Chapter 59

The rest of the day,I cannot stop thinking about Asha and the words she spoke. They follow me to the Great Hall, where I try to eat something, but I cannot force the food past my numb lips.

How can I eat and drink wine, as if my sister isn't locked below the palace?

I cannot.

When I retire to our bedchamber, I try to muster an ounce of happiness, but it refuses to be mustered. It's as elusive as the sun on a stormy day.

Jasce holds me as I lie in bed that night, and even though I cling to him, I cannot get the image of her battered face out of my thoughts.

Grief has made Asha this way, and I hate to see her so broken. Everything in me wants to mend things for her, but there is no fixing what she has done. At the end of the day, she attacked Sharhavva.

Jasce cannot just let Asha go. His people would never allow it.

Besides, it would be exceedingly dangerous to release her. Especially, considering how much her men adore her. They would follow her to the ends of the earth without question if she asked them to.

If Jasce let her walk free, she could easily rally support and spark an uprising. One loose flame could ignite a wildfire of rebellion.

I slide closer to Jasce and lay my head against his chest. He draws me in tight against him as I close my eyes and push aside my fears.

There will be time for worries later. For now, I just want to be a woman clinging to her husband.