They arrived back at the palace after five days on the sled, five nights of making camp, and staying warm with fires and magic. Keir couldn’t take his eyes from the spires stretching toward the sky, the ornate balconies glittering with marble and some kind of dark gemstone.
It was grander than anything he’d ever seen in Lenya. The Vondurian palace was a fortress, meant to protect the people in a time of war. Nothing about this place said war, not the charming villages they passed by nor the cheerful peace of the snowy fields.
“It looks the same,” Tierney whispered beside him. “Like time has just frozen in place.”
“Time always marches on, Princess.” Keir had taken on a more formal tone since Tierney decided not to tell her parents who he was. She had to have her reasons, and he would follow her lead. But it meant keeping his distance from her and from her brother’s curious gaze.
They were twins who looked nothing alike at first glance. But the closer he studied them, the more he realized they had the same delicate cheekbones, the same curve of their eyes. And their smiles … while Toby’s didn’t hold nearly as much mirth in his, there was something secretive in the way he grinned that reminded Keir of Tierney.
Like he knew more than he revealed. It was as if he could see things that hadn’t been said. The way Keir felt for Tierney, for one.
The guards near the front door snapped to attention. They didn’t wear their battle armor for their post, and that told Keir they didn’t have to be prepared to march against an enemy at any given moment.
Both of the guards smiled as the group approached on foot, having left the dogs in the village with their handler.
“Princess,” the one on the right started, a young man with a too familiar look of genuine affection. “Welcome home.”
“Caleb.” Tierney ran toward them and hugged the guard, an improper gesture for a princess. She then hugged the other, a much older woman. “Clodagh.”
“Princess.” Clodagh had tears in her eyes. “We’ve been so worried about you.”
Keir waited for someone to tell them it wasn’t right to act so familiar with a member of the royal family. But he’d learned on the journey that few fae told Tierney what to do.
Caleb bowed to the king. “They’re waiting for you, sire.”
“Thank you, Caleb.” King Lochlan patted the man’s shoulder as he passed. “Tell Kala we’re wishing her well with the pregnancy.”
“I will. Thank you, your Majesty.”
They walked under a grand archway into an even grander entryway. The moment they passed through the doors, the cold disappeared. Keir found an explanation in the hearth nearby, not wanting to think deeper about the immense magic these fae held.
Next to them, Lenya was little more than a cow pasture full of fae who’d been killing each other for too long. Why would the kings and queens of these great realms want to help them?
As if she could sense his thoughts, Tierney’s hand slid into his, squeezing before letting go. It was like she was telling him to trust her.
That was something, he’d come to realize, that had been inevitable.
Brea walked past them and turned to face the group. “I gave Griff instructions to have rooms made up for you all, but before we can be allowed to rest, I’m afraid there are fae waiting on us.”
Tierney groaned. “Don’t tell me you’ve called a council meeting right when I’ve returned. Can’t I have a day before jumping back into heir duties?”
Brea wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her along. “Do you have so little faith in me?” She leaned in, dropping her voice, but not low enough Keir couldn’t hear. “Your father suggested it, but I wouldn’t let him.”
“It would have been protocol,” Lochlan grumbled.
“Last time we were missing, they showed up without being summoned,” Toby said.
Bronagh looked from Toby to Tierney. “Do royal children go missing quite frequently here?”
“You’d be surprised.” Gulliver laughed.
Tierney scowled. “Toby and I just went to visit our cousins in Fargelsi. I left a note, so technically we weren’t missing.”
“Except, the note ended up getting lost underneath a bed.” Brea shook her head. “And they were gone for two months that just happened to coincide with the Fargelsian Festival of Lights.”
“Our aunt is the Queen of Fargelsi,” Tierney explained. “It was all blown way out of proportion.”
Keir barely followed the conversation as they walked through the palace. What he wanted was a bath and a good night’s rest in a soft bed. The latter being something he hadn’t experienced since leaving Vondur.
All he knew was, it sounded like Tierney’s life had been so different from his. He’d spent his youth training for battle and then fighting in them, not enjoying ceremonies or parties. There were no relatives to visit, no loving family except his sister.
Servants bowed as they passed, issuing well wishes to Tierney and Gulliver. The palace hummed with life at their return, as if everyone down to the lowliest servant had mourned their absence.
“Veren, your father has been summoned and should arrive shortly.” Brea sent him a kind smile. “He has been beside himself.”
“Losing one’s heir does that.” Veren didn’t look particularly happy at the prospect of a reunion.
