Page 34

After a short and restless sleep, I peek out the kitchen window to scan our yard. The fewer witnesses the better. I take in the soft morning light, then go still at the man standing in front of our door. A guard.

No.

In a daze, I retreat back to the safety of my room. It’s not complicated to figure out what’s transpired since last night. Mum’s taken my accusations—my threats—to Father.

Now they’re keeping me imprisoned in this house.

Skies. Did my rebellion hurt Tristan?

It’s all I can do not to slam my bedroom door as my chest rises and falls harshly. I thought a morning stroll in daylight would be less suspicious to our border guards than sneaking around in the dark. Especially since I’ll need to wander deep into the forest to search for any Kingsland spies. But now my only hope of delivering this map is to slip out undetected.

Carefully, I inch open the shutters of my window and peer out. Although soldiers aren’t stationed directly outside, they’re patrolling too close by for me not to be caught.

Fates. I bow my head and brace myself against the wall.

There’s a soft knock on my bedroom door, and it opens.

“You put a guard at the door to keep me prisoner?”

I don’t turn around to see who it is. It doesn’t matter.

“You’re not thinking right,”

Mum says. “You’re distracted.”

“I’m—”

I spin around, and my face goes blank at finding my best friend standing beside Mum. “Freia!”

Her usual mischievous grin is missing. Her big brown eyes lower with concern to the fresh bandages at my throat.

“Yes,”

Mum says. “Mrs. Nastuk finished your dress, and I thought you might like Freia to help you try it on.”

My lips part as she holds up a wedding dress the color of dandelion fluff that somehow also shimmers like water. That material must have cost a fortune in goods with the traders. The design is simple but elegant and reminds me of a dress I once saw on the cover of a novel about an epic romance. The skirt is long, and the neckline in the front drops into a fitted V.

It’s beautiful.

I hate everything it represents.

“We still have a few hours to make adjustments if needed.”

I don’t take it from her, so she places it on a hook in my closet and clears her throat. “You should know the ceremony will be small due to the tensions going on with . . . It’ll be mostly family and the clan leaders as witnesses. There won’t be a celebration after since no one will be able to stay—except for Liam. The Penners have offered their cabin for your wedding night, and I’m preparing a celebratory dinner so you and Liam can have time alone.”

A restlessness sweeps over me. If I can’t get Tristan out before the wedding, I’ll have to marry Liam to buy time. A wedding is one thing, but what comes after it . . . How do I deal with a honeymoon?

Mum presses her lips together, looking more tentative and unsure than I’ve ever seen her.

“If that’s all?”

I ask, my voice hard.

Freia looks like I’ve just ripped off my arm and thrown it for speaking to Mum that way. And just as surprising, Mum tolerates it. She gives Freia an almost nervous glance before leaving. The door closes.

Freia runs a hand over her rows of braids, then laughs to break the awkward tension. “Are you okay?”

My head shakes. “No. I’m not.”

“Is it because of the Kingsland?”

She comes closer. “Was it horrible being there?”

“Would you believe you’re the first person to ask me that?”

The fragile stiffness between us collapses at her sad smile. She plows forward and we embrace in a fierce hug. “Yes, I believe it.”

She pulls me tighter. “I’ve met your parents.”

“Stars, I’ve missed you.”

What a relief it is to have a friend who’s known me forever. One who loves me entirely.

Someone who’s always been willing to help me when I’ve asked.

Of course. Freia could deliver my map to Vador.

An uncomfortable pressure builds in my chest at the thought of asking her to do something so dangerous. She’d be risking her life.

There’s no one else.

“I’m sorry I’ve been gone so long,”

I whisper.

She leans her head against my shoulder. “You should be. I’ve had to deal with your mother all by myself. I also had to clean Mr. Lyman’s infected groin. Twice.”

She laughs as I cringe. “No, it’s fine. I missed you too. And it’s not like you chose to disappear.”

I suck in a breath. “I didn’t choose to disappear . . . but what if I did choose not to come back?”

“What?”

Her head lifts.

My heartbeat grows faster as I pull her by the hand to sit on my bed. “Freia, there’s so much I need to share with you.”

