《The Prince And The Queen》


 Chapter One

    Hustling around the small canvas tent, Iona yanked her long, chocolate brown hair up into the same loose knot she always wore as she collected her clothes strewn across the floor. Hearing a groan come from the flat, threadbare mattress behind her, Iona turned back to see Prince Desmond finally waking up. Eyes still shut, he flexed his strong, tanned arms over his head for a few seconds before rolling over and nuzzling back into his pillow. ¡°Getting ready for the day already? Come back to bed, let the men get started without us,¡± he implored without so much as looking at her, patting the empty space beside him. His voice was scratchy and deep, tempting her ever so slightly, but the feeling flitted away in a second. The Prince had brought some troops over the border from his kingdom to train with her squad and assist in domain rebuilds. She was grateful for the help. And the...physical company. Mostly.


    ¡°First of all, you shouldn¡¯t even be here. You were supposed to go back to your own tent before dawn,¡± she huffed. ¡°I got word last night that King Theron wants me back at the palace as soon as possible, so I¡¯ll need you to take the lead on construction. Honestly, I should have left right when I got the message, but-¡±


    ¡°-But you just couldn¡¯t leave without spending one more night with me?¡± Desmond crooned. ¡°I don¡¯t blame you.¡± He slunk out of the bed, ambled over and enveloped Iona in his arms. The same touch that she found fun last night had lost its charm in the light of day, and a hostile response mounted itself in her mind. Desmond leaned in to press a kiss to her cheek, but Iona was quick to draw in her shoulders toward her ears and lean away before he found his mark. Unfazed, he whispered, ¡°And, if I didn¡¯t sleep here, then I wouldn¡¯t get to see that angry little face you make when I don¡¯t obey your commands, which I just love. It¡¯s the perfect way to start my day.¡± Iona shook him off, earning an arrogant smirk that lit up his striking, deep blue eyes- the eyes that always managed to convince her a roll in the sack was extremely necessary any time the two were in the same vicinity.


    Iona shook him off, stoicism turning to obvious displeasure. Truthfully, none of her men could care one bit about what she did in her personal life, but she preferred to be less blatant about her sexual escapades and maintain some semblance of professionalism with the soldiers around. She was more irritated at herself for letting Desmond stay the night, but he was being a prick, so she didn''t feel all that compelled to be nice. Iona tugged on her weathered brown riding boots over a thick pair of wool socks, and made the inevitable pivot from bedfellows to coordinating officers. Donning her High Commander voice, she directed Desmond, ¡°Break up the men into teams of eight, and finish pouring foundations and building frames. Some parts of the land still need leveling, too. I¡¯ll come back through with more men when I¡¯m finished at the palace to complete the walls and final inspections.¡±


    ¡°Actually, I¡¯m going to have my men finish the walls on the foundations that we put up when we first arrived, then some families can move in right away and get out of the temporary shelters,¡± he replied, with a slight force in his tone. Iona looked up at the canvas ceiling, closing her eyes, and grasping for a bit of patience. Why can he not just shut the hell up and listen? she swore. Rebuilding Chrysos was Iona¡¯s responsibility as High Commander, and she needed to ensure everything was completed to her standard.


    ¡°Those foundations aren¡¯t ready, Dez¡± she stated, turning to face the man who was still meandering about her room. Now that she was fully dressed, Iona was eager to get on the road and past this discussion.The King was waiting on her, and the conversation was veering into waste-of-time territory.


    Desmond pursed his lips and clicked his tongue before he continued. ¡°If they aren¡¯t ready, we won¡¯t build walls. If they are ready, then we will. I¡¯ll have my men, who I brought here out of the goodness of my own heart, build what I tell them to build. See, Iona, you sometimes forget that my authority does not bow to yours.¡± The condescension with which he said her name snaked its way into her ears, a reminder that the good favor their relationship held only lasted so long. Desmond stalked over to Iona while she loaded the last of her things into a bag. She turned to face him, cranking her neck back to meet his eye line. The visiting prince loomed two heads taller than the High Commander, at least. Her father once said she had the steadfastness and strength of a great oak, which was a lovely thought, but sometimes she wished she had the height to match.


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    ¡°Fine, Prince Desmond,¡± she bit back, ¡°Have it your way. But please, report back to me how it goes when you arrive at the shelter to decide which families get to move into homes weeks before everyone else. Though, I have a feeling that might cause some general unhappiness and possibly even resentment within the community. Which is exactly what we don¡¯t want when we¡¯re trying to put a whole kingdom back together after a twenty year war that broke this entire place apart.¡± Sharp in her tone, Iona couldn¡¯t leave Desmond with any delusion that his opinion mattered here.


    Dez scowled, and ran a hand through his ashy blonde locks; Iona cocked her head to the side thinking about the night before, as she was grabbing that same hair for stability while wrapped around him, but now she was stopping herself from ripping it out if he argued with her for one more second. He crooked his jaw, pressing his tongue against his teeth, ¡°Do you ever get tired of being so full of yourself, Iona?¡±


    ¡°Do you?¡± she threw back, grabbing Yuna, her trusty sword, off the table near the door, sheathing it, and ducking through the canvas. Ah, shit, I forgot. She popped her head back into the tent, ¡°If you catch word of any hostile encounters, let me know. We¡¯re still searching for their hideout.¡± Before he had a chance to respond, Iona was on the move again. She had to get to the capital city as soon as she could, and she was out of time and patience to argue with him.


