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His answering smile heated my cheeks. “I modeled it after this one.” He carefully flipped through the few remaining crusty and yellowed pages of another book—so worn, the writing was smudged and illegible.

“ When I was young, these ruins were my favorite place to be alone and think.” He gestured to the cylindrical walls, suspended in time, halfway crumbled.

“This room, in particular, I’m fond of.”

I could see why. If I had unlimited access to his library, it would be my favorite too.

“The city is below.” He waved a hand towards the edge, then took mine and led me there. As we neared, he drew me closer and tightened his grip.

I could see the far reaches of the city as it poked out beyond the cliff’s edge.

These ruins overlooked a sprawling seaside civilization.

A long, winding gravel path carved into the cliff sides led the way to rows of stucco houses and shops.

Buildings boasting a variety of light, earthy tones lined the ancient cobblestone paths.

A cheerful vision. As if beneath the shadow of the castle ruins, this place remained a timeless reminder of the unbroken world of the past.

I sighed at the sights and let the sea breeze wash over my face. Being here with him made me feel content. But when I looked over at him, his brown eyes were rimmed silver with tears. A crack split through my chest. My smile vanished.

“What’s wrong?” I asked him.

“I…” He cleared his throat, shook his head, and just like that, his sorrow was gone. “I just never thought I’d see the day. You.” He gestured around us. “Here.”

I beamed again at the ruins and the sprawling city below. “It’s beautiful.”

The sight was so ancient and breathtaking, and it felt like a part of me. Through my blood—I suppose it was. Despite the destruction and the scars from years of neglect, it was breathtaking.

“It’s never been as beautiful as it is right now.”

Featherlight flutters warred with ruthless fissures in my chest, because I could feel his eyes on me as he spoke .

If the gods’ plan for me was to be their savior queen and marry Elias Winterton, why had they sent me Gavin Smyth? I didn’t understand how they expected me not to fall in love with him.

I squeezed his hand. “Will you show me the rest of the city?”

He had given me plenty of rest by carrying me. The pain in my side was bearable enough to make it on foot along the path down the rocky prominence. But he held on to my hand like he was afraid to let go.

The greens and reds and golds of the solstice looked even brighter in Brinnea.

Fresh wreaths were on every door—evergreen mixed with pinecones and holly berries.

Ropes of paper star lanterns connected the roofs of each building and dried orange slices dangled and swayed from fascias and porticos in tribute to the sun’s return.

Fresh oranges burst from baskets all around too. One of which Gavin expertly peeled with a pocketknife and insisted I eat. I smelled the citrus as much as I tasted it.

We went into a few shops of my choice. My favorites were the candy shop, where he bought me some chocolate—I somehow knew what it was; I liked it but couldn’t recall ever eating it—and a pottery studio where the artist was hand-forming the pieces at a table for people to watch. I yearned to stay and watch for hours.

The solstice festivities commenced as dinnertime neared. He led me in the direction of our inn on the northern edge of the city. A habit of his, I realized, to stay near the outskirts of a place to allow for a quick escape.

“Will you join me for dinner tonight?” His deep voice undercut the frantic and excited sounds of Brinneans and their last-minute preparations.

I frowned, brow furrowed, and took a bite of my chocolate as we walked. “We always eat dinner together.”

His forearm flexed as he rubbed the back of his neck. He cleared his throat and briefly— very briefly—winced. Was he… nervous?

“A special dinner, I mean. ”

“For solstice?” I savored another bite of chocolate and tilted my head at him. It felt difficult to worry about much while eating chocolate.

“Yes.” He chuckled warmly. “For solstice.”

I smiled back, my stomach fluttering. “I would like that.”

A few minutes later, I paused outside of a dress shop. A special dinner… for which I had nothing special to wear. Patiently, he stood by my side as I admired the dresses in the window. Pastel gowns of silk and satin, some covered with sashes of fur or silver and gold.

“May I please buy something?” I asked. Because despite being queen, no one had bothered to give me any money but him.

He smirked, fished a heavy pouch of coins from the pocket of his leather coat, placed it in my palm, and closed my fingers around it. “Buy the whole shop if you’d like.”

