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S ynth couldn’t run fast enough for me. Even with the boost from her wings, my mind couldn’t fathom taking any longer to get to him. I wanted to call my dragon to the surface, but I was afraid. What if whatever attacked him took aim at me? I had to be smarter.

Why was there no one there with him? I knew the answer to the question that repeated in my mind. This was my fault. He wouldn’t have been alone if he wasn’t trying to escape me.

When we reached him, Asante lay in the middle of a field. The tall grass crushed by his dragon left him exposed in the center after his body shifted back. I jumped from Synth’s back before she came to a complete stop, no longer concerned with being attacked.

“Asante!” I called out to him as I ran to his side.

His body was slick with blood, his eyes were swollen shut, and his skin burned with fever when I touched him. I looked away from him just long enough to survey the area. There was no obvious threat, no one there to continue harming him. When I lifted his head to my chest, he coughed, but the sound was weak, hollow.

“No, I have to get you back.” I looked at Synth and realized there was no way she would move fast enough. So, I gave her an order. “Go home, girl.”

She neighed softly, tilting her head in uncertainty.

“We’ll be okay. Go.” I encouraged her.

Synth backed away from me slowly, but when I called to my dragon, I could tell she felt the response the moment I did. And as Synth ran from home, my dragon emerged. For the first time in too long, she was free, but I had no time to survey myself. Asante was in trouble. His life on the line. I gently picked his body up into my hold and took flight.

As I flew to his home, staring down at the ground, I saw them. Trolls, running from the scene.

It was unbelievable how tiring it was to fly. My tired wings carried us right into the courtyard, where the guards met us with prejudice. I was an ice dragon flying into their territory. It was a wonder I wasn’t shot down. Maybe they recognized the prince. It didn’t matter. We landed safely, and I quickly laid him down.

Any threat I posed became secondary as they rushed to help him.

“Move aside!” I looked up, still in my dragon form, to see his uncle running toward us. He dropped to Asante’s side and checked his vitals. Then he looked up at me. “Thank you.”

I nodded.

“Take him to the infirmary. Carefully!” He directed the others, then turned to me, took off the long jacket he wore and laid it on the ground in front of me before turning and walking away to give me privacy to return to my form.

I hadn’t even considered my clothing when I shifted. If I turned back, I would be exposed to the world. I picked up the coat, moved behind the trees nearby, and completed the painful shift back. It always hurt to shift after avoiding it for so long.

“Ah!” I cried out as I tried to pull the jacket over my arm. My muscles were on fire.

“Let me help.”

I looked over my shoulder to find Uradis standing there.

“Thank you.”

Regardless of my trepidation, I allowed Uradis to help me. Once the jacket was around me, she handed me a pair of soft slippers. “Figured you might want these.”

“Why are you being so nice to me?” I asked.

“Bringing our people together. Remember? She pushed the slippers toward me and I took them as she lowered her voice to continue. “The prince threw his weight around. That’s not your fault.”

“Thank you, Uradis.”

“Now, come with me. I’ll bring you to Asante. His uncle wants to talk to you.”

“Oh, okay. Whatever he needs.”

Uradis led me to the healer's building. Instead of the small room where they kept me, Asante was in a large space. Three guards stood outside the door and to the left of them were four empty chairs.

“Sit here.” Uradis told me before leaving. A few moments later, she returned, gave a small nod to the guards, and sat next to me. “They’ll let us know when you can go inside.”

I said nothing, though her words sparked new concern. Should I even be there at all? Would he want me with him?

That was when time slowed down. Sitting there wondering about what would happen. Each moment stretched on infinitely as my mind created countless variations of what would come. I pictured Asante coming out of the room on his own and telling me to leave. I imagined his uncle telling me he didn’t make it. There were even thoughts of the queen, who I couldn’t believe wasn’t already there waiting to see her son. Just as I was about to ask Uradis about the queen, the door opened and a woman I didn’t recognize walked out into the hall.

“You can come in now,” she said.

Uradis touched my hand. “Go ahead, I’ll wait here.”

I entered the room, painted red with gold drapes over the windows. In the middle of the room was a bed and on the bed was Asante. The swelling that covered his face and body had gone down, but in its place were fresh bruises. I tiptoed closer to him, but he wasn’t conscious. I could have screamed his name, but he wouldn’t have responded.