    Desmond was Prince of Morencis, the land to the east of Chrysos. His father, King Ashrae, had been a key ally over the last thirty years, first providing support during the War, then labor and supplies to help reconstruct all that was destroyed in the ten years after. While Chrysos owed them a debt of gratitude, it benefitted Morencis even more if their ally got trade back up and running, hence his willingness to lend out his son and his armies. And since there was still work to be done, Iona assumed she¡¯d see Desmond again soon anyways- they always seemed to fall back together. It was a convenient arrangement, at the least, casual fun with a hot prince she was never going to marry. Not only because she had no interest in being a princess, but also because she could only stand to be around Dez in short bursts. To be fair, he couldn¡¯t stand to be around her either.


    Her boots crunched against the dry grass as she jogged from the tent out to the makeshift stables. Her steed, Tower, whinnied at the sight of her. She unwrapped his reins from the post, and pressed her forehead against his deep, stormy gray muzzle. ¡°Good morning, boy, ready for a long ride?¡± she asked, grabbing a hold of the saddle. Despite the fact that Tower was almost a foot taller than the other horses, Iona could swing herself up with ease after all their years together. All settled in, the pair took off together for a three day ride to the palace. The summons from the King replayed in her mind as they galloped along the road, ¡°Iona, you¡¯re needed here immediately- important plans to discuss. Return to the capital city as soon as possible. Ride safe.¡± It was less than ideal to have to leave behind her work there in the towns, but when Theron called, Iona answered. At least I can enjoy the change of scenery for now. Chrysos was heading towards the beginning of winter, but the days remained warm enough for the time being, and the trees lining either side of the dusty road were varying, rich shades of maroon, orange, and gold.


    A sense of unease rumbled up in Iona a few hours into the ride. Over the last ten years, she couldn¡¯t remember King Theron interrupting an ongoing reconstruction project, so whatever he was calling her back for must be something concerning. The obvious case in her mind would be that something was flaring up with the hostiles who vanished after the War, rebels still loyal to their former leaders, the Ladrons. They had launched small attacks here and there, almost all robberies. but they¡¯d managed to evade Chrysos¡¯ armies at every turn. Have they been found? Does Theron fear another war is brewing?


    The very thought of another war formed a pit in her stomach, and Iona gripped Tower¡¯s reins a bit harder and cleared her head as best she could. These fears were unfounded until she knew more. Iona had a bad habit of spiraling, convincing herself of the worst case scenario coming to life in these sorts of situations, impatience to know every detail ruining her focus. A few days, and I¡¯ll have my answer. Maybe it¡¯s nothing.


    Or maybe it¡¯s not.

 Chapter Two

    Just under three days of riding, stopping only to sleep, and Iona arrived at the soaring, ornate golden gates of the palace. She slid off the saddle and down Tower¡¯s side before he¡¯d come to a full stop. ¡°Afternoon, Commander,¡± the nearest stable boy greeted her as she shoved her horse¡¯s reins into his hands. With a nod his way, Iona turned and strode to the entryway, tugging off her gloves, and trying to ignore the soreness building in her thighs from the trip. Her face was a bit wind beaten and red, ponytail a mess, but she was too anxious to know why she¡¯d been recalled to bother stopping by her bedroom to freshen up. Licking her palms and running them over her hair would have to do, as she pressed the flyaways down into submission against her scalp. Every step was swift and familiar; she could navigate this manor with her eyes closed.


    Iona had lived at the palace in Chrysos¡¯ capital city on and off since she was eleven years old after word was sent out to every domain in the kingdom that Theron was looking for a private tutor for the royal children. Her mother, Asa, being the finest teacher in the kingdom, took the job. She successfully convinced her father, Shome, that it was better for their daughter to go along with her to the palace for tutoring sessions than to stay in the village farming with him, hoping she would pick up some of the courtier etiquette taught to the King¡¯s children. And here she was still, almost a century later.


    Today was her first time back since the end of the War- marking almost ten years away from home. Depending on the subject of this meeting, I probably should visit my mom, she thought, who she also hadn''t seen in a decade. Or maybe even longer. A familiar pang of guilt jabbed into her chest, the same guilt which compounded with each passing year that she didn¡¯t make the trip to see her. It was getting more and more difficult to push it into the back of her mind.


    She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to refocus. First, meeting. Then, Mom, she resolved. Reaching the foyer, Iona glanced around at the high ceilings, the walls draped with huge, intricately embroidered tapestries, and the bustling of the staff in and out of every room and hallway. Each chamberlain, attendant, guard, and laundress she passed tossed a happy welcome her way, and Iona sputtered out hello¡¯s and how are you¡¯s as quickly as she could.


