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“YOU HAVE ONLY grown in strength because of what you suffered, but that doesn’t mean your suffering should control you. Let it go with peace in your heart.”

Kajin’s final words at the end of every session didn’t change, but Caro felt a strong sense of relief and comfort from them all the same. He hadn’t been back at the castle in Etoval for more than five minutes before Alina cornered him and brought him here, to Kajin’s office. Alina might be more than proficient at healing the body, but it took someone like Kajin to help with the mind.

Caro let out a slow breath and smiled. “I’ll do my best.” The sealed boxes hidden in his heart were still there, and they weren’t going to go away. Pain had helped make him who he was today, and denying that it had occurred, hiding it away and pretending nothing was wrong, only helped it to control him. By acknowledging and accepting all the bad that had happened to him, Caro had blunted the edges. Although most of that success was entirely thanks to Kajin’s guidance.

“I know you will,” Kajin replied. He stood, his back stooped with age but plenty of strength still in him despite that. “Now, go enjoy the Frost Fair. The festivities should just be beginning, and rumor is you have a lovely man to escort you there.”

Caro laughed. “I think that’s long past being a rumor and is now known as fact.” He had taken his lovely little throw blanket and moved into Braxton’s rooms two weeks ago since he found he spent more of his time there than in his own rooms anyway. Braxton certainly hadn’t objected. “He did promise to wait for me so we could go to the festival together though. I’ll see you next week?”

“Of course. Go have fun!” Kajin waved Caro off, so Caro left.

Kajin’s office was near the healers’ ward, so it took some time for Caro to wind his way through the hallways and down to the main entrance hall for the castle. Braxton was leaning against one of the walls, waiting for him, his arms crossed and a bored expression on his face. A handful of courtiers surrounded him, and they all appeared to be talking at him, as if desperate to garner his attention. Most of the court had accepted Braxton, the perpetual bachelor, was taken, but every once in a while, those few still holding out hope that they could snare a prince crawled out of the woodwork.

Braxton caught sight of Caro walking across the room, and his expression changed, immediately lightening. He stopped leaning against the wall and said something to the crowd around him before sliding between them and striding over to meet Caro halfway.

“All set?” he asked. He leaned down, Caro tilted his head up, and their lips brushed briefly.

Caro grinned. “Let’s go.”

A servant brought their coats and they headed out, walking through the entrance courtyard and out into the castle bailey, and then out the main gate and onto the road leading to town.

The Frost Festival had events throughout the entire city, individual businesses and various markets hosting their own parties. However, the largest was held in the park closest to the castle walls. Karl and Shan zipped past as Caro and Braxton walked, giggling and yelling something as they ran. Prince Fen couldn’t adopt them for political reasons, but Char didn’t have such restrictions. By the new year in a few short months, they would be Karl and Shan Musen, orphans no longer. Although, there was apparently a third kid Caro had never met, a young girl who had been taken in by Zain.

“What are you thinking about?” Braxton asked, reaching out and taking Caro’s hand so they walked together.

Caro shrugged. “Just how lucky those kids are to have a family that loves them.”

“They earned that happiness,” Braxton replied, looking in the direction the kids had run off to briefly before returning his attention to Caro. “Remind me to tell you that story some time.” He paused, and then suddenly pulled Caro to the side of the street where they were out of the way. “You earned your happiness too, you know. And your current family is pretty awesome, if I say so myself.”

“My current family?” Caro asked.

Braxton frowned at him. “I would like you to be my family. My mother already considers you like another son, and my father likes you as well. My brothers and sister love spending time with you. I hope you feel the same way about them. About me.”

“I do,” Caro replied, his voice barely above a whisper as he fought to suppress tears. “I really do. I just wasn’t sure whether I was allowed to.”

“Not just allowed. Expected. Wanted. Cherished. You are all of those things to me and to my family.”

Tears formed in his eyes, Caro unable to completely hold them back anymore. Braxton ran his thumb over Caro’s cheek, wiping away any evidence.

“Thank you. I really like my new family. And I love you.”

Braxton grinned, bright and happy. “I love you too. Now, how about we go search this festival for some partner rings, and see whether we can beat Fen and Char to the altar!”

Caro laughed. “I’d like that.” He let Braxton pull him back onto the road and into the throngs of people all heading to the festivities. He had a new family who wanted him. Friends who cared for him. And he had Braxton at his side. “Yeah. I’d really like that.”