My constant sentry, he stood at the front of the store by the door and kept an eye on every person that passed in and out of the shop, all the while never letting me out of his sight.

I perused the racks for something simple.

Both because I was afraid I might look absurd in anything extravagant and because I didn’t want to spend too much of his money.

There were a few gowns I favored, and I needed to just pick one.

I bit my lip and groaned. If I couldn’t even pick a damn dress, how was I supposed to make decisions for all of Nyrida?

Then I remembered that his favorite color was green.

After one glance at the silky, sea-green dress, I knew that I didn’t even need to try it on. I took it to the cashier, along with a pair of silver heels, and bought both.

Gavin took me to the inn and left me to get ready after lighting the fireplace in our room.

The floors were white oak, the walls painted a gentle gray, and the giant bay window—closed and curtained during winter—had a blue-cushioned seat that would be delightful to rest in during warmer months.

I imagined myself reading there, windows ajar, bathing in sunlight as it sparkled off the sea .

The bathroom had a white-tile floor and a shower.

Gemma had told me about showers. More wealthy, advanced cities—including the Caves and the Barracks, where Elias trained his army—found elevated sources of water and then built pipes into the walls with pressure to allow for showers instead of baths.

And the water was heated through wood-powered furnaces.

I savored the ability to cover my healing wound with a bandage to prevent it from getting too wet, as opposed to fully submerging in a bath.

When I was finished, I slid into my dress and looked at my reflection in the wall’s full-length mirror.

It had been only weeks since we’d left my old home.

I couldn’t believe it, because surely—compared to that pale, bony, lifeless creature who’d lived in Warrich—this was someone else.

A stronger, fuller young woman. Despite the wound in my side, I was visibly healthier than even our first night in Tovick.

I had gained a bit of weight thanks to Gavin’s religious insistence that I devour as much nutrient-rich food as I could.

But I’d needed it, and even a few pounds had made a difference.

The natural curves I’d noticed in Tovick were accentuated now.

I’d never thought I was ugly, had never really cared much either way.

But I smiled at what I saw. My green eyes were bright, my cheeks and lips were full of color. More… alive .

I really felt beautiful in this dress of sea-green silk.

My silver-blonde hair—washed, dried, and brushed—draped over my shoulders in loose, natural waves.

The dress had thin shoulder straps and hugged the curves of my waist. The sleek fabric hinted generously at the shape of my breasts.

And beneath the silk on my chest, the subtle hints of my peaks pointed in the chilly winter air against the dress’s cowl neck when I moved.

The look was elegant and daring, sensual yet regal.

Admiring myself in the mirror, I felt hopeful that he might give in to the desire between us. Tonight was my— our —last chance.

My pulse stuttered and dashed at firm knocks on the door. Three, so I knew it was him .

“Come in,” I called.

I turned when the door opened behind me.

He was wearing black from head to toe. His beard was trimmed and his clean, dark hair was tied partially back in a knot.

If it weren’t for those few wild features—escaped hair at his shoulders, the few scars decorating his neck and slashing over his right eye—he could be a prince in his own right.

A king, rather. Instead, he stood in the doorway looking like a tragic, fallen warrior.

Staring at me like I was the last thing tethering him to this world.

No trace of a smile on his handsome face.

“I thought…” Immediately, I questioned my choices. “This might be the first and last winter solstice I’ll truly get to celebrate before… everything. And… dinner.” I twirled once, blushed, and frowned when he still wasn’t smiling. “But maybe it sounded better in my head.”

Stupid. This was a stupid idea.

A muscle bobbed in his throat as he stared.

“Are you going to tell me not to wear it?” I laughed nervously.

“No,” he answered, his voice hoarse.

“I found one that wasn’t very expensive.” I smoothed the fabric over my torso and hips. “When I get to the Caves and have my own money, I can send some to pay you back.”

He flinched. “I don’t want your money.”

“Then I’ll find another way to make it up to you.”

“You’ve made it up to me by letting me see you in it.

” He cleared his throat. “One glance in your direction, and every man in this city will be begging to fall on a sword for you.” My mouth went dry as I watched him drink me in, his own lips parted.

“You are exquisite, unbearably so. You are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, Aryella, and you make it… difficult to breathe .”