    Not much had changed since the first time Asa had dragged her into the manor. At eleven years old, she had been at a loss for words, overwhelmed by the size of it all, the extravagance and clear abundance of wealth in every sense. Iona was just a tiny fish flung into a vast ocean, clinging desperately to her mother, assuming that if she got lost, she¡¯d never be found again. The smell of damp stone walls and roasting meats wafting up from the kitchens below were new to her, so different from her cottage in the hills. That day, a gentle voiced handmaid showed the pair around, walking them through the palace to the east wing, room after room filled with heavy looking furniture, old scrolls, and massive windows. Rooms meant for the King to meet with his High Commander and advisors, to plan how to run the kingdom and maintain peace. The final stop on their tour was an exception. Meant for Asa to tutor King Theron and Queen Margot¡¯s children, Heston, Leonon, and Elia, the classroom was covered in wall to wall colored bookshelves, an assortment of books, cards, and craft supplies, and four oversized desks. Little Iona took a seat at the back of the classroom, and shoved her hands under her legs, her foot tapping away at the tiled floor in anticipation of the Royal siblings¡¯ arrival. Up to that point in her life, she had never been much good at making friends. Asa always chalked it up to her competitive nature, just like her father, which ensured the other kids saw her as cold and combative. She tried and failed to stop her knees from bouncing up and down when the King¡¯s only daughter floated through the doorway. Her hair was light and silky, reminding Iona of the tendrils that stuck to her fingers when she helped her father shuck the corn from their fields, and her pale skin glowed with palpable warmth as she marched straight up to Iona¡¯s mother, bowing before her. ¡°Thank you, Lady Asa, for coming to teach me and my brothers. I¡¯m Elia- Heston and Leo will be joining us shortly.¡±


    Asa bowed back, ¡°It¡¯s my pleasure, Princess Elia.¡± She gestured toward the back of the room, ¡°My daughter, Iona, will be joining us during your tutoring sessions, as you¡¯re about the same age.¡± Iona shot up from her chair as Elia skipped up to her with a smile brighter than the sun.


    ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you! I¡¯m so excited you¡¯re here!¡± Elia proclaimed, throwing her arms around Iona, ¡°I didn¡¯t know my lessons came with a friend, too!¡±


    ¡°I, um¡­you want to be my friend?¡± she asked, awkwardly stiff from the unexpected hug. Elia pulled away, nodding her head without a moment¡¯s hesitation, ¡°Of course!¡± Iona glanced at her mother, who was clearly eavesdropping from the front of the room. ¡°I think my mom¡¯s happy to hear you say that. I don¡¯t really have any friends,¡± I admitted, her gaze dropping to the floor, and the tips of her ears heating from embarrassment.


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    ¡°Well, now you have me,¡± Elia responded, her bubbly voice coaxing Iona past her shyness. She grabbed Iona¡¯s hand and pulled her into a seat in front of one of the large desks. As much as Asa had tried to facilitate friendships for her with the other schoolchildren, Iona was always too focused on school work or too ready to get back to the farm and assist Shome with his work around the fields. She tended to be headstrong and argumentative, which could be off putting to her classmates. Elia was her perfect opposite from day one- outgoing, sympathetic, and approachable.


    The girls chattered along until Iona¡¯s focus was stolen by two boys, the King¡¯s sons, sauntering into the room. Unlike Elia, neither appeared too excited to be there. The taller, older looking boy had matching features with Elia, but the younger, scrawny one had olive skin and fiery amber hair. They breezed past Asa, and took their seats. ¡°Careful, Elia, don¡¯t suffocate that girl with your desperation for friendship¡± the younger boy jabbed. His pompous attitude made Iona¡¯s hands curl into fists, despite the fact she¡¯d never hit anyone before. His sister had been nothing but welcoming and kind, and he had no right to make her feel badly for it. Maybe this boy would be the first.


    ¡°Don¡¯t speak to your sister that way,¡± she hissed, protective of her new friend, ¡°And she¡¯s clearly the only considerate sibling in your family. You¡¯ve both rudely ignored my mother, who traveled a full day to be here to teach you dolts.¡± The comment led to a swift scolding from Asa, but Elia snickered, and the older boy, Heston, looked nothing short of amused.


    Redness broke across the younger son¡¯s face, and his nostrils flared, but he stood from his chair and gave his new teacher a slight bow of his head. He introduced himself as Prince Leonon, and thanked her for traveling to the palace before plopping right back down. Heston also stood and greeted Asa, informing her that he was only there to supervise the other two on their first day. An icy glare was shot between Leo and Iona- the first of many.


    Besides the initial lesson, Heston wasn¡¯t around much, since he was in near-constant training to become Theron''s head advisor and succeed his father as king. Asa tutored him separately every once in a while, when time permitted. Heston was about twenty years older than Elia and Iona, while Leo was only a year older, so his presence was more consistent at tutoring sessions, much to her chagrin. The two were not friends in any sense of the word.


    It had been over ninety years since then.


    Shit!


    Iona¡¯s hand flew up to her shoulder, the fabric of her tunic snagged on the corner of the wall she ran into taking a turn down a hallway too tight while her mind wandered. She had been taking instinctive, hurried strides through the palace, but the impact of the hard stone brought her thoughts back to the task at hand. She¡¯d reached the courtyard, almost perennially full of blooming violet-hued wisteria, ivy vines, and the lushest green grass. In the years before the start of the War, Iona lived at the palace full time to train, and she would often lounge on this very grass during her limited free time to absorb a small feeling of home. No time for that today.


    A few more staircases, twists and turns later, and she arrived at the one place outside the training field in which she felt like she belonged- the war room. This was the room in which the King, Heston, and Iona spent twenty years figuring out how to win the first war in their land in over a thousand years. It was full of old arguments, heated debates, and late night deliberations. During that time, Leo would travel back and forth, leading Chrysos¡¯ deployed legions. Iona would join them with her troops from the palace as needed, often if the units were stretched too thin or a particularly large battle was looming.


