Page 36

I looked down at Marigold, whose soft snores filled the room as her head drooped over my arm.

I smiled and lightly kissed the top of her head before extricating myself from the sheets.

When I stood and faced the open door, I saw my mother leaning against the frame, a glass of red wine swirling in her grip.

“That’s an interesting story to be telling her,” she said as we backed into the hall and I shut the door with a snick .

“Let me guess: you don’t approve.”

“It’s just these stories of finding your one true love and love at first sight,” she waved her wine glass in the air with a heavy sigh, “it puts all these fanciful thoughts in her head.”

“And you don’t believe in those things, Mother?”

“They’re pretty to think about, but that’s not life.

Love won’t rescue you. Only you can do that for yourself.

” Padding across the hall to her guest room, she added, “I remember what this idea of love did to you, Thorne. I remember how it broke you. And I would never wish the kind of pain we’ve had on that little girl. ”

“I think both can be true,” I said quietly. “I wouldn’t trade away what I had. The good or the bad.”

Iris had rescued me. She’d saved me from a future caught under my parents’ thumbs, from a downward spiral of regrets and shallow pleasures that would have never fulfilled me.

And, in the end, her love was what helped me rescue myself.

What gave me the strength to overcome her loss and be the father Marigold needed me to be.

“Then you’re a fool,” Mother said simply, settling into an armchair in front of the fire in her suite. Her navy gown trailed at her feet, the dark blue jewels around her neck catching the light of the glowing embers.

I rolled my eyes but didn’t argue, knowing full well how she was when she got in these moods.

Azura Reaux wasn’t a dreamer. She was ambitious and pragmatic, doing what needed to be done to reach a desired goal.

Principled and realistic. I believed she loved my father, in her own way—out of a sense of responsibility and loyalty.

Because that was what she was supposed to do.

And when he left her four years ago, I’m not sure it broke her heart so much as it broke an intrinsic part of her that trusted him to fulfill his duty.

She was betrayed and left to pick up the pieces of a life they’d made for themselves.

It had turned her even colder and more calculated, and part of me couldn’t blame her.

Her next words were so soft and unexpected, they startled me.

“I do know what it’s like, you know.” She stared into the crackling fire. “I was in love once. Long ago.”

I sank into the chair across from her. “I’m guessing this isn’t about Father.”

“Your father was…well, he was good at what he did.” She shrugged, her gaze still on the fire. “Managing the territory. Keeping the people in line. Answering to the king. Everything we were supposed to be. But…he was not the man I’d intended to marry.”

She’d never spoken of this before. I didn’t know much about her youth, besides the fact that she and her parents hadn’t gotten along. I’d never met my grandparents because of their estranged relationship.

“We grew up together,” she continued, the firelight dancing in her eyes.

“He was…everything to me. A best friend, a confidant, one who could always make me smile. You know, I saw a bit of myself in you that first time you brought Iris home to us. That same epic love.” She smiled wistfully at me, and warmth settled around us.

“I know I was hard on you about her. I supposed I just knew the kind of heartache that could come from a love like that, and I feared for you. I never wanted any pain to come to you.”

I cleared my throat and looked away. “What happened to him? The other man?”

The brief hint of nostalgia I’d seen in her hardened once more. “I said I was in love. I never said he was. ”

I shifted in my seat. “I’m sorry, Mother. I didn’t know.”

“It doesn’t matter.” She took a long sip of her wine.

“That’s when I learned to put duty over love.

” Pausing, she studied me with a tilt of her head.

“Oh, don’t pity me, dear. I don’t regret it for a moment, for then I wouldn’t have you.

” Her lips rose into a tight smile, the closest to comforting that she could get.

“Warm” was not a word one would use to describe my mother, but that was simply who she was.

Perhaps when she was younger, things were different…

but this world and a marriage to a hard man who put his title over his family had chipped away at her edges.

That momentary softness never lasted long. But I always held on to it when it came.

“And what about you, Thorne?” she asked, eyes piercing. “Are you going to put duty over your emotions?”

I licked my lips. “What are you talking about?”

She set her glass on the coffee table, and the clang echoed in the quiet room. “It appears Clarissa is still going to marry him. Not only that, but the territory has now fallen in love with her. You made them fall in love with her. What happened to our plan?”

I scowled. “You mean your plan, Mother. I went along with it when I thought it was what was best for the people.”

“What’s best for our people is to not have some lazy, ill-suited boy for a king.

Tonight was the perfect opportunity for these people to see her as a monster and drive her away for good.

To set in motion the wheels of Galen’s removal.

Yet you practically pushed her into their arms, painting her as this hero we’ve needed.

A savior ,” she huffed. “As if someone from her empire would ever use their magic to save us.”

“What do you have against Veridians?”

“They slaughtered our people, Thorne,” she said in disgust. “They’re power-hungry and only care about themselves. They did anything to get their precious magic, so don’t think for a single moment that they wouldn’t do anything to keep it. To keep us inferior to them and their empire.”

“It was a war , Mother. Their people died too. And it was over three hundred years ago. You don’t know anything about them and what they want. Didn’t you see what Clarissa did ?” I asked. “She can take away this blight! We need her, Mother. And she wants to help us. She’s not who you think she is.”

Mother scanned me again, slowly leaning back into her chair. “I see,” she said, drawing the word out. “You’re falling for this girl.”

“ What ?” My features screwed in disbelief.

“That’s ridiculous. I’m not—I don’t have feelings for her.

She has to marry Galen. I never understood why he was so adamant about bringing her here, but now I do.

It’s more than just her magic being able to cure the blight.

Their marriage will end this curse. For good . ”

To my surprise, Mother stood in alarm. “What did you just say?” she breathed out.

“The entire Grimaldi line kept it a secret, but Galen told me last night,” I explained.

“The Fates made a deal with Nyses Grimaldi’s son.

If someone in his bloodline marries someone from the Veridian Empire, the curse will break.

I know how important you think it is to remove the Grimaldis from the throne altogether, but isn’t this more important? To have the curse completely lifted?”

I stood and took a step toward her around the coffee table. “Clarissa would be good for this kingdom. I’ve seen it. She might even be able to help Galen pull himself together. Be the king we need him to be.”

Mother spun on her heel and paced in front of the fireplace, rubbing a wrinkled hand along the back of her neck. “This…this changes things.”

“I know. Will you stop your scheming now?” I asked. “This marriage…it’s a good thing, Mother.” I knew the words were true, but they tasted sour on my tongue. “You just have to give them a chance.”

She met my eyes, her expression as stony and unreadable as ever. I saw something ripple across her face, and her cheek twitched before she smoothed it over. Then she gave me a reassuring smile.

“Perhaps you’re right. ”

My shoulders sagged in relief. “So, we’re in agreement. No more plans to stop their engagement or convince him to abdicate. The curse will finally be broken. That’s what we’ve wanted all along, isn’t it?”

She took a few steps to me and put a hand on my cheek. “Of course, Thorne. You’re a good boy. Galen is lucky to have you.” Her smile tightened, becoming more of a grimace. “You know everything I do is for you, don’t you? You and Marigold?”

My brow furrowed. “I know, Mother.”

“Good.” She patted my cheek once. “Don’t ever forget that. Good night, dear.”