Protect the Prince (Crown of Shards #2)(117)

I let out a breath. “I know. Being a Winter queen doesn’t have anything to do with my magic, powers, or abilities. It’s about being hard enough, strong enough, to do what’s right for Bellona, and for all the people who are counting on me, no matter what the personal cost is to myself. That’s what being a Winter queen really means. Serilda told me that once. I didn’t think she was telling me the truth then, but I do now, after everything that’s happened.”

Alvis nodded, then reached over and took my hand. “And you are a fine Winter queen, Evie. A very fine Winter queen.”

I smiled and threaded my fingers through his. “That’s because I had good teachers like you along the way.”

He smiled back at me. And just like with Heinrich, the two of us sat there in silence, watching Gemma and Grimley play and soaking up the quiet strength of each other’s company.

*

Three days later, I was right back where I started—in the Glitnir throne room.

Given everything that had happened, I never wanted to set foot in this room again, but this was a happy occasion . . . more or less.

“Today, I am pleased and honored to announce a new treaty with Queen Everleigh,” Heinrich said, his voice booming through the room. “One where we will be united in friendship, a strong, long-lasting friendship that will stand the test of time.”

The two of us were standing at the bottom of the dais, with the nobles gathered around us. Heinrich beamed at me, and I returned his smile.

“Thank you, King Heinrich,” I replied, clinking my champagne glass against his. “To friendship. And new beginnings.”

“To friendship!” he roared.

Everyone echoed the words, and we toasted to the new treaty. The nobles smiled and nodded at me, but I could almost see the wheels spinning in their minds as they wondered exactly how I’d gotten out of my engagement to Dominic and had still gotten my treaty to boot. From what Xenia had told me, rumors were flying through the palace, and each one was more outlandish than the last. Everything from my thwarting an assassination attempt on the king’s life, to saving Dominic from certain death, to battling a whole platoon of Mortan assassins mounted on strixes.

Well, perhaps the rumors weren’t so outlandish after all.

I heard the murmurs among the crowd, but I kept my benign smile fixed in place. I didn’t care what they thought of me, and I would let Heinrich explain the treaty to them however he liked. They were his nobles, not mine, and I had plenty of my own to deal with at Seven Spire.

Once all the pleasantries were said, all the hands were shaken, and all the champagne was drunk, I returned to my chambers, where Calandre and her sisters were packing up my clothes. I didn’t want to be in their way, so I left them to their work. Besides, there were some people I needed to see before we left.

I didn’t have to go far to find the first pair. Dominic and Rhea were ensconced in the same shadowy alcove that Sullivan and I had hidden in the other night. The two of them had kept their distance from each other the past few days, but now that they were alone, they were making the most of their time together.

I waited until they had stopped kissing before I cleared my throat. Dominic and Rhea broke apart, but when they realized that it was just me, they curled their arms around each other’s waists again.

“I’d better get an invitation to the wedding,” I drawled. “Especially since it involves my ex-fiancé.”

Dominic laughed, then stepped forward and grabbed my hands. “Not only did you tell me to go get the woman I love, but you also saved my family from a Mortan plot. Forget a mere invitation. I should make you a groomsman.”

I grinned. “You’re right. You should make me a groomsman.”

Dominic laughed again and squeezed my hands. “Thank you, Everleigh. For everything. But I’m afraid that I must leave you two lovely ladies behind. Duty calls, as it always does.”

He winked at me, kissed Rhea’s cheek, and set off down the hallway.

“He really is charming,” I murmured.

Rhea grinned. “You have no idea.”

“I’m so happy for the two of you, and I’m sorry for any pain that I caused.”

She waved away my apology. “You were trying to do what was best for everyone. I understand that. I’m just grateful that you saved Dominic and his family from the Mortans.”

I held out my hand. “Until we meet again?”

She nodded and shook it. “Until we meet again.”

Rhea went back to her duties, while I moved on to the next person that I wanted to speak with.

A few minutes later, I knocked on a door. A voice told me to come in, so I twisted the knob and stepped into the greenhouse. Helene was sitting at the writing desk, staring at the Amethyst Eye cactus perched on the corner.

She swiveled around in her chair. Surprise flickered across her face, but she pushed herself to her feet and crossed her arms over her chest. “Everleigh. To what do I owe this visit?”

I drew in a breath, then let it out. “I wanted to apologize.”

She arched an eyebrow. “For thinking that I was a Mortan assassin who was poisoning the king and plotting to put my ex-lover on the throne?”

I grimaced. “Among other things.”

I didn’t know exactly what Sullivan or anyone else had told her, but Helene was smart, so I wasn’t surprised that she knew what had really happened. I walked over to her, and we both stared down at the cactus. Her silver signet ring was sitting next to the plant.