    After the end of the War, Iona was hopeful that Chrysos was poised to fall back into harmony for another thousand years or more. But the failure to locate the remaining hostiles, loyal to the Ladrons, means that wasn¡¯t the case quite yet- a failure that nagged at her like a piece of shrapnel lodged beneath her skin. Every so often, the hostiles launched minor attacks, mostly robberies for supplies, but they often disappeared as soon as troops got near. The attacks were more of a pestilence than a true threat, but they were unacceptable all the same. Iona was determined to root them out and put an end to anything tied to the Ladrons¡¯ terror to prevent further pain and suffering, but reconstruction from the War kept her tied up. On top of everything, the King¡¯s health was fading quickly from what she¡¯d been told, and peace would be tenuous so long as the hostiles remained at large.


    As she approached the door, she took a second to pause and brace herself for whatever information was about to be relayed. Has a skirmish broken out into something more threatening to the kingdom? Has the final rebel stronghold been located? Is a rebuilt village under attack? There was that spiraling again. Wringing her hands, Iona took in a sharp breath through her nose, and breathed out with as much control as she could.


    Whatever it is, I¡¯ll handle it. Chrysos was home to everyone Iona ever cared about, and she would do whatever it took to keep it safe. With one more attempt at a calming exhale, Iona turned the knob, and walked into the war room.


    What the hell?

 Chapter Three

    The room was empty.


    Iona¡¯s forehead wrinkled, confused at the absence of the King, Heston, maps strewn about and glasses of half drunk wine on the table. Where is everyone? It was almost midday, and the King knew she was arriving- surely someone would have notified him. She strode across the room, figuring the King must be in his adjoining office when she heard footsteps coming down the hall.


    ¡°We¡¯re in the conference room at the end of the hall,¡± a deep timbre announced from the doorway. Iona¡¯s lips pursed at the sound, her face shifting from confused to perturbed.


    ¡°Hello, Leo. I really had hoped we could get all this sorted out before you arrived,¡± she cooed, words saturated with contempt, as she looked over her shoulder at the second-born prince.


    ¡°Ah, yes, well as you very well know- emphasis on the very- Corso is much faster than Tower, so I got here over a day ago¡± Leo replied, flashing his wide smile which many would say was charming, though Iona found it irritating.


    ¡°Barely,¡± she growled back through gritted teeth. Leo and Iona had raced their horses many times over the years, since they were colts, so Iona was plenty familiar with the truth that Corso, Leo¡¯s stallion, had an edge on Tower. He loved to remind her of it any chance he got. ¡°And you were closer to the palace to begin with,¡± Iona added, as she turned and shoved past Leo through the doorway, heading to the conference room.


    Why in the heavens are we not meeting in the war room? Is this not about the hostiles?


    Iona could hear a bounce in Leo¡¯s step as he followed close behind her, successful in his attempt to push her buttons. His loose fitting, black linen shirt, casual pants, and everyday boots told Iona that he was not prepared to leave the palace right away, so the meeting couldn¡¯t be something too imperative or else he¡¯d be dressed in riding gear. Seeing Leo for the first time in several years, Iona was reminded how much he¡¯d matured into a striking adult, after many, many years as a gangly teen. Like Heston, he inherited King Theron¡¯s herculean frame, though it took much longer for Leo to grow into it. His haughtiness increased to match, which got under Iona¡¯s skin even more now than before. As they arrived at the conference room down the hall, Iona reached for the knob only for Leo to swing his arm around her from behind and beat her to it. Iona looked up at him, and scowled, ¡°Seriously?¡±


    ¡°I''m just being a gentleman,¡± he said, laughing as he opened the door.


    ¡°You¡¯re such a pain,¡± she responded, walking through the entryway to see King Theron seated at the head of a long, sturdy pine table that took up much of the space.


    ¡°Iona, finally!¡± Theron effused. Iona¡¯s breath hitched, struck by how much the King had aged in such a short time. She tried not to let the surprise color her face, noting the cane leaning against the side of his chair, his shoulder-length white, wispy hair catching the breeze coming in through the window behind him. It had been ten years since she last saw him in person, and she was warned his health was in decline, but seeing him in such a fragile state was jarring. Iona rounded the corner of the table and bowed next to him in greeting, then took her usual seat to his left. Heston was seated on his right, and he leaned forward to give Iona a welcoming smile, while Leo slouched into the chair next to him.


    ¡°Let us begin,¡± the King commanded, catching Iona a bit off guard- she assumed that his four advisors would be here, too, for a matter that was so important she was called back from the field. But Theron took in a short, labored breath, and continued, ¡°As you can all tell, I¡¯m dying.¡± The princes and Iona shifted in their seats, uncomfortable with the truth being outed so bluntly. ¡°Don¡¯t pretend you can¡¯t see it,¡± he chided, ¡°The War took more of a toll on me than I would normally care to admit, but I don¡¯t have time to lie to myself or to any of you about my state. The gods of the North Forest are calling me home, but I cannot leave quite yet. There is unfinished business to which we all must attend.¡±


