Protect the Prince (Crown of Shards #2)(76)
“I’m sure you’re wondering why I haven’t married Heinrich, given how many years ago his wife died.” Dahlia shrugged. “But official titles have never mattered very much to me.”
“So what does matter to you?”
“The only thing I truly care about now is what is best for Lucas,” Dahlia said in a firm voice.
I smiled. “He talks about you a lot. The two of you seem very close.”
“We are. Close enough for him to have spoken to me about you as well.”
My stomach clenched, but I forced myself to ask the obvious question. “And what has he said?”
She looked at me out of the corner of her eye. “My son is very . . . fond of you, Everleigh. He spoke about you quite often, even before he knew who you really were, and you became queen of Bellona.”
I didn’t respond, but happiness warmed my heart.
Dahlia motioned to her guards, who were still trailing along behind us. They stopped and gestured for Paloma to do the same. My friend looked at me, but I nodded, telling her that it was okay.
We had reached the center of the hedge maze—the gargoyle’s nose that I had spotted from my balcony yesterday. The area was far bigger than I’d realized and a garden unto itself. Trees and flower beds ringed much of the circular space, while black, gray, and white water lilies bobbed up and down on a pond off to the side. It reminded me of Serilda’s pond at the Black Swan compound, although no black swans were gliding across the water here.
The centerpiece of this garden-within-a-garden was an enormous gazebo. Glossy ebony wood formed the floor and created a pretty lattice pattern in the low wall that circled much of the structure. Gleaming white marble columns studded with silver gargoyle faces with jeweled eyes supported the round, domed roof, which was also made of marble. White and gray diamonds arranged in the shape of water lilies glimmered on the ceiling, along with jet cattails, mirroring the real flowers and pond in the distance.
Dahlia settled herself on one of the cushioned benches that jutted out from the wall and overlooked the pond. I also sat down, and we admired the picturesque scene, as well as the flashes of people moving back and forth along the paths in the distance.
“This spot is called Gargoyle’s Heart,” Dahlia said, breaking the companionable quiet. “It’s rather infamous as a lovers’ rendezvous. Heinrich and I used to sneak out of the palace and meet at the gazebo when we were young. Lucas also brought Helene here. And now, here you are. Another noblewoman, a queen, who has caught my son’s eye.”
My heart clenched at the thought of Sullivan and Helene, but I forced my jealousy aside. I had no claim on him—none at all.
Dahlia turned to me, her face serious. “I don’t want my son’s heart to get crushed again. Lucas is very . . . particular about how things are, and even more so about how people treat him. I accepted my role at Glitnir long ago, but he’s never grown used to his, to being one of the king’s sons but not quite equal to the others. Not in the ways that such things matter at court. He learned his mistake the hard way with Helene, and it’s a mistake that I don’t want him to repeat with you, Everleigh.”
I opened my mouth, but Dahlia waved her hand, cutting me off. The motion made the D embossed on the gold heart around her neck gleam in the sunlight.
“I can see that Lucas cares about you and that you care about him,” she continued. “But you are a queen, and he is a bastard prince. We both know how sadly this story is going to end. Lucas already went through that heartbreak with Helene, and I don’t want him to go through it again. It would be worse with you. Because he knows that he can’t ever have you. Not like he had Helene. Not like he would have had Helene, if her father hadn’t interfered.”
Every word she said was like a dagger twisting deeper into my heart, especially since they were all true.
“I care about Sully a great deal. He’s been a good friend.” I drew in a breath. “But you’re right, and we both know that’s all he can ever be. He knows it too, which he has made perfectly clear.”
Dahlia studied me, but she must have heard the reluctant agreement in my voice and seen the painful sincerity in my eyes. “Good. I’m glad that you and Lucas are both clear about what the future holds.”
“And what do you think the future holds for him?”
She reached up and toyed with her locket, sliding the heart back and forth on its gold chain. “Lucas has been touring with the gladiator troupe long enough. It’s time for him to come home to Glitnir permanently.” She bit her lip, as if she wasn’t sure that she should confide in me. “You’ve probably noticed that Heinrich is not . . . well. He just hasn’t been able to recover from Frederich’s death. Not that any parent could ever truly recover from losing a child, but his declining health troubles me.”
“What about the bone masters?” I asked. “Haven’t they been able to help him?”
“Unfortunately, a broken heart is one thing that magic simply cannot heal. I worry that Heinrich will be gone sooner rather than later, and I want Lucas to spend as much time with his father as possible. Surely, you understand how important family is, Everleigh. Especially since all of yours is gone.”
Her green eyes bored into mine, and her words had far more bite than I’d expected, but she was right. I knew exactly how important it was to spend time with the people you loved before they were taken away. I didn’t want to stand in the way of Sullivan reconnecting with his father, especially since Heinrich was so ill.