corner of her mouth rising.

Frowning, I dropped my spindle and wool on the table, cracking my knuckles, getting her attention as I wanted. “Would you like more questions, then?”

“If you’d like to ask them, yes,” Lord Pilford answered.

“I wasn’t speaking to you.”

“Apologies, but...then who were you speaking to?”

I didn’t answer him, waiting for Seraphine’s reply.

“Do we have a maybe list?” she asked.

I restrained my irritation. This man was never home. He climbed mountains and explored the wilderness. What in the realm’s name would they even have in common? I rolled my shoulders, my wings flexing with the rest of me. “We could make one, if you like.”

“Excuse me, Prince, but who are you speaking to? It is just you and I in this room.”

Seraphine gave a slight nod and instead of crossing Lord Pilford of Wendlyn’s name off the list, I drew a heart next to it with my quill.

She laughed, just as I’d hoped.

“Thank you for your time, Lord Pilford,” I said, ignoring his previous question. “Please refrain from climbing any mountains or foraging the mountainsides for your own sustenance. I will be in touch.”

“But you haven’t explained what this is?—”

I held up my hand to stop him. “Believe me, Lord Pilford, it is worth the secrecy.”

Acknowledging the dismissal, he bowed and left, his face contorted with confusion.

“Really?” I started after the door was closed. “Is that what you’d prefer? A man to love you most atop a mountain in an entirely different kingdom than the one you’ll rule?”

“He’s the most interesting man we’ve met thus far. After all,”—she leaned closer to my chair, counting the names—“sixty-seven of them.” Folding her arms and tapping that foot again, she added, “Maybe he’d change and stick around if he found that he loved me.”

“People don’t change, Seraphine,” I lectured, resuming my spinning.

She laughed. “Says the Ravenfae Prince who can spin wool into yarn so expertly. Tell me, which woman did you change for who taught you that?”

“My sister.”

I smirked in her silence.

“I...I didn’t know you had one.”

“I didn’t when we were friends. She came along a little later.”

“So, she’s much younger?”

“Fifteen in a few months.”

“And she taught you how to spin wool?”

“And knit,” I added, chuckling at her surprise.

“You must care for her dearly to learn such a skill.”

“I do,” I said softly.

There was much to Morella that Seraphine would likely never know. My sister was a part of my life I’d keep and keep well to myself. Her future depended on it.

“I’m glad you have someone, then,” she murmured. “I know it was a lonely childhood for you, too.”

Her comment struck me somewhere inside. I frowned and continued spinning, my fingers pulling on the fibers of the twisted wool faster and faster as my lips pursed harder. I was...uncomfortable. Something I wasn’t often. She had said something to make me tense and concerned…for her.

Swallowing back whatever lumped in my throat, I said, “We’ll find him, Phinie. I promise you, we’ll find someone to love you. You won’t be alone anymore.”

With that, she turned her body back towards the door, and I called the next name on the list.