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    Iona¡¯s face mirrored the confused looks of Heston and Leo. ¡°Construction efforts are going well, thanks to our High Commander,¡± Theron nodded at her, ¡°And help from our allies. But there are still some hostile holdouts, and the current peace is fragile. It would be foolish for us to assume that there are no threats to us in other lands, and my untimely death could leave us vulnerable.¡± The King turned to his eldest, ¡°Heston, my son, you¡¯ve been a great advisor to me over the years, and you¡¯ve enjoyed every freedom your position has had to offer. But it is past time for you to marry and produce an heir. We need to solidify the kingdom¡¯s future, and you may be on the throne sooner than you¡¯d like. After your coronation, your focus will be pulled in every direction, and you won¡¯t have the time or energy to search for a bride.¡±


    Eyes wide, Iona¡¯s gaze shot to Heston, whose cheeks were starting to flush. Thanks to his title and remarkable good looks, the heir to the throne secured the affections of whoever he pleased- men and women, alike. He was, in Iona¡¯s opinion, an avowed playboy. His father had never cared much since Heston was always attentive to his princely obligations, though the concept of marriage hung over him like a dark cloud. He dodged every question about it as something to deal with one day, but never in the present. Heston¡¯s skin was both paler than porcelain and beaming red. Leo snorted, breaking the silence, and Iona¡¯s head snapped to him.


    ¡°Heston? Married?!¡± Leo laughed aloud, ¡°Even a king as great as yourself, father, will surely have a hard time finding someone Heston cares to settle down with.¡±


    ¡°Well, I won¡¯t be having a hard time, Leonon. You will,¡± the King replied. Iona fought back a smile, savoring the way Leo¡¯s face faded, followed by a cackle from Heston. Theron kept on, unfazed by his sons, ¡°Heston will be busy preparing for his inevitable coronation, so I need you to take the lead on arranging an event- a ball. You shall work with my advisors to reach out to the courtiers in each domain, requesting they send eligible, suitable ladies and we will provide travel arrangements for them. You will coordinate closely with Iona, who will be in charge of all security measures.¡±


    Iona had been reveling in the demotion of Leo from legion captain to party planner up until that point. Whoa, whoa, absolutely not. ¡°Your majesty, with all due respect, I need to get back out in the field. Like you said, we have yet to locate the last of the hostiles, and I should be with my men in case of any attacks.¡±


    ¡°And when was the last attack, Commander?¡± Theron inquired.


    Iona bit the side of her cheek, knowing where the question was leading, ¡°Four months ago.¡±


    ¡°And were you there?¡±


    She could tell it was now Leo who stifled a laugh, his hand resting over his mouth with a moronic grin hiding behind it. Asshole.


    ¡°No, your majesty, I was completing construction in another town.¡±


    ¡°And the result of the attack?¡±


    ¡°Four hostiles captured, three injuries, no fatalities.¡± There would be no winning this argument.


    ¡°Then it¡¯s settled,¡± Theron responded, clapping his hands together in front of him. ¡°You¡¯ve trained your soldiers well, they can handle any skirmishes that arise without you.¡±


    ¡°But, sir, the rebuild-¡±


    ¡°-It¡¯s my understanding King Ashrae sent troops over under Prince Desmond¡¯s command,¡± he cut in, ¡°And I¡¯m sure they can continue the work in the meantime.¡± I guess that¡¯s that.


    Iona nodded, less than pleased with her new charge, but even just in the company of his sons, she would not continue to argue with the King. Theron motioned to Heston for assistance standing then settled both hands on his cane in front of him, ¡°You have three months from today. You¡¯re all dismissed.¡±


    And with that, Iona, too, had been downgraded from leader of Chrysos¡¯ armies to co-party planner.

 Chapter Four

    After the meeting, Iona hustled back out to the stables to ensure Tower was settled into his regular stall, soothing her own frustrations through their evening routine. Heston used to tease her for picking him as a colt from the pack, accusing her of compensating for her below average height. Whether she¡¯d admit it aloud or not, it was true- that¡¯s precisely why she chose him. Whenever she rode atop him, a sense of superiority swelled within her, like she was looking out over the entirety of Chrysos from the kingdom¡¯s highest tower; he was her most reliable partner to this day. She brushed his lustrous, charcoal main, humming a mindless tune. By the time she¡¯d finished checking Tower¡¯s hooves after the long ride, cleaning his stall, getting fresh water and food, and rambling to him about Theron¡¯s plan, the remaining daylight had come and gone.


    With dirty hands and a sweaty brow, Iona trudged home from the stalls to the palace. Crossing the threshold into her old bedroom, everything in sight pulled her back in time. The solid mahogany desk was still shoved in a corner where it didn¡¯t fit quite right, covered in notes and scrolls she stayed up night after night poring over, the fireplace sat empty, remnants of ash scattered along the bottom. A lump formed in Iona¡¯s throat; this room, the whole palace- it was filled with the difficult memories she had kept locked in the back of her mind for a long time. The rebuilding work throughout the kingdom had given her plenty of reason to stay away for such an extended period, but she couldn¡¯t avoid it any longer. A bath, that¡¯s what she needed. Oh my god, a bath.  The thought of it made Iona¡¯s skin tingle, and her heart lightened a notch. But her first hot bath in far too long was an occasion and should be treated as such.


    The rush of searing water out of the faucet was music to Iona¡¯s ears, a personal waterfall for her enjoyment alone. She made quick work of unpacking, folding clothes and shoving them in her creaky dresser, hanging her riding cloak, and tossing her sole pair of boots in the closet. Meanwhile, she compiled a list in her head of every single snack she planned to nick from the pantry. Iona glanced at the bed; the luring comfort of a fluffy mattress, on a four post frame rather than hard ground, made up with fresh, white, clean scented sheets called to her like a siren¡¯s song, but she fought the urge to lie down- she would be out like a light, and she was determined to enjoy some of the finer things home had to offer first.