The halls quieted as they passed a pair of guards into a more secluded corridor. Tapestries adorned the walls, dressing them in bright colors that added to the warmth.
They stopped outside a set of ornate wooden doors.
“Why would the council be in the residence?” Gulliver asked.
A smile slipped across Tierney’s face. “Because they didn’t call the council.” She shoved open the doors to reveal a massive sitting room brimming with fae.
Griff and Riona were there, but Tierney also seemed to recognize others.
A man ran for them first, sweeping Tierney into a tight hug. “My favorite O’Shea girl is back.”
“After all our friendship,” Brea shook her head, “you love my daughter more than me.”
Tierney pulled back. “Mom, Uncle Myles is my friend now. I thought you’d gotten over that when I was like ten.”
A tall woman with skin much darker than Tierney’s joined them. “Myles, she won’t disappear if you let her go.”
“Aunt Neeve.” Tierney hugged her.
It seemed everyone Tierney ever met was here. Her younger siblings circled her, clamoring for attention.
And then, she screamed.
A dark-skinned girl with long curly hair and bright eyes crossed the room, tears rolling down her cheeks. Tierney ran for her, joined soon by Gulliver. The three of them cried together, clutching each other like they couldn’t bear letting go.
“You’re alive,” Tierney cried.
“You’re back,” the girl said.
Veren stepped up beside Keir. “Siobhan,” he explained.
Relief flooded through him. For months, he’d watched Tierney disappear periodically into grief and guilt at her friend’s disappearance, at the fact that she couldn’t find her. This reunion meant everything to Tierney.
The door burst open behind them, and a guard ushered in a frazzled man with pale skin and a mop of blond hair. “Veren.” He rushed forward and yanked Veren into a hug.
“Father.” Veren’s voice held a familiarity but also something more. When Keir glimpsed the tears on his face, he understood. Relief.
It wasn’t until that moment he realized that no matter how much Keir had wanted Tierney to stay forever in Vondur, she’d never belonged there, and she never would.
None of them were meant to stay. He caught sight of Bronagh watching Veren, the same realization on her face. The three outsiders stood together, watching a family embrace their returned adventurers. Keir, Bronagh, and Imogen had a kingdom to save, a kingdom that belonged to them in a world very different from this one.
Keir stood in the room the queen had set aside for him, staring into the looking glass. A maid had left fresh clothes for him when she came to draw a bath—a fur-lined doublet and thick woolen trousers. Despite the always present hearths in every room, the place still chilled him, with its cold stone floors and marble-lined hallways.
Iskalt embraced its status as the ice kingdom, and he supposed those living here were quite used to it.
He was thankful he didn’t have to share a room because it gave him time to think about what needed to be said to convince the fae of this kingdom to help his.
First, he had to admit who he truly was. Not a mere sailor or someone sent to protect Tierney. A king come to beg for the assistance his people needed.
He turned to survey the table in front of the settee, its dark top gleaming like amber in the light of the fire. He’d felt the power since the moment he set foot inside the room. It wasn’t only here. This palace was rimmed in a power stronger than any he’d ever experienced. If he crossed the room and laid a hand on the table, he knew what he’d sense thrumming beneath the surface.
Magic. His kind of magic.
How was it possible?
A knock sounded on his door, and he tore his eyes from the table to open it. Tierney smiled at him from the other side, and he was so mesmerized he didn’t see her brother with her.
Toby pushed past her into the room. “You can stop staring at each other now.” Another boy followed him in. “I know everything.”
Tierney shot him an annoyed look as she closed the door behind him. Toby gestured to the boy with him. “This is Logan.” He took Logan’s hand, and the two made themselves comfortable on the settee.
“Like you and Logan don’t constantly make eyes at each other.” Tierney crossed her arms. “And you don’t know anything.”
“I know he’s a king.”
They all stopped.
Toby was the only one who kept speaking. “Gulliver told me.”
Tierney groaned and flopped onto the settee, resting her feet across Logan’s lap. “Of course he did. Gullie is a terrible secret keeper when it comes to you.”
“Only because he assumed I already knew. But this time, you didn’t tell me.” He sounded hurt.
“It was my fault.” Keir wanted to make him feel better. For Tierney. “I asked her not to tell anyone yet.”
“Bull.” Tierney shook her head.
“Where?” Keir searched the room for a bull’s head or a painting, something that would explain anything that was going on and what it had to do with him.
Toby started laughing. “Oh, he’s adorable.”
