A flash of tawny hide through trunks and thinning leaves made Elias spur his horse forward. Tree limbs reached for him, snagging at his jacket. Cold air snapped in his face.

"Cut left!" Malitech yelled, his steeldust stallion pounding through the trees to Elias' right. 

Elias dug his heels into his horse's sides, urging the roan faster. The stag darted away, but the animal was flagging, bleeding from an arrow in its side.

His horse thundered through the brush as he veered to the left, then curved back toward the animal's path, cutting the stag off. The deer snorted and wheeled, right toward the prince.

Elias tore an arrow from the quiver on his back, fitting it to the string, but Malitech was faster. The arrow he fired speared right through the stag's heart, killing it instantly this time.

It collapsed, kicking twice in the dirt before it stilled, liquid-dark eyes glazed with death.

The forest seemed to still around them as well.

Elias stared down at the majestic creature, panting, his horse blowing as they both caught their breath. With a whoop of delight, Malitech leapt from his horse and knelt down beside the downed stag, dark hair sliding loose from its tie. Elias was a little slower in dismounting.

There was something sad about the death before him, something useless.

After spending the last thirteen years hunting for need—for the purpose of feeding his mother and sisters so they wouldn't starve or worse—he realized there was something distasteful in hunting for sport. Realistically, the stag would likely find its way to the kitchens, but still...

Staring down at the stag, Elias couldn't ignore the discomfort welling in his throat.

Malitech knelt and pulled the arrow from the stag's heart, bright red blood dripping from the tip. He cocked his head, running a finger along the impressive rack of antlers the stag boasted.

"This will make a rather nice trophy," the prince said as he carefully pulled the broken shaft of the second arrow out of the animal's shoulder.

Elias could only nod. Everything he needed to talk to the prince about was jammed in his throat.

It had been ten days since the prince had returned from Antelium, looking no worse for wear despite his ordeal with the Mortanians. The celebration upon the prince's return had run through the night and well into the next day.

After a day of rest, there had been more drinking and carousing, hunts, forays into the city. Revels with the nobles and wild parties with the prince's guard.

Even now, Elias was fighting against the remnants of a mild hangover.

Malitech certainly knew how to have a good time, and Elias had enjoyed himself. With the prince back and showing such favoritism toward Elias, the whispers and sideways looks from the other nobles had become more discreet if they hadn't disappeared entirely.

The prince wiped the arrow clean on his pant leg, the dark material turning shiny under the fresh blood. He stood, a self-satisfied expression on his face as he lifted bloodied fingers to his lips.

He let out a piercing whistle that rent the air, echoing through the trees around them. A summons for the slaves who had been trailing them.

There was a not-so-small part of Elias that was relieved he wouldn't have to haul the stag back. A half-forgotten memory of dragging a pitifully thin doe's carcass through thigh-deep snow as a winter storm blew in flashed in his mind.

Yes, he was very glad he wouldn't have to so much as field-dress the animal.

Malitech got back to his feet, offering a grin to Elias. "Just like old times."

It was an effort of will to return the smile.

In some ways. In others, this was vastly different. His mother would not be waiting in the castle to fuss over how he would catch his death in the cold. His sisters wouldn't be there to roll their eyes at his bragging.

His father—

Elias cut the thought off sharply and turned back to his horse, pretending to check the tightness of the girth. 

It took a few more minutes of waiting and Malitech whistling twice more before the slaves found them. They listened with heads bowed as Malitech instructed them on what he wanted done with the stag.

When he had that sorted, he turned to Elias, gesturing for him to get back up on his horse. Elias returned his bow to its place across his back, then hauled himself into the saddle, watching as Malitech did the same. The prince reined his horse around to head deeper into the forest and Elias' heart sank.

Was one not enough for a day? Particularly in a household where no one had ever gone hungry.

Malitech only spoke when the sounds of the working slaves had disappeared. "Father told me of your little play. It's a clever idea." He snickered. "How goes the courting of my sister?"

Elias tensed at the sneering tone. Then he shrugged it away. The relationship between Malitech and Cassia had always been, well, strained was perhaps putting it mildly.

"Well enough this past month, I suppose," he finally replied, his horse skirting a bramble of thorny brush. "We've had several outings." He laughed. "She still likes to read as much as when she was a child. With the colder weather, we've been spending more time in the library."