    Once the bath was drawn, Iona pulled on a floor-length, silky green robe she found tucked in the linen closet, her hair piled atop her head, and made her way down to the kitchens. Unlike when they were children, it wasn¡¯t against any rules to take food outside of dining hours, but for some reason it still felt that way as an adult. She tiptoed down several halls and a few floors until she reached the empty dining room, passing through to the main kitchen and at last, the pantry. The shelves reached floor to ceiling, chock full of every fruit and vegetable grown in Chrysos, jams, jellies, sauces, breads, grains, and spices. Her eyes narrowed, scanning for the treasures she was there for above all. A cheer of excitement escaped from under her breath as Iona located the shelves of pastries and desserts. Her eyes darted from the platters of tiny cakes drizzled with icing to fruit-studded scones to chocolate bonbons shipped all the way from ¨¢vine, the kingdom across the west ocean.


    Iona grabbed an empty plate, lifting off the domed glass cover of one tray at a time, and piling it up with every sweet that caught her attention. Once she was satisfied with her choices, it was time to get back to her bath, which would now be at the perfect heat. Gripping the sides of the weighty platter, a twitch of guilt jumped into Iona¡¯s thoughts. Here she was enjoying a night of luxury, when her men were still scattered throughout the kingdom, doing the work she should be doing. I should put this all back. But what would that do? Theron made it clear he wanted her here. A resigned breath filled her lungs, as she tried letting go of the thought. Even if she didn¡¯t think this was anywhere close to the best use of her time, there was no reason to beat herself up for doing her duty.


    Walking into her bathroom, Iona was swallowed by the steam that gathered while she was away, droplets built up on every surface. The thick, wet air filled her nose and every ache lurking in her muscles made themselves known, ready to be felt in their entirety. She set the platter of goodies on the floor next to the tub, ensuring they were exactly in arm¡¯s reach while she soaked. Iona untied her robe, shrugging it off as it pooled at her feet. Ready to relax, she lowered into the still-scorching bath, and sunk in as deep as she could, the beads of sweat that gathered on her skin rolling into the water. The grime of long rides through the forest, pop up canvas tents, and back-breaking construction melted off her bit by bit.


    Eyes closed, Iona reached over the edge of the porcelain tub, wiggling her hand from side to side in search of a sweet treat. Her fingers closed around something soft, and she popped it in her mouth without hesitation. Tart lemony cake and juicy blackberry jam coated her tongue. She wanted to cling to this moment as long as she possibly could. Iona cleared her mind, focusing only on the medleys of sweetness provided by the next cake and the next.


    But all too soon, memories she¡¯d been pushing away began creeping in. Flashes of the War, from the very beginning, when rumblings of attacks cropped up from the south, to pleading with Theron to let her travel to the border and being refused, to seeing entire villages razed to the ground in mere minutes by the Ladrons¡¯ dark magic. She pressed her eyes even tighter, a sour flavor now filling her mouth while the rush of painful thoughts played out faster and faster. Fighting with Heston and the King about how and when to engage, debating the worth of human lives, the first time she killed another person and the way the light faded from their eyes, Elia¡¯s face¡­


    Iona lurched out of the water, unable to lie still any longer. Overcome with frustration, she gripped the sides of the bathtub, pushed herself up, and stepped onto the floor, only to feel something smush underfoot. Of course, this is just perfect. She reached down and scraped a smashed bonbon off her sole, rinsing off the chocolate before the tub drained completely. Disappointment washed over her as she dried off and wrapped up the rest of the uneaten, still intact, treats. They would be tucked into her nightstand drawer for another night.


    Lifting back the sheets, Iona climbed into bed, exhausted to the bone. Hopeful, but not optimistic, about getting a good night¡¯s sleep, she wrapped her arms around her pillow and settled in.


    +++


    The next few days were spent getting her bearings. Iona began by scrawling out a detailed list of everything that needed to be done over the next three months to get them across the finish line with reconstruction efforts, and sending it out to Desmond and her second in command, Espo. They can definitely handle it all, she told herself, whether she believed it or not considering she didn¡¯t have much of a choice. Sooner than she liked, the time had come for Iona¡¯s first meeting with Leo to start planning the ball. Heston may not want to get married, but a party thrown in his honor filled with women chasing his attention was probably the one way he would be open to the royal requirement. Leo was to handle all the logistics and details, while Iona was in charge of travel and security measures. There was no chance an attack would be launched by anyone there in the capital city, as it was protected by the power of the North Forest along the uppermost border, but they would be shepherding in hundreds of visitors who needed reliable escorts there and back. Plus, it was never a bad thing to be thorough and prepared in case of any emergency.


    The High Commander gathered her things from her bedroom, and swung by the dining hall for a mug of coffee before making her way to one of the many planning rooms in the east wing. She was the first to arrive, as expected. Leo was diseased with chronic tardiness. Massive pine shelves lined every wall, full of aging books about Chrysos¡¯ history, combat planning, almanacs, and more. Over the years, Iona had read almost every single one. Her favorite was the journal that detailed the discovery of the North Forest by their ancestors. They were a group of wayfaring humans who had settled at the edge of the North Forest and built a township over several hundred years. The Forest, brimming with old, ancient magic, had imbued the land around it with its power. As the humans tilled the earth, grew crops, and raised families, the magic was imparted upon them, allowing them to live longer and longer, and transform into stronger, sharper versions of who they once were. Now, most of her people lived to see five hundred years of age, if not more. Grateful for the care the people of Chrysos had shown to the land, the North Forest extended them the protective magic of the forest itself. Actively practicing magic, however, as the Ladrons did, was strictly forbidden in every kingdom and territory.


