Page 99
Then, she slides her palms down to his chest, an intimate movement that makes his eyes snap back to hers, his breathing heavy under her touch. “Your heart is racing.”
Cael swallows, his father’s words echoing in his thoughts.
Stand with her because a solitary king is an easy target for the council lords. She belongs to a lineage that understands the weight of a throne, and her presence at your side will form a defense that our enemies cannot fracture.
“Cael?”
Without thinking, he wraps his arms around her into a tight embrace, his body shaking and losing all its might. A broken sob escapes his mouth while tears stream down his cheeks. It takes Elara a moment to return his embrace with equal pressure, placing her hands over his head. The crown slips from his hair, thudding against the floor.
Cael’s embrace weakens. Elara only tightens her hold on him. He pulls back to meet her eyes, his hands sliding from her back to her arms. My father is dying. He glances down at the silver crown resting on the floor. We will become king and queen soon.
The tenderness in Elara’s expression fades.
XXXVI
THE PRIVATE CHAMBER
E
Elara’s world stops.
The meaning of his signs fills the space between them, the word soon echoing inside her mind until it settles over her limbs like a sudden frost. Her gaze drops from Cael’s wide eyes to his crown resting on the floor by her foot.
She is no longer a captive princess waiting for her father’s wrath to fade, nor is she a bargaining chip meant to hide in the shadows of a foreign court. She will face the weight of a crown she never sought, alongside a silent prince who is breaking in her arms.
Elara tries to keep her composure at this harsh moment. The pressure leaves her on the verge of panic, her breathing turning shallow while her fingers lock against her skirts. What is happening to Raelith? Does everyone know? Did Cael know this entire time, or is he finding out now too? How can two people who are trapped and helpless in this palace stop a queen who controls the entire court? How can a princess who spent her time by a withering garden become queen? The questions beat against her chest, a physical ache that mirrors the trembling of the prince beside her.
“I am sorry for your father,” Elara murmurs.
King Raelith is the man who made Elara feel at ease when she first arrived. Beside Kaera, the sovereign ensured her well-being, never once punishing her or expecting an action beyond her capacity. He is a complete contrast to her own father. She recognizes the magnitude of his warmth through the care Cael and Kaera demonstrate toward him. During their simple interactions around the table at meals, she witnessed a bond she spent her entire existence wishing to receive from her own lineage.
Her father-in-law granted that comfort without hesitation.
Elara’s throat tightens, a thick pressure blocking her breath while she struggles to comprehend the loss.
“I am so sorry,” Elara repeats, her voice trembling. She forces the burning sensation from her eyes, blinking against the threat of tears. “Does Kaera know? The rest of the palace, and perhaps Hartwell?”
She pauses, realizing her rapid inquiries risk overwhelming his state. Her lips press shut, refusing to utter another word into the quiet hall.
Cael looks up. His gray eyes are bloodshot, a storm cloud releasing its rain. Kaera knows, he signs, his hands shaking while he struggles to form the symbols. She wept and pleaded for me to share her tears at that moment, but I could not. He squeezes his eyes shut. I cannot believe he is dying. I felt the truth from the beginning, my heart aching under the expectation of a harsh punishment, but I denied the reality.
He is the only elder member of this family who sees past my silence, Cael continues, his tears spilling over his cheeks. I viewed his presence as my entire world during my youth. I looked up to him, mimicked his stride, and found my strength because of his devotion to me. He pauses while a ragged gasp fractures his breathing. Even after my mother abandoned our family, he refused to surrender his hope for my future. He sat awake past midnight, exhausted from the duties of the state, to reassure my mind of his endless love. He reminded me that no matter what the court muttered about my inability to speak, he cherished my existence.
His body sinks against his chair. He brings his palms over his face while tears spill past his fingers, the silence surrounding the tremors racking his frame.
Tears escape from Elara’s eyes. Cael’s bond with his father reminds her of a connection she once possessed with Aline and Walker. Their sacrifice of exhaustion and health meant everything to her. Their love ensured her mind felt validated beyond a royal title. She brings her hand up to reach for her locket, only to find bare skin. Looking down at her collarbone, she remembers she stopped wearing the token. She stopped reaching for her mother.
She looks over at Cael and studies his devastation, his frame trembling and hopeless. Elara’s fingers clench with a growing familiarity piercing her heart, a sensation she tries to force down. Leaning forward, her hands reach for his wrists and remove his palms from his face, revealing his wet cheeks and broken eyes. Elara leans her face closer by an inch, hesitant.
Cael reads her and brings his hand to the back of her neck, guiding her forward further until their foreheads touch.
Elara closes her eyes, taking a moment to breathe. “What will we do now, Cael? I do not know how we will manage this transition, or if I possess the capacity to be a queen. I am not adequate as a princess. Let alone a ruler with a throne.”
When Elara opens her eyes, she finds Cael’s gaze on her face. He pulls back two inches and raises his hands to sign. I cannot think of a solution while Maereth blocks our path. I could not bring myself to inform Father of her actions. It will overwhelm his remaining strength.
Elara nods and speaks, her voice stammering. “I am confused why Maereth pursues this path. Why is she putting this kingdom into danger?” She shakes her head. “What will she gain from this choice? It will harm the realm, leaving nothing but destruction.”
She wants absolute dominion, Cael signs while his tears dry against his skin. She wishes to secure her own power and stand alone. She takes advantage of my father’s condition.
