The young servant, a woman with brunette hair and nervous eyes that dart around as she tends to the prince, sets three copper cups of tea on Renit's desk since there is no other place to put them. Unlike the king, Renit doesn't have a dining room with a table big enough to fit an army and he doesn't wish for anything other than his desk to take up an unnecessary amount of space.

She bows to Renit and Silas, who sits on the edge of the chaise, hunched forward with his elbows resting on his knees. I glare at the prince sitting at his desk, forcing him to acknowledge the woman and with a roll of his eyes, he blurts a quick thank you as she shuts the door behind her.

That leaves the three of us, alone in Renit's chambers for the first time in too long. I feel better now that I've bathed, Silas waited the entire time in my chambers before we headed over here to talk to his brother, who is fidgeting with a feather he tugged from the cup on his desk—sending the others in a disarray. He quietly cleaned them up while Silas asked the servant for some tea, three cups. That means I'm to be part of this conversation, sitting with my legs crossed at the bottom of Renit's bed.

No one has said a word, not since Renit walked back into his chambers to find the two of us waiting there, one of us resting against his desk while the other was leaning against the armoire. He had stopped, slowly looking between the two of us, and clasped arms with his brother in an embrace that would have sent the hearts of anyone with feelings fluttering.

It was strange to watch them show a display of love. I hadn't seen one yet from the two of them but when their quick arm clasp turned into an all-out embrace of holding each other so tight the other couldn't breathe; I had to swallow the lump in my throat to keep from making a scene. They've known and loved each other for over three hundred years, have fought and learned together underneath their father's rule. I'll know love like that, someday, but nothing like what they have expands over the life of a mortal, even if they believe that to be the case.

The love of immortals, cast over good times and bad, will last longer than it takes for them to fade into the afterlife of their choosing.

I twiddle with my thumbs at the same time Renit clears his throat. "I forgot how...quiet this castle is," I begin. I force a smile and look in both their directions but neither of them is paying attention.

  That is, until Silas blinks himself back and smiles weakly. "It's been boring since you two left. Renit is usually the one that provides me with all the gossip that's shared throughout the castle. He doesn't talk much to anyone, but he does plenty of listening when people think he isn't there," Silas says.

I raise my eyebrows at Renit, who smiles, keeping his eyes averted from either of us. The feather in his hands is too important as is the dark stain of his desk and the stack of papers in the corner. Love like theirs may grow over three hundred years but awkward moments are not the same—Renit doesn't know what to say to someone he almost killed.

"Gossip," I repeat with a nod. "That seems very unlike you."

"To be fair, most of what I hear is from the ladies," Renit retorts. I gape and he winks at me, sending a pang of want through my chest and then a shot of remembrance as any affection we might display quickly disappears.

Silas looks between the two of us, the reason we shut off that emotion, and grins wide. "I knew it had to happen at some point. You two couldn't go on hating each other forever." He rubs at his chin and sends another wave of mocking snickers in his brother's direction.

At least that part of him is back. Even after everything they've done together, have seen and had to deal with, they still don't miss out on the opportunity to make fun of the other at the beginning of a relationship. I wouldn't fault Silas to think of what we possibly could have done behind closed doors already, we had weeks to figure that out but our friendship didn't advance until we found the last box. I wish I would have kissed him before that, took the daring chance and beat myself up for it later.

Renit leans back in his chair and props up his boots on his desk. "I could only avoid her for so long. You know how persuasive she can be."

Snorting, Silas turns back to me. "He made the first move, didn't he?"

"To be fair, I confessed my feelings first." I place a light hand against my chest. Renit's cheeks blossom as red as the sunset outside the window but he doesn't dare snap at me for this. I must get used to this new softness between us; that hard wall we knocked down at the moment his lips found mine. And I'm so glad it did.

This...this feels normal. A conversation between the two princes and myself, Silas mocking him for finding love with a witch of ground that pissed him off more often than not. The crown prince is back to normal for the most part, from what I can see; a true testament to how strong Silas is. If he keeps getting better, there's a chance he'll be on the throne before long—if this crystal fear of mine fades out. Remembering all that can happen, I force myself not to get too excited.

Changing the subject, Renit asks, "How have things been here? Has Hallie kept you busy?"

Silas wrings his hands and nods. "For the most part, I've been trying to get back on my feet. Recently, I've started training with the guards to build back my strength since I let that part of me go. Hallie wants me to get out of my chambers for most of the day so I try to find things to keep myself busy so she's not up my ass the entire time." He laughs through his nose and I force myself to do the same so he's not alone in his amusement.

"How has father been?"

"He's been all right, same as usual. But he was plenty impatient while waiting for you two to get back. Binx has been at his side the entire time, has faced a few beatings of his own after trying to console what couldn't be fixed." Silas rubs at the back of his neck as he remembers.

While Renit wasn't here, Binx was the one at the king's side. I shove down the sickening sense of dread in my stomach that clogs out my appetite and any sense of normalcy I might have about being back here. While we were in different parts of the kingdom, I had a lightness in my chest knowing we weren't here at the castle with the king underneath the same roof.

