Blissfully, my exhausted sleep is uninterrupted by nightmares. It's the first time since Ethan and I married that I've slept soundly through the night. By the time the sun comes up the following day, however, I've been awake for hours—lying beside Ethan and listening to his breathing, deep and steady.

Allie and Nicole eventually entered the sitting room and crashed on the couch. I want to explain everything to them—I'm just scared of how they'll respond.

I'd written in detail about the attack in my various letters, but I'd hidden a crucial piece of information: I knew the identity of one of my attackers. I'm still having trouble coming to terms with it. How can I possibly break the news to them? To Mom?

Silently, I climb out of bed, tiptoeing into our closet. I get dressed almost robotically and slip out the suite door. Neither my husband nor my sisters stir at the sound. A fire is softly blazing in the fireplace before the silk couch I'd sat on last time.

One of the servants must have come in late last night—or very early this morning—and lit one. Regardless, I send a silent thank-you and sink onto the couch, covering my legs with the blanket and nestling into the warmth. I stare blankly into the fire, images dancing in the flames.

Men in black uniforms surrounding us as I push Juliette behind me, followed by the evil glint in the man's eyes after he issues his threat. The shock and grief that war inside me as I glance at the second man; the way my breath catches in my throat as a thousand little details flood my mind all at once. Despite not seeing his face in two years, I know it almost as well as my own. A tear slips down my cheek and falls onto my nightgown. Before I know it, sobs are tearing through my chest.

I cover my mouth to muffle the sound, but there's no muffling my heart breaking clean in half yet again. It's a wonder how it's kept beating these past few years. The sound of a door opening somewhere nearby makes my breath catch midsob. Hurriedly, I swipe at my cheeks, trying to get my breathing under control. A flash of pink appears in the corner of my vision as a voice fills the silence. "Laur?" Nicole stands before me, a cloak wrapped around her shoulders.

I don't respond. Nicole gently sits beside me, slipping the cloak over my shoulders. We sit in silence for several minutes, the only sound being my soft sniffles and the occasional pop and crackle of the fire. When I finally get my emotions under control, I take a deep breath and meet my sister's eyes.

"I'm so sorry," I whisper, my voice hoarse from crying. Once my mouth opens, the words pour out and don't stop. "I know I should have told you, Mom, and Allie, but I was just scared and—"

A gentle squeeze on my hand makes me pause. Nic's eyes are filled with concern, but another emotion is wedged beside the former that takes me a minute to identify: worry. "Whatever it is, Laur, you don't ever have to hide from us. Me, Mom, Allie, Ethan—we love you, and we're here for you. We're your family."

"It's bad, Nic," I whisper brokenly, the familiar depression seizing me. The words wait on my tongue, ready to be spoken.

She shakes her head, squeezing my hand again. "Whatever it is, we're here for you." Though her words are calm, worry dances in her eyes.

My chest hitches as I take a deep breath and exhale slowly. "You remember the attack two years ago?" The images from the fire float through my head, and my hand clutches hers. My heart speeds up in my chest, and I take another deep breath.

Anger flares in her eyes as her jaw clenches. A tense nod is the only sign that she hears me. I have no doubt the images that are going through her head are the same that were present in the fire. "For so long, I only remembered the first man—I heard his voice in my nightmares and saw his face as I locked eyes with him. But recently, I could identify the second man, put a name to the face." Here I have to stop and stifle the sob that threatens to choke me.

Her hand suddenly goes slack in mine, the color draining from her face as she puts the pieces together. She shakes her head vehemently, eyes widening. "N-no," she stutters. My heart skips a beat as I recognize the emotions in her eyes—the same grief and shock that were present in my own when I'd had the realization.

I shake my head wordlessly, catching her just as she falters. Her sobs are barely audible, yet I can feel the heartbreak and sorrow coursing through her body. This time, we both turn as the same sound—our suite door opening, I realize belatedly—rings out in the near-silence that had settled over us.

But it's not just our sister that emerges from our suite. Another figure follows her, face creased in concern as he looks from Allie to Nicole before finally locking eyes with me. "Lauren?" Both my and my sister's faces are pale and tear-stained.

