I woke alone, as I'd expected to. The indent on Ysac's side of the bed left me cold, lonely. The golden threads of hair on his pillow, the subtle scent of his skin all over the sheets; it was impossible to avoid. I lay there rubbing the mattress for what like hours after I'd opened my eyes.

When I finally turned to the window and saw the sun burning through the glass, I stretched, yawned, and got up.

He couldn't tell me how long he'd be gone, and for all I knew, he might not be back for days. Though Spade Island wasn't that far—a few hours to reach the bridge on the beach—he had no clue what he'd come across, and where Gwenore would drag him to.

I figured I didn't have to hurry to get my day started, since he wouldn't be around. That, and most of the castle would be asleep for a while still. After last night's festivities, no one would be up and running before noon. Or so, that was what Ysac had told me.

As I shuffled over to his commode, I found a scribbled note on the top. The handwriting was loopy, but clean for someone whose job had nothing to do with writing.

"My love, I'll be thinking of you until I'm able to be in your arms again."

My heart warmed at Ysac's kind words. I imagined him garbed in his travel gear as he stood there writing it, then turning to blow me a kiss as I slept soundly.

I hadn't even felt him leave. Normally I was a lighter sleeper, but after our sexual encounter, I was beyond exhausted. That, and my mind was tired from all the socializing and the whip of dresses around me, the blur of men busying about fetching drinks and flirting.

I poked my head out and ordered a serving girl to deliver me some coffee. I wouldn't venture out until I was sufficiently awake. Being awake was essential; otherwise, how else would I know how to dodge Astrida at every turn?

Astrida. The name alone gave me chills. The way she'd zeroed in on me most of the night while batting her lashes at other men was confusing. Did she think it made me jealous? Did she expect me to swoop in and rescue her, take her for myself?

What would it take for her to understand that I belonged to someone else, and would remain so, forever?

Once my coffee came, I guzzled down most of it in one go, desperate for the caffeine to hit my nerves, to flurry into my brain. My legs were sore, thanks to Ysac's body pumping against them. And I yearned for company, but I'd have to figure things out on my own, today.

To my surprise, when I exited Ysac's suite, I found other courtiers up and about. Some loitered near the ballroom, watching decorations come down. Others were in the dining room, feasting on the elaborate breakfast meant for kings and queens. They were royal guests; many had come from far, so they'd receive impeccable treatment.

I wondered if any of them knew their queen wasn't even here.

As I trotted on, I saw that there was a large gathering of men in the throne-room. Curious as I was, I kept my distance and retreated to the library, instead. From what I'd observed over the past few weeks, it was the one place Astrida frequented the least; that meant it was safe for me.

Inside the enormous space, I navigated down the lengthy rows of chunky books, running my finger along the spines, marveling at the titles. So many books, so much to read, and I didn't know where to start. Nor if I'd have the time.

Our library in Springport was extensive, but here in Acewood, their collection was larger, more impressive. Bigger tomes, vaster corridors between shelves, higher and wider shelves. There were two librarians, instead of one, cataloging what sounded like the most exquisite list of reading material. Fiction, non-fiction, cook-books, and even manuals on how to learn magic.

It seemed that everything in Acewood was exaggerated, while in Springport we were more demure, more cautious with our information. The colors we wore were more drab, while here in Efura everyone was bedazzled, decked in outrageous shades I didn't even know the names of.

I was about to pluck a book from a shelf—one discussing the origins of all those outrageous shades—when I sensed a presence to my side. Someone was turning down the aisle I'd been exploring.

I didn't recall there being anyone else in the library aside from me; the librarians had gone off for a bite to eat.

Instinctively, I prepared to hide, in case it was Astrida who'd uncovered my ploy and now knew I hung out in the library.

But to my utmost surprise, it was a face and body I wanted to see, and that I hadn't thought I would for a while.

"Ysac?" I spread my arms apart in time for him to run and jump into my embrace. "You're back?"

He smelled like the outdoors; fresh and slightly smoky. I even detected a hint of salt on his skin. Salt-water, not sweat.

Before I could further think on this, his lips crashed into mine, dry but plump, reminding me why I loved kissing him so much.

"I missed you," he said, nearly knocking me into the nearest bookshelf, pressing his taut, muscular body against mine.

"You're back," I repeated, breathless as I absorbed him, drinking up every ounce of his energy. I then frowned and gently shoved him away. "When did you get back?"

He winced, rubbing his neck. "A few hours ago," he admitted, struggling to return my questioning gaze. "We were immediately pulled into a meeting because Sym and Ossenna caught us."

I gasped, then covered my mouth to muffle the sound. "You were caught?"

He rolled his eyes, a trace of a grin taking over the lower part of his face. "Don't act that surprised."

"I mean," I swallowed, "I'm not, but that doesn't mean I wanted it to happen."

