A knot of tension that had been sitting between my shoulders all summer lifted.
“I’m to return? Truly?”
“The year is about to begin again, and we will not have formulated an effective strategy by the time classes commence. Conall does not mean to act until closer to your graduation, and we must use that time.”
“I want to help,” I blurted out.
She eyed me again, and I tried to read what might be lurking behind her expression.
“You are only nineteen and not even a graduated mage. We need you to spend your year dutifully attending lessons at a remote Academy. So ordinarily I would dismiss the suggestion that you could be of assistance. But the king-elect must also return to the Academy—it is necessary for him to complete the year if he wishes to be crowned. So, with him there, you will be central to unfolding events—whatever I or your parents think about the matter.”
She paused. “If you and Darius think of some way to bring us a bloodless victory, I hope you will not hesitate to share it with us all.”
“Of course we would share it,” I said, not entirely sure if she was gently mocking me with her final line or if she truly thought I might keep something of such import to myself. Or was there something else entirely behind her inscrutable manner?
My aunt took a step back, the air about her changing subtly to one of cool command. “I will continue to assign your loyal guardian to you. Her superiors tell me she has indicated her willingness to return to Kallorway. But for now, I think it might be best if you withdrew from the ball. If anyone inquires, I shall inform them you are fatigued and need to rest before your upcoming journey back to the Academy.”
I frowned, but a glance down at my dirty gown, torn in one place, made me nod in agreement.
“Very well, Aunt. As you wish.” I turned to go but paused and looked back. “You know, if you’d asked, I would have been happy to demonstrate my ability for you.”
“I find more is revealed in the heat of battle than in a dry demonstration,” she replied, her face once more inscrutable.
I considered answering but ended up merely dropping a shallow curtsy and departing, Layna at my heels. If I succeeded in convincing my parents to give their approval to Darius, I might one day need to remember that the world looked different when you wore a crown.
I didn’t see my parents until lunch the next day, and by then they must have spoken to the queen because they seemed resigned to my imminent departure. Stellan, however, looked disappointed. My return to Kallorway meant Elsie’s return as well.
Lucien arrived late for the meal, sliding into his place without looking in my direction. I gave him a hard stare.
“I find myself suddenly suspicious about your inability to attend the ball last night, Lucien,” I said. “It’s not that I minded representing the family, but I’d hate to think you knew about the planned attack.”
Both my parents swiveled to stare at me. Whoops. I guess their conversation with my aunt hadn’t been entirely comprehensive.
“Attack?” my mother asked sharply.
“Someone attacked you?” My father leaned forward. “Why weren’t we informed of this?”
“Probably because it was Aunt Lucienne who attacked her,” Stellan said caustically.
Lucien gave me a reproving look, and I sighed.
“Well, not personally. But ordering her personal guard to attack me is basically the same thing.”
My parents exchanged an outraged glance before my mother turned narrowed eyes on Lucien.
“And you knew of this plan?”
“Verene is the one who chose to keep secrets from us all,” Lucien said. “She has to expect to be challenged.”
I snorted. “Challenged? Is that what you’re calling it?”
“Don’t be such a baby,” he snapped. “You look fine to me.”
“Lucien.” My father’s tone was the sort that brooked no opposition. “It is time for this to stop. We have always supported you in spending time with your aunt and encouraged you to focus on your duties as crown prince. But I will not permit you to forget your family.”
“You mean like Verene did?” Lucien met his gaze with fiery eyes.
I held my breath, my eyes flicking between them. What would my father say to that? Did his defense of me mean he and my mother had moved past my deception?
“Verene did not attack one of her own family members,” Mother said. “Or condone such a thing.”
She sighed. “For all you’ve graduated now, you’re still young, Lucien. You’ll learn the value of family—it is not something to be overlooked or underestimated.” Her eyes swung to me. “And your sister is younger still. We all—young and old—make mistakes. As family, we must be first to forgive.”
The tension across my shoulders eased. But something drove me to challenge her statement, even while I relished her words.
“But did I make a mistake?” I asked. “Or has Lucien proven my exact point? I never set out to deceive my family. It’s the queen and crown prince of Ardann who made me wary—and it seems to me with good reason.”
Lucien stiffened. “Don’t try to blame this on me, Verene.”
I sighed. “I’m not trying to blame it on anybody. I’m saying it’s a complicated situation without clear right or wrong. I wanted the freedom to explore and develop my new abilities before I became a tool to be fought over and bargained between crowns. That’s why I kept it a secret from everybody. You can’t blame me for having a different path from yours, Lucien. But I would never betray Ardann or my family.”
“Not even if your precious prince ordered you to?” Lucien muttered into his plate.
“Darius would never order such a thing,” I said, heatedly. “Do I have to remind you he’s the reason any of you even know of my abilities? I think if nothing else, Darius has proven himself there.”
Lucien opened his mouth, but I snapped at him before he could speak.
“And don’t say that a crown changes people—that would just be proving my original point.”
Lucien closed his mouth and looked at me. And for the first time since my parents had dragged me back, his gaze was more considering than angry. I drew a long, trembling breath, preparing to turn to my parents and address them next. But before I had a chance to do so, the door to our private dining room burst open, and Elsie tumbled into the room.
Chapter 3
Her eyes swept over us all, not even pausing on Stellan before they fastened on me. My younger brother leaped to his feet, but I gave him a stern look, and he reluctantly sank back down.
“Princess Verene,” she gasped, panting slightly as if she’d been running through the palace to reach me. “I need you.”
My father’s eyebrows rose, and Lucien gave her an astonished look, but I ignored them both. Pushing my chair back, I hurried around the table to join her at the door. Glancing back over my shoulder at my family, I instructed them to continue the rest of the meal without me.
“More secrets, I suppose,” I heard Lucien mutter as I closed the door, but his voice held less rancor than it had previously.