Malitech raised his eyebrows slightly in disinterest. Then he looked at Elias, mouth curled in a half-smile. "Speaking of—haven't you died of cold, yet? My sister could leave even the most devoted man searching for a warmer embrace."

At first he could only blink in surprise. How could he ever want anyone other than the princess? The thought and Malitech's insinuation curdled his stomach. 

"No," Elias said stiffly. More acerbic words danced on the tip of his tongue, but he simply gritted his teeth and swallowed them back. He was in no position to reprimand the prince.

"I'm simply surprised you still want to court her. Or worse, marry her," Malitech said, disbelief coloring his words. "After she's treated you so poorly? Before I left she had barely spoken to you. Acted for all the world like she'd forgotten who you are."

"What does it matter to you how I've been treated?" Elias snapped back. "If Cassia marries me you can take the throne, just as you said."

Malitech narrowed his eyes before spurring his horse a little faster, and Elias bit his tongue, cursing at himself. 

"I ask because are we not also friends?" Malitech looked over his shoulder. "Yes, I would like if you could remove my sister from my path, but I would not wish to see you miserable for the rest of your life because you married a harpy."

"More like a dragon," Elias muttered. "Your sister is a fire-breather."

As children, he had often been the recipient of her temper. Now, it was more common for her to simply have him bear witness to various tirades about other members of the court. He much preferred the second.

"Indeed," Malitech said with a chuckle, giving him a sympathetic look. "Elias, I realize that we have not always seen eye to eye. But I owe you a debt that I cannot forget. I just hope you don't find yourself lost of time."

Elias grimaced at that. The end of the year was drawing to a close, and with it his chances of winning Cassia's hand. 

It didn't help that he still had not heard anything about the return of his title.

He had tried several times to speak with the prince about the matter of returning his title, but there had never been an opportune time. And he didn't dare approach the king without the prince, or without Cassia firmly in love with him. Willing to give up her crown for him... Wanting a life with him more than she wanted her crown.

He gritted his teeth. It was impossible. Inconceivable that she would want someone from a disgraced family. Someone with nothing more to offer than a navy pension, if he managed to survive the next six years of service.

There was only one way he would ever be worthy of her. 

Something told him this might be his only opportunity.

"It hardly matters," he muttered, gloved hands tightening on the reins. The light breeze that managed to wend through the trees was beginning to numb his ears. "I can hardly expect Cassia to want to marry someone who offers so little."

The thought had weighed more and more heavily upon him as the months had passed. There still seemed no clear path to the things he wanted.

He started when Malitech reached across the space between them and clasped his shoulder. The prince's brow was furrowed, his eyes serious and dissatisfied.

"I will get your title returned to you, Elias," Malitech promised. "I will speak with my father tomorrow, and you will be Lord Lucans as you always should have been."

Fragile hope swelled in his chest, but he still hesitated. Carefully, he dared to ask, "Do you really have that sort of sway with your father? Is this a promise you can make, Prince?"

Malitech's hand fell from his shoulder and his horse moved a little farther away. Sunlight was beginning to spear more forcefully through the tangled branches overhead. They were nearing the northern edge of the forest.

"My father does favor me," Malitech said, frowning slightly. "But you must understand the difficulty of what I'm asking on your behalf, Elias."

He did know. He knew better than anyone how it was nearly impossible to wash away the kind of stain his father had left on their family's name.

Cowardice was the ultimate sin in an empire built on a single man's unwavering bravery, his impossible courage. Soldiers who ran from battle were crucified or worse. Lords who showed their spines were anything less than steel were quickly and brutally deposed. 

His father had died a coward and lost Metus its foothold in Brunia. One that had taken years to gain back.  

Yes, he knew better than anyone. And he had more than paid for the sins of his father.

"I know what I ask, Prince," he said, making sure his voice was steady and strong as stone. "But I will do whatever is required to reclaim the title my father lost. I will bring honor back to my name and show you I am worthy of this favor."

Malitech studied him closely for a moment before nodding in approval. "I know of your courage, Elias. I've seen it for myself." He blew out an aggravated sigh. "But my father is a hard man. An unforgiving man. It will be him you must convince."

"How?" Elias nearly cried, the hopelessness of his situation suddenly crushing into him so powerfully he couldn't even attempt to throw it back. "Tell me what I must do and I will do it!"

