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Mia gives me a sad smile as we enter and squeezes my hand as I pass her. I take a seat at the table next to Archie and brace myself for what is to come.

Orion appears, and my breath catches as Ledger follows him into the room. His eyes find me immediately, his body visibly relaxing.

He takes the seat next to me, and I get a whiff of his heady scent. It’s an effort to keep my body rooted where it is. I am already yearning for his touch and the familiar warmth of him.

I grip the seat of the chair, letting my nails dig into the lush fabric. King Callum enters followed by Humphrey, and we all rise, bowing our heads.

“You may sit.” He takes his own seat at the head of the table.

“I’ve called you all here to talk of the grievous acts that ensued yesterday. We lost fourteen honorable, innocent people. That number would have been much higher had it not been for all of your bravery.”

“I want to personally thank you, Layla. It is my belief you not only fought yesterday but saved many lives. Westray is indebted to you.” Everyone around the table nods, placing their hands on their chests and bowing their heads.

“Thank you, Your Grace.” I fumble for my words, shocked by the show of respect. It wasn’t until now I realized how protective I am of Westray, and how desperately I want to stay. I have truly come to care for everyone around this table.

Ledger’s fingers brush the back of my hand. I meet his gaze, and the way he’s looking at me makes my heart ache.

“I can’t seem to make sense of why this may have occurred.

We’ve had an agreement with Grimwood for many years, we are up to date on our payments to them.

They should have been keeping all creatures away from our borders.

I’m of the mind this was some kind of calculated attack, an act of retribution.

Could it have anything to do with Layla being here? ”

The color drains from my face, my heart ratcheting in my chest.

The room is silent for a moment too long before Ledger speaks. “It could have been an attack from Bellehaven. I took Layla without permission, and they sent a warning of retaliation if I did not return her.”

“Ledger.” Callum says his name and rubs at his eyes as he forms a response. “By bringing her here you have put all of Westray at risk. She must be returned.” Callum looks at me and then at his son, his cheeks flushing in anger.

“I agree, Your Grace,” Humphrey says from next to the King.

“I will not make that choice for her,” Ledger declares, staring defiantly up at his father.

“You have taken her unlawfully. You know the punishment for such things. I’m afraid the blood of our people is on your hands.” His disappointment is evident as he speaks to his son.

Ledger’s chair scrapes roughly against the ground as he stands, and his fist slams into the table. “She saved your life and the lives of many people from Westray. Does that mean nothing?”

Callum bristles in his seat and my stomach churns. “Children died yesterday, Ledger, and that is just the beginning of what will happen if she stays.” Callum gives me a remorseful look.

“I need air.” Ledger storms out of the room. Anger radiates off him in furious waves. Orion prowls after him, his suit of armor clinking with each step.

“Excuse me, Your Grace.” I stand bowing my head and following after them .

Ledger makes it across the castle bridge before dismissing Orion and charging into the woods. I stop next to his guard. He looks like he wants to disobey the order and bound after him.

“I’ll talk to him,” I say, and he looks at me wearily before nodding.

I wince as Ledger’s fists slam into the tree, bark splintering the air around him. He hits it again and again until the tree turns red with his blood.

His broad shoulders heave in time with his labored breaths. I walk over to him silently, taking his bloodied hands into mine.

My power glides over his tattered skin, eager to mend the broken pieces of him back together. After the knuckles of his other hand are healed, I bring the fresh skin to my lips, placing a soft kiss there.

He doesn’t pull away. Instead, his fingers tighten around my own while the other hand snakes around my back, pulling me closer to him.

His chin rests on the top of my head as he leans into me.

“This is all because of my presence here, Ledger. I must go back,” I whisper.

He sighs, closing his eyes; he looks so very tired. “You don’t know that, Layla. We don’t know that it was an attack from Bellehaven.”

“If it wasn’t, then it’s only a matter of time. I know King Sandor, and he won’t stop until he gets me back. He is never going to let me go.” Emotion clogs my throat at the thought of leaving Westray.

“I want to give you something.” Ledger pulls out a delicate silver chain. Hanging from it is a stunning emerald that matches the color of his eyes. It’s surrounded by small sparkling diamonds. “My father gifted this to my mother after I was born. I never saw her without it.”

“It’s beautiful.” It sparkles in the sun as I study it. “I could never accept that, Ledger.”

