Fenrys drew in a deep breath, noticing several familiar scents that hovered around him. The most prominent scent was that of nutmeg and frost. Her scent. Fenrys opened his eyes, blinking rapidly as brilliant sunlight greeted him. There was no sign of Nascha, but the other side of the bed was unmade.

Fenrys knit his brows, studying the sheets beneath him. They didn't look like his sheets at home. He blinked once more and took in his surroundings. He was in his room at the palace. He was in Orynth, and Nascha... Fenrys lurched upright and attempted to stand. His legs gave out beneath him and he toppled to the floor with a thud.

He heard a door open close by. "Fenrys?" Nascha called. He poked his head over the bed. Nascha cocked hers, watching him curiously. "What are you doing on the floor?"

"I was..." Cotton seemed to be lodged in his throat. Fenrys bit his tongue, drawing moisture back into his mouth. "I was looking for you."

"Did you think I had rolled under the bed?" Nascha laughed. She crossed the room and helped him to his feet.

Fenrys let his gaze sweep over her. She looked better than when he'd last seen her. She wasn't sweating. She didn't appear to be in any pain. There wasn't a hint of magic around her fingers. Fenrys pulled her into a tight embrace, burying his face in her hair and drinking in her scent.

"Thank you," Nascha whispered. "I know how hard you pushed yourself for me."

"Are you all right?" Fenrys asked in reply.

"I'm fine. I've finished Settling and all that's left is for my body to adjust to my new aging process and strengthened magic. Rowan and Vaughan filled me in on what I should expect in the coming weeks."

"How long have I been asleep?"

"Nine days. It was a week for me."

"How did we wind up at the palace?"

"Luciana told Vaughan to follow us like you asked her to. He said that Rowan followed us first because he could shield himself from my magic and observe what was happening at a safe distance. While he was doing that, Vaughan, Lorcan, and Aedion tracked us on horseback. Rowan regrouped with them and they reached us a few hours later."

"Were you awake when they arrived? I don't remember any of this."

"You were already asleep," Nascha answered. "But I was partially awake. I..." She hesitated, tightening her arms around him. "I didn't want to let them near us at first. Not even Vaughan."

"I know the feeling."

"I'm sorry if I how I acted towards him made you uncomfortable."

Fenrys stiffened and began stroking her hair. "I was uncomfortable, but I don't blame either of you. You needed something that I couldn't give, and he could. I would've done anything to ease your pain and bring you comfort, even if that meant stepping back and letting Vaughan take care of you. Truthfully, I'm glad you trust each other and get along so well."

"You are?"

Fenrys nodded. "Vaughan needs friends, and so do you. True friends and true allies."

"What about the others?" Nascha asked.

He sighed. "They are my friends, Stardust, but I'm not sure they're yours. They care for you more than they did when you first arrived, but at the end of the day, you are still a bargaining chip to them. You are an expendable ally. If they are forced to choose between you and Terrasen, they will choose Terrasen without hesitation."

Nascha drew back, meeting his gaze. "And what would you choose?"

"I hope we never have to find out," Fenrys replied. "I love you." He brushed his thumb across her jaw. "But I love Terrasen and my friends too." Nascha hooked her arms around his neck and kissed him softly. "Now," he said when she pulled away, "is there anything to eat around here? I'm starving."

Nascha grinned. "I'm sure there's something. I'll go find Aelin." She touched another kiss to his lips and ducked out the door.

Fenrys smiled after her and stretched his arms over his head with a contented sigh. He furrowed his brows and reached into his well of magic, testing its depth. His magic seemed to be fully restored. In the blink of an eye, he teleported into the bathroom. His smile grew brighter. His head didn't even hurt. He was just thirsty and so incredibly hungry.

Fenrys distracted himself from his hunger by seeing to his needs and smoothing out his hair. It had been left unbound during his regenerative sleep and was now an unruly mess of tangled curls. A timid touch drifted across the Bond before he heard the bedroom door open again. Fenrys left the bathroom, quickly lacing his pants.

Lysandra and Evangeline set a few trays of food on a table and gave him warm smiles before leaving. Nascha trailed after them, leaving Fenrys alone with Aelin. He could sense Nascha's desire to remain and almost asked her to, but something in Aelin's gaze prevented him from doing so. Fenrys sat down and Aelin took the seat across from him.

Aelin blinked three times. Are you all right?

    He blinked once. Yes.

    Aelin smiled and pushed the trays closer to him. "Then eat. I'd hate for you to be grumpy right after a nine day nap." Fenrys rolled his eyes and dug in. The minutes dragged by in silence as Aelin rubbed her chin, obviously contemplating something.

    At last, she spoke again. "I didn't want to talk about this so soon after you woke up, but I don't really have much of a choice." Fenrys motioned for her to continue. "There's been no word on the Revolutionists. Rumors claim they're setting up war camps in the Anascaul and Ruhnn Mountains, close to the Frozen Wastes."

    "Have you sent people to investigate?" Fenrys asked.