They broke the tree line and continued riding across a barren field. The wind picked up now that it was free of the trees and whipped at any exposed bit of skin. Elias and Malitech both turned the collars of their coats up in an effort to ward off the cold.

After a moment of silence that stretched on for too long, Malitech finally said, "Let me worry about my father, Elias. It's more pressing that you convince Cassia to marry you, and soon." He gave Elias a meaningful look. "You don't have much time."

Elias scowled at yet another reminder that he was nearly out of time. He opened his mouth to press the case that he would have better luck with Cassia if he had his title back, but movement to his right caught his attention. 

The prince had also seen the intruder and tapped his heels to his horse's ribs. The animal immediately leapt into a canter, Elias urging his mount to follow suit. They closed the distance between themselves and the other rider, who didn't so much as turn toward them. Elias recognized the copper stallion and dread immediately pooled in his gut.

Prince Marcus only turned his head, the movement slow and snakelike, when they had reined their horses up. A black falcon sat upon his arm, unhooded and looking just as unimpressed by their approach as his handler did.

Elias watched from the corner of his eye as Malitech seemed to size up his brother, and he discreetly drew the reins back, making his horse retreat a step. There was no reason he should be in the middle of this confrontation between brothers.

Neither of the royals paid him any heed, which was fine by him. Malitech nudged his horse forward, and Marcus' stallion flattened its ears in warning.

A sword sat at Marcus' hip. The hilt of a knife peeked out from his boot. The falcon on his arm shrieked, flaring its wings as the copper stallion bobbed its head and pawed at the ground. Marcus clicked his tongue at one or both of the animals and gave his brother a half smile.

"Early for you, isn't it, Lord Brother?" Marcus looked up toward the mid-morning sun in the pale sky. 

"Never too early for a hunt." Malitech waved carelessly toward the forest.

Elias' waning hangover suddenly come back to the front of his conscious and his temples pulsed in time with his heart.

The falcon on Marcus' arm took off, black wings glimmering in the sun as he rose into the sky. Marcus continued to watch Malitech, though his expression became increasingly bored the longer they all stayed there. But he didn't seem inclined to leave or speak. 

The silence was disconcerting.

"Lord Vetus told me it was your idea to send Julianus and those hundred men to assist me with the matter in Antelium," Malitech finally said. He leaned forward, resting his arms on the saddle horn, reins loose in his left hand. 

Marcus didn't so much as blink.

"I suppose I might thank you," Malitech mused, and a chill suddenly spidered its way down Elias' spine.

The younger prince picked disinterestedly at a bit of lint on the sleeve of his rich wool coat. The brown color was only a shade lighter than his hair and it had copper buttons down the front. 

Marcus' gaze went up to the falcon circling high above.

"Or perhaps a better response would be to have you killed like you tried to kill me."

Elias might have sworn even the wind stilled. Slowly, so slowly, Marcus looked back down at his brother. He cocked his head in question.

Malitech smiled, the expression serene. "I suppose one could consider it clever to send a general who dislikes me so. Accidents happen in battle after all."

"If he had brought your body home, I might have considered it a bonus," Marcus said casually, returning his attention to the falcon. "But I'm afraid that you are wrong concerning my motives for sending the general, Lord Brother."

"Lord Brother," Malitech mimicked. "You speak rather prettily for a boy who fancied himself a soldier."

Marcus whistled and raised his arm, a scrap of meat held in his heavily gloved hand. The falcon shrieked and circled the field once before it swept back to the prince. It landed with predatory grace, gobbling down the treat.

Then Marcus leveled a piercing stare on his brother that made Elias want to flinch. He held that heavy gaze on Malitech, who only returned it. After a few painful moments of this, the younger prince broke into a smile, the expression cruel.

Holding his black falcon, Marcus looked unnervingly like frescoes Elias had seen of Torvan.

"You forget, Lord Brother"—he nudged his horse perilously close to Malitech's—"that there is only one sibling I am not allowed to murder." He laughed, sounding delighted. "And you are not her."

Malitech snarled and reached for the hunting knife he was carrying, but Marcus had already kicked his mount into a canter that carried him quickly to the edge of the trees. A gust of wind swirled up, making the grass whisper around them.