Next to his bed was a plush chair. I crossed the room, carefully scanning his body as I did and sat by his side. What else was I supposed to do? After a while, I couldn’t take the silence anymore. So, instead of watching him breathe, I talked to him. I told him all the things I wanted to say before my secret was revealed.

“Asante, I know you likely can’t hear me right now.” I reached for his hand then hesitated, folding my hands together in my lap. “And I know that you never wanted to see me again. I just had to make sure you were okay. So, as soon as I know that you're okay, I will leave. You have my word, though I doubt that means much to you now. I wish you could hear me. Because I plan to tell you everything.”

I glanced around the room. Though we were alone, I knew the walls had ears. There were guards outside the door and aides that were never too far away. Could any of them be listening?. It didn’t matter if they knew the truth or not. The rumors would be louder than any truth I told.

“After the night we spent together,” I continued talking to Asante. “I had made my mind up that you deserve to know the truth. And yes, you should have known everything about me before that happened. But you were never supposed to find your way into my heart. But you did. And as much as it hurts, I knew I had to tell you.

You asked me how I could leave and let everyone think the worst had happened to me. Leaving home was the hardest decision I ever had to make. But I made that decision because the future that was given to me was not the one I wanted. I made that choice not just because I didn't want to be there, but because our people deserved someone who did.” I paused.

“I worried about my sister, but deep down, I think she would make a better ruler than me. She never outright said it, but I know Leah dreamed of being queen. She would talk so proudly about how she wanted to care for our people and elevate our status in the world. It was her passion and though they tried to teach me to love it, she came to it naturally. When I realized what our futures looked like. Two sisters denied what they wanted for themselves. I stepped out of the way.” The smile lifted the corner of my lips when I thought of my sister. I had spent so much time worrying about my parents that I often forgot to consider her. “There’s no doubt in my mind that she will do a wonderful job as queen. Though I still wonder if I should have asked her what she wanted. I guess, in a way, I’m just like my parents. I assumed she wanted the path I did not. Asante, I will leave your home. But I will not return to my own. That isn’t fair to my sister or my people.

If I go back home, my parents will push me back into that role without a second thought, and that is not fair to Leah. My people deserve a queen who wants to be their queen, and that is not me. It never was. Yes, I care for them, but that's not the person I am. I watched my mother closely. For years, I saw how she gave up what she really wanted for herself in order to rule. And I realize how selfless of an act that is. The truth is, I am not that selfless.” I dropped my head as if he could witness my shame.

“I wanted to live my life like my father. Full of passion and happiness and laughs that made his entire body shake. So yes, I left. Maybe I could have done it in a better way, but you know how this is. There's no way to walk away from the life we were born into. I had to make them think there was no way I could ever come back. So, I came up with a plan to fake an accident. As far as they knew, I fell off a cliff and into the ocean.

Once I knew they believed it, I came here. My mother would search for me, but Starwell would be the last place my mother, the King and Queen of the Ice Dragons, would ever think of finding their daughter.” A soft chuckle escaped my lips. “The funny thing is that I didn't plan on staying here much longer. I was counting down until I had enough money saved to flee the island for good. Then you came into my shop, and everything changed.”

I paused my confession and wondered how much more to tell him. Did it even make sense to keep going? Asante made it clear he didn’t want me in his life anymore. As I looked at him, I realized I didn’t want to change his mind. I only wanted him to understand me. And that was a selfish thing.

“None of this really matters, does it?” I felt the tears building in my eyes but kept them from falling. Finally, I lifted his hand into mine. “Just get better. Please. Your time with me may not be one of your favorites to look back on. But heal and get better to live long enough to regret it. And please know that I never will.”

“How touching.”

My attention snapped to the doorway where Domin stood with a disinterested expression, rolling his eyes.

“What are you doing here?” I dropped Asante’s hand and stood as Domin approached me.

“I should ask you that. Do you really think we're gonna believe that story?” He laughed. “I heard it all. You ran away from home because you didn't want to be queen? That makes no sense. Many would kill to be in your position. And now? Is it just a coincidence that you're here when our prince is injured?”

“You can't think I did this.” I pointed at Asante. “I brought him here. Why would I hurt him only to bring him back to be healed?”