    Aelin nodded. "Aedion dispatched scouts from the Bane and Vaughan called in a few of his personal spies. None of them have reported back yet."

    "I'm sure they will soon."

    "Me too. I can't help but wonder if their silence is due to Rayan and Eliora's deadline. I think they're waiting to see what happens when it arrives."

    Fenrys took a sip of water and ran his fingers through his hair. "We'll be vulnerable. If we leave Orynth and join the soldiers on the frontlines, the Revolutionists can spin lies about what we're doing. They could claim you're slaughtering your own people. You're ordering your blood-sworn to kill those who oppose you. They could paint you in the same light as Maeve."

    "And all of you would share my downfall," Aelin murmured. "The Revolutionists could march into Orynth in our absence and claim the city. If they have the people's support, they could demand my abdication peacefully. If they don't have the people's support, they'll use my subjects against me. Either way, I won't return to Orynth as a Queen, and it wouldn't be long before they decided to rid themselves of me forever."

    "Then we only have one option. If war comes, you can't join us on the battlefield."

    "No, I won't just..."

    "You won't leave your throne unguarded," Fenrys interrupted. "Divide our strength. Keep some of us here to protect the city from the Revolutionists and send the rest of us to lead the battle against the Arcelians. Rowan should stay with you. No one will protect you more devoutly than he will."

    Aelin shook her head. "If war comes, Rowan leads my army alongside Aedion. I trust no one else with my kingdom and my people."

    "Then let me stay with you," Fenrys urged. "I would ask that anyway." He lowered his gaze with a sigh. "I know Nascha isn't going to become Lady of Arcelia. If Rayan and Eliora still won't comply with any of your other attempts at negotiating peace..."

    "They won't."

    "I can't fight against Nascha's people, and I can't ask her to either. Let us stay and defend Orynth."

    "If she will not defend us from her own people, what makes you think she'll help defend us from the Revolutionists?" Aelin asked.

    "Despite what she says, she still cares for Terrasen. I know she doesn't wish to see it, or you, fall to the Revolutionists. She wants to help. She just can't help the way you want her to."

    "She can't help the way I need her to. No, she won't," Aelin corrected. "She won't help and it's going to cost many innocent people their lives. Does she have a valid reason for refusing to take her place, other than the pitiful excuses we've heard?"

    "Did you have a valid reason for abandoning Terrasen as long as you did?" Fenrys snapped. A hurt look flashed through Aelin's turquoise and gold eyes. Fenrys reached for her. "Aelin, I'm sorry. I didn't mean..."

    Aelin stood abruptly. "I'm glad you're both awake and feeling better." She started towards the door.

    "Aelin, wait." Fenrys hurried after her and ducked in front of the door, blocking her path. "I didn't mean that. I just... I've been asleep for nine days and before that, I was taking care of Nascha while trying to help you deal with the Tarins. I'm doing my best to help everyone, but I can't force anyone to do anything."

    Aelin crossed her arms as she listened. "You and Nascha are alike in many ways, but this isn't one of them. You were ready to become Queen. You always knew that's what you were destined for. Nascha was never destined to become Lady of Arcelia. No matter how much we push her and guide her, I don't think she'll ever feel ready to take that role. You've recovered from the trauma of Adarlan's invasion as well as you'll ever be able to. For Nascha, it's still an open wound. One that has festered for years with no one to help her treat it."

    Fenrys swallowed, holding his Queen's gaze. "You haven't seen her like I have. You've never seen how she wakes up from a nightmare, screaming for her parents and brothers, thinking her sweat is their blood. You've never heard her sob for hours because she needed love that only they could offer and are no longer able to give. You didn't have to sit there night after night and watch another male hold your mate because what she needed wasn't something you could offer, but he could."

    "Your mate," Aelin repeated, and Fenrys froze. "She's your mate."

    "I..."

    "Does she know?"

    "I don't know. I haven't told her. I wasn't going to tell you."

    Aelin arched a brow. "Why?"

    "For the same reason I refused to talk about the possibility of us being mates before."

    Aelin stared at him for several long moments. "You don't trust us."

    "Not with her."

    "We would never use her against you, Fenrys."

    "That's not what I'm afraid of."

    Aelin's hurt was almost palpable. "And I would never use you against her. I would never use you against anyone. I would never use you."

    "All the same."

    Aelin's expression shifted to one of disbelief. "Why are you..."

    "You and Rowan aren't the only ones who lost lovers, and you aren't the only ones still trying to recover from it."

    "Fenrys..."

    "Ask Rowan to tell you about Seraphina. Tell him I said it was all right." He stepped aside and gestured toward the door. "Maybe then you'll understand."

    Aelin watched him, then silently left the room. Fenrys exhaled slowly and scrubbed at his face. A faint sound behind him caught his attention. Nascha hovered in the doorway, her arms crossed and an unreadable look in her eyes.

  "When," she began, "did you realize what we were?" Nascha strode into the room, closing the door behind herself. "And when were you going to tell me?"