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T here were few things in life Teryn Alante truly despised. Sitting still for any extended period was one of them. His disdain for inertia had sprouted when he’d been kept prisoner by Duke Morkai before the battle at Centerpointe Rock. He’d been helpless. Powerless. Unable to prevent what came next. Those feelings had only worsened after the battle. After his father’s gruesome demise.

Now if he stayed still too long, his mind would fill with blood.

With screams, cries, and the clash of steel.

With his father’s lifeless eyes.

He’d found a way to channel his angst, and it was in fighting for Cora’s freedom. After his injuries had been tended at Centerpointe Rock, he’d requisitioned a coach and followed King Verdian’s retinue to Verlot Palace.

For that was where Cora had been taken.

His half brother Larylis had remained by his side. When Teryn’s fractured rib kept him from writing, Larylis wrote for him. Together, they’d recorded everything Teryn knew about Cora, Morkai, and Dimetreus—anything that could prove Cora’s identity and innocence.

Once he’d arrived at Verlot Palace, he’d redoubled his efforts, dogged in his determination and refusing to return home to Dermaine Palace until the matter was settled. Not even his own coronation nor his father’s burial could tempt him away.

Not yet.

Not until she was safe.

Not until he’d fixed everything he’d nearly destroyed.

Teryn stood in the Great Hall of Verlot Palace, anxiety tickling the back of his mind. The emotion was a constant passenger and would be until Cora’s fate was sorted. He tried his best to ignore it, however, as a friendly face came bounding toward him.

“Prince Lex.” Teryn greeted his friend with a grin.

“Come to see me off?” Lex asked as they grasped each other’s forearms in a gesture of camaraderie. After the battle, Lex had come back to Verlot Palace. He’d done more than his share to confirm everything Teryn had said about Cora. And to keep quiet about all the things Teryn had left unsaid.

Teryn nodded. “Thank you for everything you’ve done.”

Lex gave a halfhearted shrug. “I had to make up for tricking you into thinking I’d abandoned you at Ridine Castle.”

“I would think fighting with our armies was already more than enough.” He glanced around the Great Hall. The gilded walls and marble floors echoed with sound, as the palace was already bustling with activity this morning. He caught several courtiers looking at him and Lex as they passed. Lowering his voice, he added, “But I do appreciate everything you’ve done for Cora.”

“Yes, well, I figured going the extra distance might remind you of a certain discussion we once had. One regarding Aromir wool.”

Teryn’s expression fell. He’d almost forgotten their bargain. It had begun as an offer from Lex to help Teryn win the Heart’s Hunt in exchange for inclusion into Menah’s most exclusive trade contract. After they’d met Cora, Teryn had renewed the promise to Lex, as long as he’d agree to come with them and rescue unicorns. Now that Menah was no longer in debt to Cartha, Teryn could afford to reward Lex’s loyalty. Still, he wasn’t officially king yet. He wasn’t sure what promises he could make.

Lex chuckled and slapped Teryn on the shoulder. “I’m kidding. I didn’t come to Verlot because of our alliance but because you’re my friend.”

Hearing Lex call him a friend warmed his heart. It was almost enough to quiet the incessant buzz of anxiety that fluttered in the back of his mind. “What about your father? Won’t he be cross that you’ve returned home empty-handed?”

Lex’s mirth faded. “Hopefully he’ll be proud enough that I helped save the damn world. Though, I bet he’d sooner chastise me for not hiding from the conflict. Either way, I hope you think of Tomas as an ally.”

“I do. Menah is yours as well.”

“What about Selay?” Lex asked with a grimace. “How much does King Verdian hate me?”

Teryn released a sigh. “No more than he dislikes me.” Proving Cora’s royal identity had required them to confess that Lex had withheld information from Verdian when he’d brought news of Morkai’s plans. It meant Selay could no longer carry the full blame for Teryn’s imprisonment at Ridine Castle. Teryn had learned that his father had decided to let Verdian think the Heart’s Hunt had been the sole reason Teryn had crossed paths with Morkai. It would be an understatement to say Verdian had been furious to learn the fault lay more with Teryn’s attempt to collect Cora’s bounty.

Lex squinted at Teryn. “Have you told her yet?”

“Told who what?”

“Cora,” Lex said, in a too-loud whisper. “Or Aveline, or whatever I am to call her now. Have you told her how you feel?”

Teryn didn’t know what to say. He hadn’t realized Lex still believed Teryn had feelings for Cora. He’d allowed his friend to believe as much when they’d first met her. It had been a ruse to convince Lex to join her unicorn rescue mission without Teryn having to admit the real reason he wanted to travel with her—to turn her over to the crown as an outlaw. He wasn’t sure why he kept quiet now. Perhaps because the lie no longer felt so false.

“You should tell her,” Lex said.

“I will.” It came out too fast, his cheeks suddenly too warm.

With that, they said their final farewells. Teryn watched his friend leave the Great Hall. As soon as he was out of sight, his fluttering sense of urgency crept back up. Dread filled his bones as it did during every quiet moment, every time he stood still without any direct destination toward which to move his feet. He bit the inside of his cheek just to feel something else. Something?—

“Your Highness.”