“I know.” Tierney giggled. “You should have seen when I explained electricity to him.”
“I’m right here.” Keir crossed his arms and leaned against the wall next to the hearth.
Tierney sent him a rebellious smile. “I meant, Keir didn’t make the decision. I did. The truth is, he’s come here for a reason, but there was no point in discussing it and having Dad distrust him even more before we were back at the palace where we could do something about it. You, Toby, have a little habit of telling Mom everything. And you know she can’t keep secrets from Dad.”
Toby huffed but didn’t respond.
Keir had the distinct impression he’d walked into a dynamic more complicated than he could’ve imagined. In his family, Eavha and him only trusted each other. There were no other factors at play.
“What are you all doing in my rooms anyway? I could have been resting or bathing.”
“Are you trying to tell me you haven’t been ready for hours?” Tierney raised a brow.
Okay, fine, she had him. He’d gotten a bit of rest, but he couldn’t just sit here when he needed to advocate for his kingdom. “When do I get to speak with your parents?”
She stood and crossed to him, taking his hand in both of hers. Her voice was soft when she spoke. “At dinner, I promise. We won’t waste time now that we’re here. We’re supping in private with Bronagh and my parents. Not even Toby gets to be there.”
Toby scowled at that, but Tierney ignored him. “They’re going to help, Keir.”
“I wish I could be as certain.”
She looked up at him, so much sincerity in her eyes. “If you can’t trust them, trust me. I know they will help, but should they not, I will. Believe in me, okay?”
He lifted a hand to her cheek, wondering how he’d gotten to this point, where he knew without a doubt that every one of her words was genuine, every one a promise she wouldn’t break. Maybe it was when she’d saved him from the icy waters or even before that when she’d kissed him for the first time.
“I do,” he whispered. “I believe in you.”
The smile that graced her lips brought a light to her eyes he couldn’t look away from. It was then, with her brother looking on and Tierney’s words still ringing in his mind, he realized the truth.
He was in love with her.
And he still couldn’t have her.
“Well, enjoy dinner.” Toby stood. “We’re going to go.”
Logan lingered for a moment, watching them. “You look happy, Tierney. It’s good to see.”
When they were finally alone for the first time since the night before the storm let loose on the ship, Keir couldn’t think of what else to say.
“Your palace is beautiful.” He cringed at how bland the words were.
She chuckled and stepped away from him. “Thanks.” Walking to the table near the looking glass, she lifted the crystal flagon and poured two cups of deep red wine.
Nearing him again, she held one out. “You’ll never want Vondurian wine again.”
He lifted it from her fingers and tilted it against his lips. It struck his throat, and he started sputtering as the strong, yet sweet liquid slid over his taste buds.
Tierney laughed. “It’s much stronger than anything in your kingdom.”
“Just a bit,” he wheezed, catching his breath. Strong but also strangely delicious. The flavors burst across his tongue like nothing he’d ever experienced before. Suddenly, every other wine he’d ever tasted paled in comparison.
Tierney lifted on her toes and fit her lips to his. She tasted of sweet wine.
“Mmm,” she murmured. “Delicious.” With a smile, she stepped back and drank her wine. Keir wished she’d come close again, that she’d kiss him as she had in Grima or Vondur. But there’d been something hesitant in both of them since reaching the Iskalt shores.
They both knew their time was limited.
“So.” Keir cleared his throat. “Your father … tell me more about him.” They’d been on the road for days, and he’d barely said two words to Keir.
Tierney hid a smile with her wine glass. “Well, he’s … difficult. He loves me very much, and he’s a great king, truly the best, but we clash sometimes because we’re both too stubborn.”
“Oh no, don’t tell me he’s exactly like you.” He wasn’t sure if he could handle two of them.
“Sort of. I get my rebelliousness from Mom, but Dad and I share a … profound belief in our own intelligence, as my mother says.”
“Is that just a queenly way to say you both think you’re always right?”
“Definitely not.” By the way she turned away, he wasn’t sure he believed her.
She stopped, still not facing him. “I am, though.”
“You are what?”
She grinned over her shoulder. “Always right.”
If she truly was like her father, he wasn’t sure how he’d get through this night.
“Come on.” She drained the rest of her wine. “We should get to dinner, but first, you’ll need to finish that.”
He lifted the wineglass. “I think I should have a clear head.”
“Well, if you want to have supper with my parents on only a few sips of wine, it’s your funeral. Me, I’d rather have a bit of courage in me.”
He didn’t want to ask what he needed courage for.