Page 45 of Forged By Malice (Beasts of the Briar #3)

44

Rosalina

L ooking around, I search the grounds for Farron. Last time he disappeared at a party, he ended up destroying an entire library of priceless literature. Though I’m not surprised he hasn’t returned yet; he’d seemed fascinated with the plants around the clearing, and I don’t doubt he’s wandering around with an armful of samples.

I catch sight of someone else, though. Marigold twirls under Eldy’s arm, her face completely lit up. Their love deserves a second chance.

I take a moment to glance up through the treetops to the starlit sky. Are you looking at the same stars as me, Kel? Our bond brought us together earlier. Surely, there will come a day when our separation—be it physical miles or emotional—will be a thing of the past.

The party continues before me like something out of a Midsummer Night’s Dream . Unlike the wild celebration that occurred in the Below or the formal ball in Winter, this event seems more casual, like a gathering. Some fae are downright subdued. I wonder what Ezryn thinks of all this. I hadn’t wanted to leave him earlier, but I also didn’t want to stay on his arm all night; I’m only holding him back.

“Lady O’Connell, you look ravishing.”

Kairyn stands beside me, nearly blending in with the dark shadow of the tree. My heart thumps against my chest, and I startle.

“Prince Kairyn! You scared me.”

“Apologies. I merely wanted to compliment the Lady of Castletree on her beauty.” He takes my hand and bows, lowering the cold edge of his helm to my knuckles. “Though I doubt she wants for praise. You seem to be followed by one prince or another wherever you go.”

I give an awkward laugh. “Are you enjoying the party?”

“More so now that I’ve come across you.” His voice is deep, yet I can’t help but feel that he lacks the confidence of the High Princes. Like he’d rather be anywhere than socializing. “I was hoping you would indulge me in a dance.”

My ears prick as a haunting melody seems to grow louder, drifting across the breeze. “Of course, I would be honored.”

He nods stiffly, as if he didn’t expect me to say yes. Then holds out a hand. I take it, seeing how small my own is against the black expanse of his leather glove.

In a whoosh, he pulls me into the soft grass being used as a dancefloor. My bare feet find purchase, and with my hand in his, the other on his shoulder, I realize just how short I am in comparison. I’m not used to feeling short—at least when I’m not around the four princes of Castletree—but Kairyn has me feeling positively miniature.

We move in rhythm to the music—or close enough to a rhythm. Kairyn’s movements are more march than dance. Nothing like my waltz with Caspian last winter, when the very air had seemed to carry us.

“It’s a beautiful necklace you wear,” Kairyn says.

I look down at the moonstone rose. “Thank you. It belonged to my mother.”

“Did it? And how did she come by it, if I may ask? I tend to be … a collector, of sorts.”

The words are on my lips: She found it on an archeological dig. That’s what Papa and I had always believed. But it’s obvious my mother was hiding her true nature all along. Could it have been a gift from the Queen?

Could she have stolen it?

Regardless, something warns me away from the truth—or what I know of it. “She found it in the human realm.”

Kairyn’s owl helm twitches ever so slightly, and I know he doesn’t believe me. He presses on. “It appears to be very old. I should like to examine it at the monastery. We have many precious artifacts. If I could only compare—”

“I’m sorry,” I snap. “But it’s very special to me. I never take it off. Ever .”

Kairyn’s grip tightens on my waist. “Is that so.” It’s not a question.

The music picks up, and Kairyn spins me faster, nearly lifting me off the ground.

“Ezryn looks like he’s having a marvelous time,” I say, despite the fact I can’t see Ez. I want Kairyn to remember he’s around.

“My brother’s always been good at appearing the perfect prince. He was trained and taught from birth to follow in our parents’ footsteps. A silver son.”

My dress swishes as I twirl under Kairyn’s arm. “He’s a powerful leader. Spring is lucky to have him.”

A grinding sound reverberates beneath the helm. “He was taught that he is a powerful leader. But true power cannot be taught; it is something that one is born with. An innate ability to make the sacrifices required. And this is not always visible on the surface.”

I stay silent, watching the dark visor for any clue of the fae beneath. I can’t figure out if he loves Ezryn or hates him. There’s both admiration and resentment in his every word.

Maybe that’s the truth of it; love and hate merged so closely together, he can’t see which is which.

I think of my father. When he was off on his adventures and I was stuck at home, I spent years resenting him. And as soon as he came home, I’d be desperate for any ounce of attention.

But we found our way back to each other. Maybe Ezryn and Kairyn can, too.

“I know Ezryn isn’t really a man of many words, but he appreciates what you’ve done here,” I tell Kairyn. “If you reach out to him, I’m sure—”

Kairyn snorts, an undignified sound for this armored giant. “I have reached out to my brother far too many times, and just when I think I’m breaking through, he leaves me dangling off a precipice.”

I stare into the young prince’s helm, wondering if I’m holding his gaze. I do know what he’s talking about. “Sometimes the closer I get to Ezryn, the more it feels like he pulls away.”

“Exactly,” Kairyn says.

I can’t believe this is what I’m bonding with Kairyn over, but I understand deeply what he means. Just when I feel like there’s a crack in Ezryn’s armor, when I think he might let me in, he pulls away and retreats within himself. I’ve only had to endure this for a few months, whereas Kairyn has lived with it for a lifetime.

“In his eyes, I’ll only ever be a child,” Kairyn murmurs, “unfit to stand at his side.”

“I know it can feel like he’s far away,” I urge, “but he’s changing. When I see him and Kel—”

“ Keldarion .” The name is a hiss and a growl all at once. “Ah yes, I’m sure my brother is quick to reconcile with that one. He doesn’t hold any ill-will against traitors. Only his blood.”

I drop my hands and step back. “You’re hurt, and it’s not my place to pry. I’m barely more than a stranger to you. But for what it’s worth: trust him. Trust Ezryn, and he will see through on any promise made.”

“For what it’s worth, Lady O’Connell, let me ask you something. Do you truly know my brother?”

“Yes,” I say without hesitation. “Ezryn is brave and kind, and he’ll do anything for his friends and his realm.”

Kairyn closes the gap between us and runs a finger down my neck, under the thin chain of my necklace. Slowly, he lifts the moonstone rose on a single finger. The gifted golden leaf from Autumn dangles off to the side. I hold my breath, feeling as if he’s wrapped his hands around my heart. “He’s like his armor, shining on the outside, but have you ever seen within?”

“I know his heart, and it is good. ”

Kairyn lowers the moonstone rose back to my skin, then turns, looking nothing more than a shadow. “If you are so certain, ask my brother what happened the night he accepted the Blessing. Ask him what happened to my mother.”