33. Eldrin

Chapter thirty-three

Eldrin

I stood at the barrier for a long time, far longer than I should have. It killed every part of me to watch her walk away, but it was for the best. Amber needed to be with others like her, and this realm would be chaos. Even with me being the obvious heir, there were those who would challenge me, and would contest whether the Darkening Woods had accepted me. I had to be prepared to face an attack at any moment. Far too often the Woods’ throne was won with blood.

But I was the king.

The Woods had already accepted me, as I accepted it. It listened to me when I crafted the token to allow Amber to return, something I couldn’t have done if it didn’t want me as its next ruler. Maybe I should’ve told Amber to return in a couple months, when things were settled …

No. Even if things settled in my favor and I could protect her as queen, she had a life in her own world. Dreams. Friends and family. I couldn’t ask her to give everything up. I could not ask her to bind her life to a people who were not hers, a place where she would have little that was familiar. She never asked to come to the Darkening Woods. I had taken her here unwillingly, and I had to give her the choice to return home.

If she came back to me, it would be because she chose to do so. I refused to have it any other way. Not when being here would mean overcoming a people who may not ever fully accept her, no matter what we did.

By being with me she would be giving up more than just the life she had before—she’d be giving up her place in a world that she was able to call her own. Something I had no right to ask of her.

I loved her, which meant I wanted what was best for her. Even if it wasn’t with me.

I sighed, staring at the last place I saw Amber’s shape walk away until it vanished. And then I turned around, striding into the Woods, my hands near my sheathed daggers.

Amber was home. Amber was safe. It was impossible for her to be harmed in the battles that were to come.

And now, I had scores to settle.