“What did he do this time?” Hugo sighed.
“He helped, Your Highness. By the time we caught up with him, he was willing to escort us to Elysia.”
Hugo’s gaze swept to his son. “Is that so? What changed?”
Taelon waved at the pendant hanging around my neck. “I gave this to her when we were children.”
Hugo leaned in to inspect it. “How did you know it wasn’t simply similar to the one you gifted?”
Taelon’s spine stiffened. “I had my doubts at first. In truth, I have been looking for this necklace on every dark-haired female since the moment I lost sight of her. I didn’t know whether to believe that this was truly Tessana Allisand or if it was simply wishful thinking on my part. But over time, the more I got to know her, I knew. After spending time with her, I couldn’t deny that this was the lost princess.”
A smile lifted the corner of Hugo’s mouth while I tried to remember to breathe. “Fair enough,” the king admitted. “Once you found each other again, you headed off to Elysia?”
“Not exactly, Your Highness,” I added. “The crown prince hid his identity from me. I thought I was in league with a bandit and a rebel leader.”
“You were.” Hugo waved a meaty hand at Taelon. “He just also happens to be the crown prince of Soravale.” His eyes drifted to his wife, then his son, then back to me. “It’s realm law, you see. I would have happily picked one of the other children to be the next in line. But it wasn’t up to me.”
I nearly smiled again, but this time I knew it wouldn’t have been a wise move. Taelon became stone next to me.
“I have a hundred more questions to ask you,” Hugo admitted with a sigh. “But it is late, and I know you are anxious for bed. I just ask… If I could…” He ran a hand over his face, and I was shocked to see this imposing force struggle for words. When his gaze lifted to meet mine, I caught a weariness there that surprised me. “Would you show me the crown? It is not that I don’t believe you. You are the spitting image of your mother. But I would like to erase all doubt.”
“Yes, of course.” I reached into my bag. Shiksa jumped out of the way as I dug for it.
Hugo and Anatal walked down the seastone stairs to join us. Their presence hovered over me, casting a shadow and making me fumble. I clasped the crown with ice cold fingers and pulled it from my satchel.
It needed to be polished, but its identity could not be mistaken. Even Hugo’s seastone and silver diadem paled in comparison to the Elysian Crown of Nine.
Hugo’s hand shook as he reached out to trace one finger along the center jewel. “Your father always wore this with such pride,” he whispered.
Fresh grief poured through me at the pain in this gigantic man’s voice. But just as quickly as the tortured expression had appeared, Hugo shook it off and stood straight once more. “To bed with you,” he ordered. “We have much to discuss, but in the morning.”
I curtsied low again and allowed Taelon to lead me from the room.
Hugo’s booming voice chased after us, “Not you, Son. You will answer to me tonight.”
Taelon turned and gave a dismissive bow before continuing to lead me down the carpet. At the doorway, he paused with my hand in his. His voice dropped low and he asked, “Will you be all right?”
I nodded. “Yes. I’m safe now.”
“Tessa, I never meant to bring you here. I had wanted to spare you from this.”
“Why?”
He shook his head and glanced back at his impatient father. “I’ll find you tomorrow. For now, sleep. Enjoy your reinstatement to royalty.”
A moment of vulnerability seized me, and I clutched his hand. “I’m not sure I’m ready for this.”
He hunched over to catch my gaze once more. “Tessana Hadlyn Allisand, lost princess of Elysia, if anyone is prepared for what’s ahead, it’s you.” He bent over and pressed a quick kiss to my forehead. “Go,” he ordered. “Sleep. Tomorrow there is much to do.”
Releasing my hand, he left me to face his father. Haemon waited in the doorway for me. We stepped into the hall where we found Oliver slumped over on the floor, snoring softly.
“I’ll take you to your rooms, Your Highness,” Haemon offered.
I looked at Oliver and then at the long hallway. The crown felt heavy in my hands. “What happens if I try to run?”
Haemon’s lips twitched. “Then I show you to your rooms and lock you inside.”
I sighed. “Very well. Lead the way.”
18
The entire kingdom of Soravale ran along the Great Cliffs of the Crystal Sea. The country extended from the palace in Desmondin in either direction. Ancient dragons were rumored to sleep in the deep crevices of the cliffs, guarding their vast treasures. Soravale was rich with fish and shipping but mining the gems closer to the surface of the cliffs was what made it wealthy.
Soravale had always been Elysia’s strongest ally. When the sovereigns of the Nine Kingdoms got together, the kings of Elysia and Soravale ruled the conversation.
That said, Soravale and Elysia had never been united through marriage. It had been my father’s and Hugo’s hope that, after all these ages, my marriage would permanently unite the kingdoms once and for all.
But tragedy had interrupted our fathers’ best laid plans.
I was now on a different path, fated to go back home to Elysia, a country that, under original circumstances, I would have left in the pursuit of allegiance and marriage.
I didn’t know how I felt about that. I had grown to feel something for a man I thought was called Arrick, but knowing Arrick’s position as a rebel commander, I hadn’t let myself consider a future with him.