I knew we were going back, at some point, but I figured I had time before having to deal with that. Worry about it later, I told myself. Before I could fully grasp the sense of being gone, we were riding back through the gates with four boxes in a satchel and two horses that don't belong to the palace. The journey was long, but it's not one I would trade for a nice day of normalcy.

Renit was there, the reason it was so successful and so life-changing for me. I got the freedom I wanted; I explored the kingdom and some of the most mysterious depths due to the prince's knowledge on the subject.

I could go on that journey all over again and have satisfaction with my distance away from the capital and the king because that's what I've been trying to gain. Being back here has me filled with such an unnecessary amount of dread that I find it hard to breathe, even when he's not in the same room or the same tower.

"It's over now," Renit consoles. "Hopefully father will have some stress lifted off his shoulders."

Silas silently agrees with a firm nod. "With the rebels on his land, he's had his hands full. Teams have been going out, most return in boxes once their bodies have been found—if someone finds their bodies at all."

"Where are they finding the bodies?" I inquire.

"My father wouldn't say, didn't want to offer anyone else the chance to find themselves near the threat. So he's kept most of their truth a secret because he doesn't want to scare his people or make the guards believe he isn't worthy to rule. But he's handled rebels over the years, thousands, and never balked. This time will be no different." Silas directs the words at me, quietly, so no one hears. Not even the guard at the bottom of the stairs to the tower, keeping watch over the prince.

He's the first line of defense if something goes wrong. The only thing an attacker doesn't know is that there's no sense in trying. Anyone that finds themselves in this tower will have to answer to a fiery prince with twin blades and the tendency to slit the throat of those that don't agree to bend the knee.

"Besides that, I've been helping Dalis in the kitchens, assisting Hallie with her art—she likes to use me as inspiration—" Silas winks "—and I've been trying to get back into the normal sense of things. For a while there, I didn't feel like myself."

I scoot to the edge of the bed, feeling Renit's eyes on the side of my face. But that doesn't stop me from what I'm about to say next. "Silas, I really want to apologize for what happened that day. I never should've done any of that, you being struck was my fault and if I would have just listened to you in the first place, we'd be better off for it. I'm really sorry."

Silas shakes his head. "Don't worry about it. In order to make light of the future, we need to forget all that happens in the past." He stands from the end of the chaise and comes over to take my hand, lowering his voice. "Hallie has said that over and over again ever since you two left and if I hear it one more time, it will piss me off."

I snort and Silas laughs—for real this time. The color to his face has returned, I still can't believe the brightness in his grey eyes or the life returned to his smile. I hold tight to his hand—remembering that at any moment, that loving touch could be gone again.

"I'm glad you're better, brother," Renit says from across the room.

Silas turns to him, shrugging dramatically. "I couldn't be gone forever, right? I have to come back sometime and annoy my little brother. Otherwise, there would be no fun to this castle." He turns towards the door, not bothering to give a proper goodbye or explanation as to why he's leaving. This is all we need, for now, knowing he's alive and well.

"Thank you for coming to see us," I add. "We're thrilled to see you now that we're back." Not just see him, but see him up and walking again with a new sense of life in his eyes. Silas knows the hidden meaning behind what I have to say, other than the bland words I shared out to the open.

He waves me off. As he opens the door, he points at Renit. "I know I'm all the way across the castle, but I don't want to hear any commotion tonight, all right?"

Renit tips his head back, slapping his hand against his forehead. I look down to my lap, hiding my blushed smile as Silas chuckles. Making us uncomfortable had to be the first order of duty on his list, he's likely been waiting to say that since he got here.

"I promise," Renit says after a moment.

Something clicks in Silas's mind and he claps his hands together. "One more thing—a group of us is gathering to celebrate Dalis's birthday in a week. Be at the dining area in my tower that day and we'll have a grand time. Drinking included." With a strong point to his brother, Silas slaps his hand on the door and shuts it behind him once he's disappeared into the hall.

Renit and I sit in silence for a moment, basking in everything that just happened. It's likely we're feeling the same thing, relief that Silas is no longer hating us and a sense of wonder for what is coming. We don't have to worry anymore, not about this or the next thing. Not as Renit stands from his chair and shuffles across the room.

He's still exhausted, both of us are. The prince that was once so cruel and cold collapses onto the bed, taking me with him, and breathes his warmth onto my neck as we lay there, slowly allowing ourselves to sink into the comfort of a bed. There's nothing like sleeping in your very own bed, in Renit's case. The bed at home for me would be considered Arego or the one across the hall, now that I've allowed myself to get used to it.

Yet, after finding comfort in those chambers, Renit's bed has always been more comfortable. Maybe it's because he comes along with it.

With his eyes closed, lips parted as he breathes through them, Renit whispers, "Remember what he said about commotion?"

I tap my finger against his nose. "Get some sleep. You're in no condition to be doing such things."

With a grin meant to unsettle me to my core in a way that makes me want to kiss him immediately, Renit loops an arm around my waist and tugs me against him. I pull two pillows down for us as we crashed in the middle of his bed. We're too lazy to move up any higher, don't need to, as we drift off to sleep in each other's arms.

This right here feels like home.