And then the truth spills from me in rushed and quiet sentences as I tell her about Tristan and how he healed me. About Kingsland and their old-world way of life. Their history. Our history. The truth. Lastly, I give the basics of Father’s confession. It’s not nearly enough time to explain anything properly, and from the confused and outraged looks on Freia’s face, I fear I’m doing more harm than good. “I know I’m explaining this badly,”

I whisper. Then I stop speaking altogether, because I need to hear her say something.

“I don’t understand. So, you think we’re on the wrong side. That my brothers . . .”

“Were doing what they were told to do. But they wouldn’t have been in danger in the first place if not for my father.”

Doubt swims in her eyes.

“I swear, all of this is true.”

We stare at each other. Then she jumps to her feet, pacing back and forth.

I bite my lip, knowing it’s going to take so much more than this to counter the years of morning academy and testimonies—

A funny look crosses her face. “So you stayed because of a Kingsland boy?”

She lets out an incredulous laugh, and I can’t tell if she’s angry or relieved. “And to think Liam and I searched for you . . .”

“I’m sorry,”

I rush to say. The last thing I wanted was to cause them pain. “And yes, I love him. But it’s about so much more than that.”

“You mean he’s an excellent kisser.”

I choke on a laugh. “The best.”

“I’m going to need more detail.”

She waves a hand. “Later. So . . . you don’t have any feelings for Liam?”

I pause, not wanting to sound cruel. “What Tristan and I have . . . there’s no comparison.”

“Okay.”

Freia blinks. “Then we’ll sabotage your wedding. Say you’re too sick to go. I mean, you did just have your neck sliced open.”

“We can’t. Father would have Tristan punished. But I have another idea.”

I catch my lip between my teeth. “We could set Tristan free. I have a letter, and I . . . need you to deliver it to Kingsland.”

Freia covers her mouth. “You want them to rescue him?”

I nod. “Once he’s free, I’m free. Then Father can’t make me marry Liam, or force me to be quiet about the truth.”

“You want me to commit treason.”

Her words come out as a disbelieving whisper.

Bleeding skies, she’s right. I can’t ask this of her.

She swallows hard. “If I were to commit treason to rescue my best friend from a forced marriage, and hopefully save my brothers from dying in a needless war”—she pauses dramatically—“wouldn’t it be better, faster to just let Tristan out ourselves? We don’t have time to ride for hours to get to the Kingsland. Not to mention I wouldn’t even know where to go.”

“Tristan’s surrounded by guards.”

“Yes, that’s true.”

Her mischievous grin returns. “But today, my brothers are guarding some mysterious prisoners at your brother’s house.”

She wags her eyebrows meaningfully. “We could probably get in.”

My thoughts race. Could this work? A hopeful smile stretches across my face even though I shouldn’t be smiling. This is dangerous. Stupid. I’m going to die if this goes wrong. Freia too.

“We’ll just tell everyone the Kingsland came for him,”

Freia says. “It’s what they expect. And Freddy’s been swimming in guilt since you went missing. He blames himself for putting it in your head to come to the front line. He’d probably do anything you ask.”

I stare at the wall, trying to think everything through. “It’s risky, but—skies—it just might work.”

I reach for Freia’s hand, then squeeze it. “If we’re successful, I’m really going to miss you.”

“You’ll go back there?”

“Once Tristan is free, I need to dethrone my father or nothing will ever change. But then, yes, I hope to. I know Liam will be disappointed . . .”

“He will be,”

she says. “But he’ll be okay. There are . . . plenty who are interested in taking your place.”

My head lifts as she fiddles with her fingers. “Like, you?”

I can’t believe I didn’t see it sooner. She’s never hidden her attraction to Liam.

She gives me a shy smile, almost scared of my reaction. But she has nothing to be afraid of. I throw my arms around her and hug her tightly. “You two would be wonderful together,” I say.

She laughs. “I think you’re getting a little ahead of yourself; I’m not sure he’s ever even noticed me before.”

“Then we need to help him open his eyes.”

She snorts. “That’s hardly what we need to be worrying about right now. Let’s start with setting your Kingsland boy free.”