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    She wandered over to one of the shelves, and ran her fingers over the crinkled, soft leather bindings until she landed on a large portfolio filled with comprehensive maps of the palace. It was wedged in tight, necessitating a sharp tug to free it from the shelf. A collection of dust spewed everywhere, launching Iona into a coughing fit.


    ¡°Sheesh, don¡¯t choke to death. I¡¯d really prefer not to plan this whole thing myself,¡± Leo¡¯s voice came from where he was leaning against the doorway. He strolled into the room and sat down, stacking his feet on the table in front of him.


    ¡°Get your shoes off the table,¡± Iona scolded, shoving his boots back down to the floor, ¡°I still don¡¯t understand what the point is of me being here to begin with. I¡¯m sure you could plan a passable party on your own,¡± she griped.


    ¡°Was that a compliment?¡± Leo gasped, batting his eyelashes, and evoking a severe eye roll from his co-party planner. He chuckled, returning to his regular tone, ¡°He told me this morning he wants to spend some ¡®quality time¡¯ with all of us since, as he announced so candidly, he¡¯ll be dead soon. Quality time¡­ but he stays holed up in the throne room most every day.¡± Leo had been acting as an emissary and legion captain for the last ten years, traveling ahead of Iona and her troops to do reconnaissance at various towns and villages. His men reported back to hers on the specific conditions of each domain, which allowed her to plan for reparations. She¡¯d never say it aloud but they actually worked in tandem well- from afar. But all that time away from home meant time away from his father, as well, plus all the travel leading the deployed legions during the War. Maybe he was hoping Theron called him back in earnest, just that he was missing his son; Iona could feel the irritation in his words, but she didn¡¯t quite know what to say in return. She swallowed her thoughts and moved on.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯ll need to meet more than a few times over the next three months to nail down the plan. Send out notices to every domain over the next week, and call back the King¡¯s advisors so we can have a sit down with them. They will know everyone who should receive an invite to the ball,¡± she outlined while she refamiliarized herself with the dingy palace maps.


    When her words were met with silence, she pulled her eyes from the maps to see Leo staring back with a distinct bitterness. ¡°What is that look for?¡± she asked, throwing her hands on her hips.


    His face remained unmoved as he responded, ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯ll be meeting at all if your preferred method of planning is barking orders at me.¡±


    ¡°Barking orders? Don¡¯t be so dramatic, I¡¯m doing my job.¡±


    ¡°No, you¡¯re doing my job. Your job is safeguarding the palace and our guests.¡± Technically, he was right, but Iona¡¯s instructions were still correct so she brushed off his complaint and went back to the maps.


    ¡°How is it that after ten years of working my ass off for you, you still have the nerve to boss me around?¡± he groused, standing up from his chair and crossing his arms over chest like a defiant child.


    ¡°Boss you around? Seriously?¡± she snapped, ¡°And don¡¯t even start about your ¡®work ethic,¡¯ Leo, I know about all the galavanting you did in other kingdoms while you were supposed to be focused on your actual job prepping towns for rebuilding!¡±


    ¡°Hey, I did my job, and I did it exceptionally. Just because you¡¯re an uptight killjoy, doesn¡¯t mean everyone else has to be.¡± Iona slammed her palms onto the table, her concentration broken. Her mind replayed the numerous occasions she had to wait an extra day for word on reconnaissance because Leo let his men off to get drunk or sleep in too late. Wasted hours that could have been spent getting Chrysos back to working order. It was not the first time this exact argument had reared its head between the two of them.


    ¡°We could be nearing completion of ALL construction if you weren¡¯t so frivolous.¡±


    ¡°I actually allow my men to have some freedom every so often. I don¡¯t run them ragged like you,¡± he shot at Iona, standing from his chair.


    ¡°Run them ragged?! How dare you. I always take care of my people,¡± Iona was beginning to fume. Meeting number one was imploding quicker than she had expected it to. Her intention to get it back on track was dissipating before it even formed. ¡°Now quit arguing with me, Leonon, you¡¯re starting to piss me off.¡±


    ¡°This pompous attitude, right here, is why you haven¡¯t been able to make a single friend since-¡±


    ¡°-Stop,¡± Iona commanded before he could finish. Anyone walking by could have heard Iona¡¯s teeth grinding together from where she stood. While the Prince and High Commander held each other¡¯s flaming glare, Iona¡¯s eyes flickered with hurt. ¡°I¡¯m going for a ride,¡± Iona snarled, shoving past Leo.


    The heels of Iona¡¯s boots cracked against the stone underneath her as she charged her way down the halls of the east wing heading straight outside for the stables. She reached Tower¡¯s stall, and yanked open the gate to release him. He trotted out, blissfully unaware of his owner¡¯s wretched mood. With a crack of his reins, off they went. The palace sat on the north end of Chrysos, an hour ride from the edge of the North Forest. The land surrounding it was evergreen, filled with massive fields of clovers so soft that you could fall asleep on them for half a day in perfect comfort. Underneath was the richest soil in the kingdom, a perpetual gift from the gods of the Forest.


