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Wrenley shrugs, picks up her pack, and swings it over her shoulder. “She’ll be distracted today. Besides, if I told her, she’d try to stop me.” She levels me with a withering glare. “Don’t you try to stop me.”
“I won’t. Rosalina wanted freedom for everyone in the Vale. This is your choice and your path to walk.”
Wrenley holds my gaze for a second longer, then strides down the hall without another word.
“Wrenley?” I call when she’s about to turn the corner.
She looks back at me.
“You always have a home here.”
For once, her expression isn’t cold or cutting. She offers me a small smile. Her words linger as she disappears out of sight. “I’ve never had a home anywhere. And that’s never going to change.”
69
Caspian
Iknock three times on Rosalina’s door.
“Come in!” she calls.
I step inside, and all at once, as she always does, she consumes everything. All my senses focus on her, my chest tightens, and I can barely breathe.
Rosalina wears a billowing blush-pink ball gown that flares out from the waist. Pink roses are sewn into the skirt. She’s sleeveless, no scars to hide anymore. She looks like a prize flower, adorned with touches from all the realms. The Autumn maple leaf necklace glimmers beside the tree token Ezryn forged for her. On her wrist is a bracelet of shells, her hand glittering with the wedding ring crafted by Keldarion. Part of her hair is clipped back with glowing pastel crystals.
“Princess,” I breathe, unable to form any more words. “Though I don’t think I’ll be able to call you that after today.”
“I’ll always be your princess, Cas.” Rosalina loops her arms around my shoulders, and I dip my face into her neck.
Her room is much the same as it used to be, but now there’s a giant balcony that overlooks the east gardens, and the space itself is larger, which is especially needed as one of the first things Ezryn did was rebuild our massive bed. We’ve already put it to good use. The cherry blossom tree still juts from the wall, scattering the floor with soft pink petals.
It’s different from when I used to creep into her room and watch her sleep but also achingly familiar. I notice golden briars crawling up the walls.
“You know,” I say, pulling away slightly to rest my forehead against her, “we don’t need the briars to hold up Castletree anymore.”
Her cheeks flush the same shade as her dress. “I know, but they remind me of home.”
“Well, in that case…” I flash her a smile, then purple thorns blooming with roses break through the ground and crawl along the wall beside her briars.
I feel her happiness bubble inside me like it’s my own. “They’re perfect!”
Leaning down, I place a kiss on Rosalina’s lips and surrender myself to her. Her fingers twine in my hair. Warmth floods through my body at the softness in her gaze, at how it feels like magic flutters between us every time we look at each other.
How is all this possible? This future I never dared to imagine. Not only my own freedom but my sister’s, my people’s, and the creatures of darkness like me.
I never imagined I’d get a chance to be loved like this, to love this much.
I’ll love you always, Rosalina, I say in her mind. You, who has made herself a home in a castle of beasts and monsters.
As I love you, Caspian. She pulls away just enough to murmur against my lips, “My Prince of Roses.”
70
Rosalina
“If it isn’t my two favorite people in all the Vale.”
Slowly, I break my kiss from Caspian and turn to see Keldarion in the doorway with a look so passionate it could melt all the ice from the Winter wing.