They watched as the younger prince lifted his free hand over his shoulder in a careless wave. He disappeared into the trees, but the chill down Elias' spine didn't leave.

"I'm afraid I might really have to kill him someday," Malitech drawled. "He's become something of a nuisance."

Elias didn't so much as nod, aghast by the prince's words. He didn't care for Marcus any more than Malitech did, but there was still something wrong with the casual way he talked of murdering his own brother.

They continued on with their ride, eventually circling back toward the castle. Each lost in his own thoughts, neither spoke, allowing the encounter to turn itself over in Elias' mind. His stomach churned the more he thought about it.

It eventually led to only one conclusion.

The sooner he got Cassia away from her brothers, the safer she would be.

                                                                       ~~~

After they had returned to the castle, Elias had begged exhaustion and a sore knee when Malitech had suggested a visit to some of the city's nicer brothels. The prince thankfully hadn't asked any other questions or pushed Elias to join him.

Neither of those excuses was strictly untrue of course. Constant revelry and days of heavy drinking and late nights had taken a most unpleasant toll on his body. And his knee had given him problems ever since he had been caught in the ropes trying to reef the sails three years ago. 

A long fall and promised death had instead ended in a heart-stopping jolt that had dislocated his knee. The surgeon, after hearing an eyewitness account, had informed Elias that he was lucky to be able to walk.

The knee ached now whenever he did not rest it adequately, or if a storm was blowing in. Even now, hours after the hunt this morning, it throbbed with every limping step he took toward the library.

His conversation with Malitech had reminded him that he'd been rather neglectful of Cassia these past days. A terrible misstep when he hardly had the time to spare.

A servant had informed him that she wasn't in her rooms, and it was too cold for a stroll in the gardens. Elias could only hope that he wouldn't have to make the long trek out to the temple as he searched for her. 

Candlelight cast the hallways in wavering golden light, battling against the dimness brought on by heavy snow clouds from the west. Everything felt unnaturally still and quiet. 

He was running out of time. The thought whispered through his blood, pushing him to walk faster.

It was with relief that he heard soft, female voices coming from deep within the library when he finally entered it. It didn't take long to find Cassia's ladies-in-waiting. Drusilla smiled when she saw him, fluttering her eyelashes in a way that made a blush crawl up under his collar. 

But it was Claudia who said, "I assume you're seeking Her Highness?" She watched him sharply as a hawk, her mouth pursed in disapproval. Elias wasn't particularly fond of this woman.

"Yes," he answered curtly, just as Cassia called, "Elias?"

He looked up to find her on the mezzanine that ran around the room, leaning over the banister. Her hair was piled neatly on top of her head and she was wearing an elegant gown of ice blue. Lace dripped from the sleeves and bordered the square neck of the dress.

Diamonds and pearls glinted at her throat and ears.

She looked like some kind of northern sylph, beautiful and untouchable as the wind itself. 

"Hello," he said, his voice lilting into something that was more like a question. 

She stared down at him for a long time, fingers drumming a few times on the oak banister. There were dark shadows under her eyes and her skin was more sallow than it had been the night her brother had come home. 

Was she mad at him, he wondered, heart sinking. He wouldn't blame her. It must have looked like he preferred Malitech's company over her own. Elias resisted the urge to curse at himself.

He had enjoyed himself, true. But his main objective had unerringly been talking to the prince about the return of his title.

Finally, Cassia let out a long sigh, looking more weary than he had ever seen. "Come up here," she finally said, beckoning for him to join her in the little reading area in front of a broad window on the second floor.

Elias grimaced the entire way up the stairs. Cassia was already sitting in one of the plush armchairs, staring blankly out the window.

He gave her a little bow that she didn't scoff at like she normally would have and sat in the chair beside hers. She barely seemed to acknowledge his presence. Elias took a deep breath, intent on apologizing as profusely as he must to gain her forgiveness, but she began speaking before he could. "I'm surprised my father has allowed you to stay for so long."

His heart froze as he wondered if she knew the reason behind his extended stay.

"Half of your fleet left a month ago," she mused, propping her chin on a fist. "The more heavily damaged ships have all been repaired."

Elias groped for something, anything to say. "Repairs took longer than we thought," he said weakly, fear acidic in his throat. "Setting sail in winter weather would only end with us smashing upon the rocks of our own coast." When the princess only lifted a brow, still staring out the window, he added, "Has it been so terrible, having me around?"