"Well, it did." He shrugged, crossing his arms as he leaned against an opposing bookshelf. Were we in Springport, I'd worry the shelf would collapse under his weight, but these shelves were sturdy and thick enough for several people to lean against them. "And we got an earful for it."

I raised my eyebrows. "You both did? But you..." I scrunched my nose. "You weren't the one who ordered it. You weren't really accompanying her voluntarily. That's not fair."

He brushed a hand through his messy tresses, making me wish I could be touching them instead. "Yes, well, I had to stand up for my queen, didn't I? I wasn't going to throw her under the carriage, so to speak. Tattling on her in front of her advisors sounded childish." He snorted. "Though she was certainly the childish one during our entire trip."

I found that hard to believe. Gwenore was poised and proper, a mysterious beauty who spoke only to say intelligent or mind-troubling things. At least, that was how I perceived her. But last night she'd been inebriated and her tongue looser than normal. Was she still drunk when they left this morning, prompting her to act differently?

"She was on a mission, my love." He moved up to me, caressing my cheek, gaze diving deep into my eyes. "If she brought me along for council, she didn't quite follow it. Everything she wanted to do was reckless." He blew out a heavy breath. "Anyway, Sym and Ossenna were waiting for us at the stables when we arrived."

"And the meeting?" I narrowed my gaze. "Why wasn't I invited? I know I'm not exactly part of her council yet, but she's asked me to attend every other meeting until now."

"There wasn't time," said Ysac, frowning as he turned his back to me. "We had pretty pressing matters to discuss."

"Such as?" I joined him before the bookshelf, watching as he scanned the spines. "Or am I not allowed to know?"

He peered left and right, then lowered his voice, getting closer to me. "We went out on the water and received a message in a bottle. From Luned."

I gasped again, this time unable to block the sound before it whirred out. "What?" I grabbed his arm, spinning him to me. "She knew where you were, and you're still alive?"

I'd known of the dangers of this mission, but this information smacked me in the face as if I'd never been conscious of how I might have lost my beloved. Of how Acewood could have lost its one and true heir.

He didn't fight my grasp but his body stiffened. "That's what I said, too. But Gwenore wouldn't talk at all on the way home. She was...stoic. A brick wall." He cringed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Basically, Luned threatened her to stop looking for her. That if she didn't, there'd be consequences."

I gulped. Luned's ominous demeanor never sat well with me, even before I knew she was a villain. I knew her the least of all the sisters, and she troubled me. Everything about her screamed I have hidden power and I'll use it, and the notion unsettled me in the deepest depths of my core.

These enemies were so much different from those we had in Springport. All we dealt with were men with huge egos who refused to adhere to our continent's rules for their own sordid purposes. Here, they dealt with magical fiends who were out for blood. Brewing bad things that would bring on war, death, despair.

If Luned won, if Otho won...Acewood would become a nightmarish battle-tormented zone.

I shuddered.

"And that's not all," Ysac said, irritation flaring in his voice as he set a hand to the bookshelf for balance. "We have a new Arden." Yet another gasp bubbled up in my mouth, but Ysac didn't give me a chance to let it out. "And the mages are trying to get Gwenore to marry."

I almost spat out saliva, my eyes widening. "Gwenore? But she...don't they know she...she's completely immune to love and feelings and the like?" I gawked at him; we'd both listened to Gwenore ramble about hating the notion of marriage and being unsure about ever having children of her own. It was one of the conversations we'd had before the ball, because she knew what came after a coronation.

Marriage and heirs.

"Have they not noticed she doesn't play the same games as her sisters, or as you and me?"

Ysac shook his head. "If they noticed, they didn't care. They want her to secure her lineage. She," he cleared his throat, "gave her legacy away to her sisters. She's too busy exploring ways to kill Luned to focus on finding a husband."

I needed air. Being forced into marriage, locked into an alliance one didn't want; I remembered it all too well. Father had tried it with me. I'd delayed as much as possible, thank goodness, and his illness ended up taking precedence over my potential union.

But Gwenore wouldn't be able to escape this. Sir Sym and Lady Ossenna were stubborn, and if they had a new Arden at their side, that would make it more difficult for Gwenore to put her own marriage off.

I didn't envy her position in the slightest. Such a situation only made me miss my mother more, wishing I could go to her for advice. She was a half-mage by the time she left, and while she'd only lived in Acewood for five years, she'd have insight. A wise woman—she'd know how to handle all this. Gwenore's blind rage and reluctance, rebellious princesses and their shady, turncoat friends.

Mother would have had a battle plan for us at once, I had no doubt.

Would this new Arden live up to her? Or to the original Arden?

"Come," said Ysac, taking my hand, guiding me away from the books. "Let's go somewhere we don't have to think anymore."

I knew he meant, let's go somewhere and fuck, and I wouldn't say no. I needed to get all this nonsense off my mind, and the best way to do that was by getting naked with Ysac.

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