Ethan is at my side in seconds, bending down and taking my hand as Nicole rises from the couch and hurries to embrace Allie. He looks into my eyes, and it's then I realize that I'm shaking. The telltale sounds of the castle waking up reach my ears, and with it, weariness catches up to me.

"It's okay, honey," Ethan says softly, running his thumb over my hand. He looks closer at my face, then glances up at my sisters. "Come on. All of you need some food."

We follow him silently to the dining room, grief hanging over us like clouds. I look back at Nicole, who Allie supports as they walk behind us. Her face is blank, tears visible on her cheeks. My stomach is in knots when we sit down at our table, yet I manage to take a few bites of toast at Ethan's encouragement.

It's only when I feel a hand cover mine that I look up into concerned eyes. I hadn't even noticed Queen Vanessa sitting across from me—when had she left her room? The telltale signs of grief are still etched on her face, but she manages a shaky smile.

"Your Majesty," I say softly, swallowing the lump in my throat. "How are you doing?"

She nods, swallowing hard. "Taking it day by day," she responds. Concern appears in her eyes as she notices the expression on my face. "Are you okay?" The question is so tender, so motherly, that I have to bite back tears.

My throat tightens, making speech impossible, so all I can manage is a tight nod. Nicole, sitting beside Queen Vanessa, catches my eye, a tear slipping down her cheek. Allie looks between Nicole and me, concern and worry in her eyes.

I keep my eyes on my plate through the remainder of breakfast so I don't see the flash of movement as someone appears beside my chair. "Your Highness," an unfamiliar voice says. I guess that it must be one of the servants. I don't tear my eyes from the plate, nor do I attempt to respond. I hear Ethan catch the servant's attention, then whispered conversation as they speak quietly. He then returns to my chair, setting a letter beside my plate.

Despite everything that has happened, my heart leaps as I glance at the letter. There's no return address, but my name is written in a familiar scrawl on the front. Juliette! Calmly, I open the letter, my eyes eagerly scanning its contents.

'Lauren, I'm writing this letter late at night while everyone is asleep. It's the only time that I'm truly alone. I hope everything's well in Maliwen. Word has just gotten around to us about the king's passing, and I wanted to extend my sincere condolences. Mother and I were planning a trip up there to attend the funeral. We both miss you dearly and think it'd be good to bolster relations between our two kingdoms—despite the sad occasion. Father also expressed his condolences—and that he's thinking about you. Write back at your convenience. Love and miss you. Juliette'

I'd managed to remain composed as I'd read the letter, but as I get to the end, I can't hold the sobs back. The grief I'd already felt collides with the longing that had siezed me while reading my friend's words. I barely hear Queen Vanessa speaking to Ethan, presumably making arrangements for the funeral. Tears sting my eyes, sliding down my cheeks with a vengeance. Despite my raging emotions, something about her letter nags at me. Wiping my eyes with the back of my hand, I scan the words again, stopping on the line about the king.

Father also expressed his condolences—and that he's thinking about you. The king was thinking about me? He'd hated me when I'd been in Moonbright. Before I can even begin to process the implications of those words, an electric pain begins behind my eyes. I groan softly as the headache strengthens until it vibrates behind my temples. Closing my eyes, I blow out a heavy breath as my stomach violently turns over.

The few bites of toast I'd gotten down rise into my throat. Beads of sweat pop up on my forehead as I shut my eyes and then open them wide. My body is on the verge of shutting down, but I cling desperately to consciousness. The stress coupled with the exhaustion of the past few nights is catching up with me. The world spins as I turn my head and manage to lock eyes with my husband. His face goes in and out of focus as I work to keep my eyes open.

I'm breathing heavily, my mouth dry as I attempt to speak. "J-Juliette," I stammer. My thoughts are turning loose and scattered in my head. I point in the direction of the letter, my hand trembling slightly. "Something—something's wrong." My voice breaks on the last word and Ethan steadies me just as I begin to sway.

I see his mouth moving, but I can't process the words. Queen Vanessa speaks, but I can't process her words either. I hear a cry and a muffled thump before the exhaustion and stress makes all my senses short-circut. That's the last thing I'm aware of before that blissful darkness envelops me.

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