Now she looked at him, her eyes startled. She blinked a few times, like she was trying to clear her thoughts. Then she gave him a small smile. "No. Of course not."

Something in Elias' chest released. She didn't know that the king had ordered his leave extended until the end of the year.

You can hardly court a woman as difficult as Cassia while you're out at sea, the king had said. Elias barely kept himself from cringing at the memory.

He was willing to do what must be done, but that didn't mean he liked the methods. Lying to her was something he had never done when they were children, and it rested uneasily on his heart, the fact that he was deceiving her. Even if it was because he loved her, even if it was in an effort to protect her from the machinations of the court and the bitterness of men, it was still wrong.

Even still, the time he was given might not be enough to explain everything properly.

Elias shook his head. He couldn't tell her. If he did, she would hate him. She would never trust him again. He cleared his throat, trying to rid it of the tightness attempting to choke him. 

But he had to say something. He had to explain something.

Cassia looked at him questioningly, and he found himself with nothing to say. Instead, he just studied her face. "You look ill," he finally managed, his voice rough.

The princess looked away from him, her fingers tightening into fists in her lap. She looked back at him with a small smile. "Winter never agreed with me. Being cooped up inside has always worn on my nerves."

"Would you like to take a turn about the gardens?" he asked without thinking, and his knee immediately twinged in protest. Cassia's only answer was a smile and a shake of her head.

You're running out of time.

They sat in silence for a while longer until Cassia stood up again and began to walk along the mezzanine, trailing her fingers over the spines of the books. Elias allowed his gaze to travel once over her graceful body before he stood and followed her, gritting his teeth as he tried to hide his limp.

If Malitech was so willing to kill his brother, what would he do to his sister if he got the chance?

Cassia stopped beside another window, peering down into the gardens. Her breath fogged against the cold glass. The sun managed to slip through a break in the clouds as he joined her, and his breath caught as it gilded her, turning her eyes to pure gold.

Her beauty physically hurt him. 

"I am sorry that I haven't been to see you," he murmured, touching her elbow. "I have been trying to speak with your brother." He hesitated, then took a steadying breath. "About the return of my title."

Cassia looked first at the hand on her elbow, then up at him, parting her lips as if to speak.

"I know you don't understand why it's so important to me. I know you don't like me being around Malitech. But I don't have any other choice," he continued, the words rushing from him like water from a burst dam. "It's the only way, Cassia. Please, I need you to understand that."

Rushed. It was all rushed and all wrong. He hadn't meant to say any of this.

"Only way?" she repeated, brow creasing in confusion. "Elias, what are you—"

"Only way that I might be with you." The words were torn from him.

Cassia froze. She opened her mouth, then closed it. Her chest heaved with a single breath, the diamonds at her throat sparkling in the light. 

"Elias," she started, but he cut her off, grabbing her arms.

The desperation he had fought against for so long suddenly swelled in him like a riptide, tearing him away from the safety of logic. From the careful planning he had so relied on all his life.

"Please, Cissy," he breathed. "You must know. You must know what I feel for you. What I've always felt for you."

"Elias," she tried again, attempting to pull away, but he tightened his grip.

"I love you," he said, feeling as the situation slipped further and further from his control. "I have since we were children. I'm not asking anything of you, Cassia. I just... I just want the chance to win your hand, as I might have if—" He cut himself off with a ragged gasp.

The princess stared up at him, her face drained of all color. She started to shake her head, and he lunged forward, crushing his mouth to hers.

She tasted like tea and honey and smelled of jasmine. Her lips were as soft as he had always imagined.

Then she tore her mouth from his, turning her face away. Two spots of color had appeared high on her cheeks. He gently took her face in his hands, turning her gaze back to him. He kissed her again, just a soft press of his lips to hers.

She didn't kiss him back. Elias pulled away slightly to find her gaze slanted away from him.

A dark hole opened in his chest and he let her go, stepping away.

She didn't say anything. Didn't move to call him back as he turned from her.

He was drowning in what he'd just done. Drowning in the outcome.

His hands clenched into fists as he limped down to the first floor, the library dead silent around him. He had been right before. 

The princess couldn't possibly love someone with so little to offer.