Chapter 23

Flora

Three months later

Sigurd won’t come home.

I’ve been texting him all the details. I’ve told him that Etienne and Kala got married without many hiccups and are off on their honeymoon.

Still, he hasn’t responded.

This morning, in the car on the way to a royal engagement at some crumbling old ruins, Mother arches her queenly eyebrows at me.

“Who are you texting?”

“Sable. The zipper on this dress is sticky, and I need her to fix it.”

“Well, it’s too late now, isn’t it? We’re on our way to Skelside Ruins and Sable isn’t here, is she?”

No, sadly, she isn’t.

I hate lying to my mother, especially when she’s so sullen over everything happening with my brothers: Torben eloping, Etienne “embarrassing” the family with his public announcements about rehabilitation and recovery and therapy, and refusal to participate in royal engagements. And sadly, Sigurd’s ongoing mystery. On top of that, the king has all but abandoned her in her misery, taking days-long trips to “visit dignitaries” in Europe.

“You’re right, Mother. Just wishful thinking.”

“I don’t see the point in fixing it,” she rasps. “You won’t need a wardrobe change, and you won’t wear that outfit a second time.”

Finally something interesting to talk about. “Oh, but that’s where you’re wrong, Mother. See, Sable has a way of changing things just enough to make them look new. I wore her custom periwinkle jacket dress three times.”

My mother blinks at me as the car winds around a hairpin turn on the side of the mountain. “I had no idea.”

“Isn’t she clever?”

She quips, “In my day, we never wore anything twice. It conveyed that public appearances weren’t important to us.”

And just like that, she turns to face the window, disengaging with me.

The truth is that I’ve been texting Sigurd and Callum all morning.

I missed my rendezvous with Callum yesterday while lending a shoulder for Sable to cry on. As crazy as it seems, she’s head over heels for Uther and no matter what she tries, she can’t get his attention.

When she felt better and had a new plan to approach him, it was time for me to get ready for this morning’s royal engagement. I’d texted Callum to let him know I’d miss him.

His only response was a “K,” which made me feel horrendous.

Following the royal appearance at Skelside Ruins, Callum surprises me by waiting for me on the stairs at the palace.

He eyes Uther evilly as we exit the vehicle.

“Callum,” says my mother, smiling the widest I’ve seen since before Torben abdicated. “Wonderful to see you.”

Is she changing her opinion of him?

His eyes shift to me, and I give a silent signal. Please, no. Not now. Not while my brother’s missing—it’ll look suspicious.

The queen glances between me and Callum, her eyes narrowing.

His chest expands, preparing to say something. I can see it all over his face. He’s going to burn everything to the ground without consulting me.