Frozen Tides (Falling Kingdoms #4)(82)

And then she saw it, a sight she never would have believed possible.

Jonas Agallon and Magnus Damora, walking side by side along the dock.

“All right,” she whispered. “That proves it. I’m still asleep and dreaming.”

Nerissa smiled. “Or it’s proof that miracles are possible.”

Cleo couldn’t tear her gaze away from the prince and the rebel. “Is Magnus smiling or clenching his teeth? Did Jonas just tell him a joke?”

“He’s definitely clenching his teeth. I have a feeling Jonas won’t be telling any jokes for a while.”

“What do you mean?”

Nerissa shook her head. “I thought it best that Nic tell you.”

Now Cleo was worried. Something must have gone terribly wrong in Paelsia. “Nerissa, Nic’s not here. Clearly there’s something I need to know, and you need to tell me.”

Nerissa met Cleo’s gaze with dark, troubled eyes. “Lysandra’s dead.”

Cleo gasped. “What?”

“During their journey they came across Princess Lucia and another man and . . . it didn’t go well. I don’t know much more than that, princess. I’m sorry.”

“No. Oh, no!” Cleo gasped.

Lucia and another man. It had to be the companion who came to the palace, looking for the stone wheel. This was his doing. She knew it to be true, without a single doubt.

“I didn’t know Lysandra was a friend of yours,” Nerissa said.

“She wasn’t. But this is still a great loss to us all. Lysandra was a skilled and passionate fighter.” Cleo forced herself to breathe deeply, to compose herself and focus on the task at hand. Lysandra had never said a kind word to Cleo, but she knew how close she’d been to Jonas. Cleo had admired Lysandra for her strength and her ability to blend in and fight as fiercely as one of the boys.

And Jonas had cared so very deeply for her.

Her heart broke for him. Oh, Jonas.

Cleo pulled away from Nerissa’s side and walked toward Jonas and Magnus.

Magnus saw her first, his expression shifting to displeasure in an instant. “What are you doing here?”

“Why wasn’t I informed about this?” Cleo snapped.

Magnus rolled his eyes. “You shouldn’t be here. Return to the palace immediately.”

“No.”

He hissed out a breath of annoyance. “These docks are no place for a princess.”

Ignoring the prince, she turned to Jonas. “I just heard about Lysandra.”

Jonas met her gaze. “I didn’t even know how much she meant to me until moments before she . . .” He scrubbed his hand over his face. “I was so blind.”

“There are no words, Jonas. I’m so very sorry.”

She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly. It took a moment, but he returned her embrace.

“I’m going to kill the king. Not for the prince, not even for all the Mytican citizens he’s tried to own and exploit. I’m going to do it for her.”

She nodded. “I know you’ll be successful.”

He pressed his lips against her forehead, kissing her gently. “I’ll see you again soon, your highness.”

“You’d better mean that.”

Jonas nodded and gave her a half smile before heading for the gangplank and boarding the ship.

Cleo risked a glance at Magnus. Not for one solitary moment did she forget he was standing only a few paces away.

His arms were crossed over his chest and he studied her, his expression blank apart from the tight line of his jaw.

“What a tender farewell,” he said. “How romantic.”

Yes, of course the prince was dense enough to believe their exchange had been one of romance rather than friendship born during a time of hardship and grief.

She decided to let him believe whatever he wanted about her and the rebel.

She forgot all about Magnus when she saw someone approaching her—Nic, taking her completely by surprise.

“What are you doing here?” she demanded.

He regarded her with curiosity, shifting the bulky satchel he held to his other shoulder. “I was about to ask you the very same question. Have you spoken with Nerissa?”

“Yes. She hasn’t told me everything, but she’s told me enough.” She took hold of his coat sleeve. “I know about Lysandra. That’s awful beyond words. But, Nic, you could have been killed too.”

“But I wasn’t.”

“Perhaps next time,” Magnus said, interrupting them. “Cassian, go back to the palace. You’re not wanted here.”

Nic glared at him. “I’m going to Kraeshia with Jonas.”

“Nic, no,” she said, her voice nothing more than a rasp. “Jonas is ready to put his life in danger by going on this trip. You might think you’re ready to do the same, but I refuse to risk losing you, too.”

“I have to do this, Cleo. I need to help. What good am I to anyone if I just sit around the palace all day like a useless lump?” His jaw tensed. “And I need to find Princess Amara. I want to get the water Kindred back, and she needs to pay for what she did to Ashur.” The grief he’d been trying so hard to keep hidden from her, from everyone, flared in his eyes. “Please understand that I need to go.”