“Maybe this is all a ploy to throw us off.” He stepped around to the side of Asante’s bed. “Here you are, the ice princess, baking your poisonous sweets for our prince. Weakening him and making him fall for you until he lets his guard down. And now, just look what you’ve done.”

“I did not do this.” I insisted. “Why would I hurt him? I had no reason to!”

“Then who else did it?” Domin spit the question at me.

“Kiala.” My name crossed Asante’s lip in a dry whisper.

“I knew it.” Domin reached across the bed and pointed his ashy finger in my face.

“You knew what?” I slapped his hand away. “All he did was say my name. That’s not a proclamation of my guilt.”

“Or did he tell us the person who hurt him?” Domin narrowed his eyes. “I asked a question, and he answered.”

“For the last time, I am not the one who did this.” I shook my head. “You care so much about him, but instead of investigating this, you’re accusing me.”

“You’re so smart, you claim you aren’t the one,” he lifted his chin. “Prove your innocence. Tell me who did it.”

I felt a surge of panic, then recalled the sight of the fleeing trolls, their grotesque forms retreating as I carried Asante to safety. “Trolls!” I blurted out.

“Trolls?” He scoffed.

“I saw trolls running from where I found him. When I flew above.”

“You expect me to believe that? We would know if there were trolls in our territory!”

“You can believe what you want, but I’m telling you the truth!” I held my ground. “I watched Asante fall from the sky, ran to his side, and found him hurt. For the first time in years, I shifted into my dragon, and I did that to save him. When I carried him away, I saw those trolls running away.”

“Or is it that you’re working with the trolls?” Domin seemed to grasp at straws as he shot another accusation at me. “Is that why they visited your side of the island?”

I shook my head. “You're out of your mind.”

“No, I think my mind is just right. And it'll be even better once you're locked away.”

“That is enough, Domin.” Asante’s uncle entered the room. “Don’t you think you’ve done enough?”

“Eivek, are you really going to protect her?” Domin scoffed.

“From you, yes.”

“She hurt him, your own flesh and blood, and you’re saving her from me.”

“I did not hurt him.” I turned to Asante’s uncle. “You have to believe me. That is not something I would ever do.”

“No one thinks you did, except this fool.”

“I am no fool!” Domin was done with words. He darted around the bed and lunged for me, his hands poised for my throat until Uncle stepped in the way. He swatted at Domin, and the old man fell on his back, yelling in agony as his spine snapped against the floor. Just then, Uradis burst into the room.

“Get her out of here, now.” Eivek directed Uradis. “It’s no longer safe for her here.”

I looked at Asante, and as much as I wanted to stay, I knew his uncle was right. It wasn’t safe for me there. Domin would have his people after me and he would do everything in his power to convince the others of my guilt.

With no goodbye, I followed Uradis out of the room. She led me directly outside the building. I couldn’t help but look over my shoulder to see if we were being followed, but there was no one. Apparently, Domin hadn’t had time to get anyone on his side before he approached me.

“You don’t believe him?” I asked Uradis as we stepped outside.

“Of course not.” She scoffed. “Domin hasn’t liked you since the moment you met. And if you ask me, he’s the one with something to hide.”

“What?”

Uradis looked like she had let too much slip. “Look, regardless of how I feel. It's best you leave.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes, Domin has a powerful voice around here. If we want to keep the peace, you need to go while we figure out what really happened here.”

“Okay, I will.”

“Kiala?”

“Mom?” I turned to the woman who shared my features and couldn’t help the smile that lifted the corners of my lips. I’d missed her more than I thought.

“We’re leaving. Please, come home with us.” My father spoke up, his voice trembling with nervousness.

“What? I thought you would hate me. How can you ask me to come home now?”

My mother ran to me and wrapped me in a hug so tight I could barely breathe. “Oh, my sweet baby.”

Confused thoughts flooded my mind. This wasn’t the reaction I expected. “How can you hug me after what I did?”

“You’re my child. What else would I do?” she tightened her hold. “I’m just so glad you’re okay.”

“I’m sorry.” I buried my face in her shoulder and sobbed.

“We’ll talk about this later. For now, let's just go home.”

I took one last look back at the door where Uradis stood. She smiled, happy for me even when I wasn’t sure I was. After a small wave, I turned away from her and followed my parents to the stagnant dragons that would carry us home. I forced the thoughts of Asante out of my head as I prepared to face the people I’d betrayed when I ran away.