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I left my hair down today, hanging in long waves down my back and fluffed up my bangs. I placed the black eyepatch over my green eye, sliding it perfectly in place so it wouldn’t budge until I wanted it to.

Exiting the washroom, I stumbled upon Byn slipping the last button on his vest in place.

He was wearing a pair of white pants and one of his favorite white shirts, both with golden details. Though what made him truly look regal was a golden vest with white accents on it, swooping in detailed patterns across his chest and back.

Atop his head was his golden circlet, one that was open in the front, looping around his head and each end, stopping at his temples. Both ends had a small sun on them, and the rest was crafted to look like vines.

He caught my eye, and I could see his breath hitch as he took in my appearance.

“Sometimes, I truly can’t fathom that you’re my wife,” he said breathlessly, crossing the room in a few long strides and taking my face gently in his hands—none of the possessiveness present from before. He kissed me passionately, and I had to force myself to hold back a groan of pleasure.

“Byn,” I gasped, breaking off the kiss. “We have to get going.”

He sighed, then seemed to remember something suddenly. “I have a gift for you!” he said, then rushed to the wardrobe.

He came back out with a small square box with yet another bow on top.

“Byn, you really don’t have to—”

“Please, just open it. I definitely had to,” he said, gently pushing the box into my hands.

I shot him a playful glare, which earned me a wink that made me blush just a bit.

I tugged the lid of the box off and gasped as I peered inside.

It was a silver circlet that complimented his perfectly.

Instead of two suns on the ends that rested on the temples, there were two crescent moons facing inward.

The part that looped around the back of the head was made up of different zirilium—one was vines like his, while another looked like waves, and the last one reminded me of lightning bolts.

All three were intertwined and sort of loosely braided together, connecting together again at each moon at the front.

“I wanted to incorporate each zirilium somehow, but with ten, it’s harder to accomplish than I thought it would be. I hope this is good enough,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.

“I love it. I absolutely love it. Thank you so much,” I said, taking the circlet from the box and holding it, examining the details.

“Here, let me help you put it on,” he offered, and after another moment of admiring it, I handed it over to him.

He led me to stand in front of the full length mirror in the corner of the room. Standing behind me, he gently adorned me with the circlet, making sure it held my loose hair in place out of my face.

I couldn’t help but smile.

I never in my life thought I’d have a love like this.

Tears sprung to my eyes, and Byn felt the shift in my emotions instantly. He came to stand in front of me and gently gripped my chin, forcing me to look at him. I could see the question in his eyes and concern on his face without him even speaking a word.

“I just… I never thought I could be loved like this. I’m so, so grateful for you,” I explained, blinking back my tears.

He smiled sadly and pressed a light kiss to my lips.

“Avi, you’re worthy of everything you never thought you deserved. Everything, and so much more,” he said softly.

I took in a shuddering breath, nodding, and he embraced me tightly. I returned his hug, clinging to him as though he might slip through my fingers like fine sand.

***

Giles led us from the private wing to what I referred to as the business side of The Haven.

That was where all the main meeting rooms, royal library, and formal dining halls were.

Giles and Byn were discussing the topics at hand for today, and I should probably have listened in, but I found my mind wandering.

Speaking of the library, I made a mental note to check in on Laurence at the next possible opportunity. I wasn't even sure if he knew I’d returned.

I readjusted the eyepatch on my face, my nerves starting to overcome me. Back home, Father never had me attend any meetings with his advisors or nobles—only Dimitri, as his heir, was permitted. I’d never had to sit in front of so many people I was aware disliked me before.

We were just down the hallway from what must have been the meeting room we were attending today when Giles said something that caught my ear. My attention zoned back in to the conversation at hand when I heard the name Ashford pass Giles’ lips.

“I’m sorry, can you say that last part again?” I asked the stout male.

He wasn't much to look at—he wore a pair of crooked spectacles, had graying, brown hair the color of packed earth, and was barely taller than I was.

“I said that Lord and Lady Ashford won’t be in attendance at today’s meetings—they’re home caring for a sick loved one, from what I hear,” Giles explained for the second time.