“I couldn’t imagine anyone else wearing it until I met you. I want you to have it.” He goes to clasp it around my neck, his fingers gentle as they whisper over my skin.

I watch, barely breathing. The cool metal brushes my neck and I shiver. Just as he finishes clasping it, I feel a rush of air, and then Maddox appears behind him, holding a large dagger against Ledger’s exposed throat.

“Maddox,” I gasp at his sudden appearance. My first instinct is to go to him, but the dagger at Ledger’s neck freezes me in place.

“Don’t move or I will slit your throat.” Maddox presses the blade into the thin skin at the base of Ledger’s neck drawing a few drops of blood. “I’m here to take her back to Bellehaven.”

“I was wondering when you were going to show up.” Ledger throws his head back, slamming into Maddox’s nose and ducking out of his hold.

I yelp, jumping towards Maddox when Ledger draws his own dagger, holding it up and standing in front of me.

“Stay behind me, Layla.” He crouches in a defensive position ready to fight.

“It is her decision if she stays or goes. You do not get to make that choice for her.”

“She doesn’t belong here. She belongs back in Bellehaven. With me.” Maddox’s chestnut eyes meet mine, blood trickling out of his nose.

I don’t know what to say, what to do. Maddox lunges for Ledger; his fist makes contact under his left eye.

Ledger’s head snaps back from the blow. He recovers quickly, landing his own punch to Maddox’s stomach. I hear the air wheeze out of him. Maddox’s dagger whips up, cutting Ledger’s shoulder.

The power inside of me, however, depleted from yesterday, rumbles unhappily to the surface.

“Stop!” I yell as they continue. Ledger manages to slice his dagger across Maddox’s chest. They punch and slice at each other, ignoring my pleas.

With each blow and drop of blood, my power roars to life. “STOP!” I shriek, holding up my glowing hands.

I immobilize both of their arms, forcing their hands open and their weapons to drop. Maddox’s eyes widen and he looks at me like I have two heads.

I force them to their knees and they both seethe as they catch their breath. They don’t fight my power; instead, let it command their bodies .

“I will not stand here and watch you two kill each other.” I look at both of them.

Guards wearing the signature silver of Bellehaven start to descend from the woods. My brows furrow as I look at Maddox.

“Stand down,” he orders them. “You have to come with me, Lay. It’s your mother. My father has had her in the dungeons for days. She isn’t doing well.” My heart falters, and I lose control of my power. It recedes sluggishly back into me.

“What?” My voice is breathy as I sink to my knees in front of Maddox.

“I’m sorry, Lay. I tried to get her out of the castle, but she wouldn’t leave. She will barely eat; she just lays there chanting your name repeatedly.”

“My name?” My stomach flips as he nods. I look over at Ledger, who is wearing a pained expression. Like he already knows what I am going to say.

“Layla don’t do this,” Ledger begs.

“What choice do I have, Ledger? He has my mother.” I stand to face him.

“I’ll go with you; we’ll figure it out.” He steps toward me, and the guards draw their weapons. I can feel the faint hum of their powers as they prepare. Maddox’s face twists in confusion.

I huff out a humorless laugh. “Sandor could take you as a prisoner, or worse, kill you for what you have done.”

“I will send?— ”

“Stop, Ledger.” I silence him with my raised hand.

“I must go to her. I have to get back to Bellehaven. I won’t give King Sandor a reason to hurt her or the opportunity to shed more innocent blood over me.

Please, just let me go,” I plead with him, my voice cracking in time with something in my chest.

The tortured look on his face is almost enough to break me. I’ve let myself indulge in the dream that I could live this life and be someone else for too long.

The reality is that I am tethered to Bellehaven, destined to live my days serving and obeying. The incapacitating ache that blooms in my chest makes me long for a time when I was blissfully ignorant and unfeeling.

“Get me out of here,” I whisper to Maddox, my voice cracking. The world blurs, and for a moment, I’m torn between two lives: the freedom I’ve tasted in Westray and the duty that’s always defined me in Bellehaven. The man who has always been my safety and the man who turned my life upside down.

My mother’s face flashes in my mind. Holt’s unblinking stare, and I know I have no choice.

“No, no, no.” Ledger’s anguished voice cuts through my haze. A vine, an extension of his desperation, wraps around my ankle almost painfully as we turn. Maddox hacks at it, and it falls away limply, like my dreams of a different life.