Teryn found Captain Braze of his personal guard beside him. He’d sent the man to check on Cora. His heart climbed into his throat. “Do you have news of her?”

The man nodded. “She’s been released. She’s meeting with King Verdian now.”

Teryn moved so fast, his side ached where his stitches strained against the full breaths he took. He turned down the hall that led to Verdian’s study—and halted. His entire body froze save for the mad thumping of his heart.

It was the first time he’d seen Cora in nearly a month, and he was overjoyed to find her hale and whole, uncowed by her imprisonment. He’d been worried she might have been mistreated despite his orders, but the way she walked with her head held high, carving a line through gaping courtiers like a wildfire surging through a forest, he knew she held the same spark she had before. Perhaps more of it. Her dark eyes were fierce, her rouged lips and cheeks doing nothing to soften the intensity of her gaze. She walked on swift feet, leaving no sign of the injuries he knew she’d sustained, and with the confidence of someone who’d never stopped being a princess. Two guards trailed in her wake, but she paid them no heed.

Her eyes landed on him, noticing him for the first time, and she pulled to an abrupt halt.

His lips spread into a grin while her face flashed with surprise. He nearly bounded over to her but stopped himself as her expression turned hard. Cold. Not a look he was unaccustomed to, but one he hadn’t expected to find upon their reunion. She closed the lingering distance between them, stopping a few feet away. Everything inside him begged to reach for her, to turn her head this way and that to assure she remained unharmed. If he discovered anyone had laid a finger on her…his blood boiled at the thought. He fisted his hands at his sides to keep them still.

She tilted her head back to lock her eyes with his. “Am I just a pawn to you?”

Teryn inhaled sharply, her tone so barbed she might as well have slapped him. “What?” It was the only word he could utter.

“You proposed marriage,” she said, voice quavering, “which you had no right to do.”

Heat crawled up his neck. “What—how do you know?—”

He couldn’t find the words to finish. He’d brought up the idea of a marriage alliance between Khero and Menah to his mother just two days ago, but he hadn’t spoken to Verdian yet. There were still details to work out. Bonds to break. New ones to forge. Most of all, he’d wanted to talk to Cora first.

“Your mother told me,” she said. “I had to hear it from her. Meanwhile, you didn’t even ask me if that was something I wanted.” The tears glazing her eyes struck him like a blow to the chest. He was torn between the pain that came from knowing he’d once again hurt her and the weight of her rejection. He hadn’t had the chance to ask her himself. Perhaps it was best that he hadn’t.

“I wanted to talk to you about it,” he said, unable to meet her eyes. “I didn’t think…” Confusion tangled his thoughts, stalling his tongue. Why the hell had his mother intervened? What he’d conveyed to her had only been the barest idea. A hint to test her response. A seed that would first require Cora’s acceptance before it could grow.

Cora shook her head. “You didn’t think what? That this would hurt me?”

Teryn opened and closed his hands, his fingers desperate to reach for hers, to comfort her, to seek forgiveness. When he’d come up with his idea, he’d known there was a chance it could strain things between them, especially if she said no. However, he’d hoped they could at least remain friends if that ended up being the case.

Then again…were they ever friends before?

They’d exchanged as many smiles as they had blows, verbal and physical alike. They’d been enemies. They’d been allies. He’d betrayed her. He’d kissed her.

Where did that leave them now?

Not for the first time, the memory of their only kiss played through his mind. In the moment, he’d been driven by desperation. On one hand, he’d wanted her to leave him behind at Ridine Castle and flee while she had the chance. He’d known shocking her with a sudden kiss would work in his favor. On the other hand—and more importantly—he’d wanted to feel her lips against his. Wanted to give in to the spark of desire he’d felt. It was the desperate last wish of a man who thought he’d never see her again.

Whispers drew his attention back to the present. To Cora’s tear-filled eyes. To the courtiers who surrounded them, muttering behind their hands. He took a step closer and lowered his voice. “Can we speak in private?”

She shook her head. Her voice calmed as if she too had noticed their audience. “What more is there to say? The only way for me to get my kingdom back is to resign myself to a loveless marriage.”

The last part stung worse than he could have imagined. He swallowed hard. “You really think it would be loveless?”

She let out a humorless laugh. “I’m such a fool. I’m always such a fool when it comes to you.” With that, she brushed past him.

His throat constricted. He knew he should let her go. End this scene before they stirred more gossip than they already had. Against his better judgment, he turned and took a step after her. His fingers closed softly around her wrist.

She stopped at once, frozen midstep. Then, after a glance at his hand, she slowly lifted her eyes to his. A sad smile curled her lips. Her voice was small, fragile. “For one moment, I thought she meant you.”

His breath caught in his throat. He was so stunned that when she tugged her wrist from his grip and stormed off, he could do nothing but stare after her. Dread crept into his heart. What had she been implying by her last statement?

I thought she meant you .

Teryn fought the urge to chase after Cora and turned his attention to the other end of the hall. Toward King Verdian’s study.