I stopped dead in my tracks, my mind reeling.

I might have even more family.

There was nobody else listed on the lineage lines in the royal library. Maybe it was a family friend? Because another relative would have to be registered in the records, right? Who else was out there that I knew nothing about?

I could feel myself starting to panic, my lungs constricting, when Byn placed a steading hand on the small of my back, leading me a few paces away from where Giles stood.

In a hushed voice, Byn asked, “What can I do? What is it?” Concern was written all over his face, his brow creased.

“The Ashford family—that’s the family my mother descends from. Byn, if their reasoning for not attending holds true, and it’s a relative they’re taking care of, I could have even more family out there,” I said quietly, wringing my hands together to keep them from shaking.

What kind of experiences had I missed out on, not knowing I had more family than just Dimitri out in the world? What relationships could I have cultivated? Did they even know I existed?

Byn visibly reeled back in shock at my revelation.

“Really?” he asked. When I nodded, he said, “It’s just… I’ve grown up around the Ashfords. Everybody knows—or believes—their daughter died during the war, but I would have never made the connection…” he said, trailing off.

He looked at me for a moment, and took a second to analyze me.

As though finally accepting this news, he said softly, “I’ve seen portraits of your mother when she was young, hung up in the Ashford house.

You have her eye under there.” He cupped the right side of my face and ran a thumb over the edge of my eyepatch.

I set my lips in a firm line to keep them from quivering, and I shook my head as if I could physically clear the fog of questions building up in my mind.

“We can deal with this later. Right now, we have more important matters to attend to,” I said, squaring my shoulders and wings back.

Byn began to open his mouth to object, but I held out my hand before he could utter a word.

“Together,” I said.

He smiled softly as he slid his hand into mine. “Together,” he agreed.

Soon we arrived at the tall, delicately carved wooden doors, hand in hand. Giles opened them, announcing us as we entered.

Everybody in the room stood as we made our entrance, my heels clicking against the marble floor.

I stared straight ahead, chin held high, at the high backed wooden chairs that were obviously meant for royalty.

The Thorntier family crest was engraved on the high backs, and it wasn’t until Byn and I walked closer that I realized the one to the left had been carved specifically to accommodate wings.

My eyes flickered to Byn’s as he walked over to the chair and pulled it out for me to sit in. I knew he could feel the swell of emotion in my chest, the gratitude and joy and thankfulness. His eyes softened when his gaze met mine, and he dipped his head slightly in acknowledgment.

I sat, my dress pooling around me, and I allowed my wings to flare out slightly, taking up extra space in the altered chair.

Byn sat to my right, crossing one ankle over his knee. He waved a hand halfheartedly, and everybody in the room took this as a sign to be seated. For the first time since we stepped foot into the room, I allowed myself to subtly look around.

Like most rooms in The Haven, the room was crafted from different stones and a soft, honey colored wood.

There were giant wooden pillars holding the ceiling up, carved to look like vines were climbing them.

In the middle of the room hung a giant chandelier, ordained with pure, transparent crystals that I imagined were dug from the very earth we stood on.

The round table before us was made of one solid piece of dark stone, but had countless small, clear crystals mixed into the stone.

The crystals in the table reminded me of the chandelier.

Taking a look around the table, I couldn’t help but notice how many people were present.

Most were males, some with their wives, but there were a few solo females present.

With that, I was impressed. From what I understood, my father only allowed the males of the Northern families to represent themselves before him.

I noticed Teagan sitting on the other side of Byn, our three chairs the only ones with high backs and family crests on them.

I dipped my chin ever so slightly in her direction, a sign of respect, and she bowed her head in return.

Finally, after the room had been silent for what felt like ages, Byn spoke.

“I apologize for the delay of this meeting. I had other matters to attend to. Now, I have heard the talks of the people, and I can say simply that I am not pleased with what I’ve heard.

I will give you all one opportunity to speak your mind, then I expect these matters to be put to rest, am I understood? ”

The room murmured their understandings.