    Tower dashed over the clearing, and Iona released his reins, standing up straight in the stirrups. Fresh air surrounded her, the wind¡¯s tendrils caressing her skin with its chill. She needed to get her mind right. Three months was just enough time to properly plan the ball, but only if her and Leo avoided the bickering that occurred earlier. They had a way of picking at each other which never led to anything productive. This was her charged duty to the crown, whether she enjoyed it or not, and Iona was determined to tackle it with the same dedication she gave the rest of her obligations.


    Which may mean that an apology was in order. But the thought of choking out the words ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡± to Leo, and meaning them, made her blood boil. It was unfair of her to characterize the last decade of restorations as anything but a resounding success, in which he played a significant role. Leo knew how to push Iona¡¯s buttons, but she knew how to dig at him, too. Implying he didn¡¯t care enough about righting the kingdom¡¯s lands after the war was a cheap provocation on her part.


    Pulling on Tower¡¯s reins, he slowed and Iona took in the sights around her. The very edges of the North Forest, teeming with magic, were visible in the distance, a sense of peace saturating the breeze. A peace that was earned through harrowing battles¡­a peace that cost countless lives. Chrysos deserved the stability that Heston¡¯s marriage would offer, along with a Queen that cared about her people. Turning Tower back towards the palace, Iona weighed if it was worth it to apologize for starting the argument earlier or if she should just move past it and hope Leo let it go, too. Likely the latter. Definitely the latter.


    She couldn¡¯t remember a time when either of them had apologized for their behavior towards each other, and she wasn¡¯t going to be the first to do so. Plus, Leo¡¯s last dig was lousy.


    But he wasn¡¯t wrong, exactly. She only had one great friend in her life- Elia.


    After their first meeting at the palace as children, Elia and Iona quickly grew inseparable. The girls brought out the best in each other; Elia¡¯s forgiving, sensitive nature was a boon to Iona¡¯s tenacity and vice versa. They were sisters in every way except blood. And then, one day, she was gone.


    It had been thirty two years, almost to the day, since the first rumblings came from Chrysos¡¯ border villages that rural farms and outposts were being attacked by rogue soldiers coming from the south. The advisors to Maselle, the young prince of Siminy, a kingdom across the southern river from Chrysos, had been squandering their land¡¯s resources under his nose. They began accessing dark magic to replenish them before he discovered the truth. When the efforts proved fruitless, the advisors turned on the Prince, putting him under a deep enchantment before killing him altogether. They co-opted his armies to begin taking larger and larger villages by force. The Prince¡¯s advisors came to be known as the Ladrons.


    And Iona let it all happen. Once Elia reached adulthood, she moved to Siminy to marry Maselle.  Iona begged Theron for permission to retrieve her chosen sister from across the river the moment she was briefed on the first attacks, but the King forbade it. Siminy was an ally to Chrysos, and it would have been deceitful to abscond with their Princess, even if she was Theron¡¯s daughter. The Ladrons increased their strikes, trying to draw Theron¡¯s armies away from the protections of the North Forest, but he refused to engage fully, still believing the attacks were the work of renegades. Finally, to force war and pick Chrysos apart, they assassinated Elia  in her sleep. Iona had never forgiven herself for obeying the King¡¯s orders.


    Sitting atop Tower, meandering back to the palace, Iona¡¯s eyes burned with salty tears. These were the thoughts and memories she¡¯d tried to ignore for so long. But back at the palace, the home she shared with Elia for most of her life, she was going to be suffocated by them.

 Chapter Five

    It was almost midnight by the time Iona made it back and got Tower settled into his stall. A painful chord had been struck in her chest, reverberating throughout her body and sapping whatever energy she had left. Before trudging off to sleep, Iona decided in spite of her exhaustion, it would be best to grab the blueprints she¡¯d been reviewing earlier from the planning room so she could look over them with a clear mind in the morning. With sleep nipping at her heels, she made her way through the silent halls. But as she closed in on the room, her ears picked up hushed voices coming from King Theron¡¯s office. Her eyes narrowed, and Iona crept into the adjoining war room to eavesdrop- it was Theron and Leo. And they were talking about her. With a second wind fueled by nosiness, she peered through a crack in the door between rooms, and tucked herself into a shadowy corner.


    ¡°You know, Leonon¡­¡± the King began, as he turned toward the window, moonlight spearing through, ¡°..The night after I gave you and Iona your battle assignments, she showed up at my study around midnight.¡± His voice wavered ever so slightly, his usual stoicism losing its grip- he was referencing the night after Elia¡¯s murder. The night when he selected Iona to lead the capital forces and oversee all deployments. Leo was to lead his traveling infantry. The assignments that indicated, one day soon, Elia would be High Commander¡­and Leo would not.


    Leo furrowed his brow as his father continued, ¡°She insisted that I trade your commissions. She was concerned about you.¡± Theron turned to face his son, his hands clasped behind his back with wearied pain in his eyes. From the doorway, Iona took in how tired the King looked. Not the tired that can be refreshed by a good night¡¯s sleep. No, a tired deep within him, in his bones and settled in his soul. She let out a muted sigh of grief at the sight.


    ¡°Iona was concerned about me? The Iona that I know?¡± Leo asked. Iona rolled her eyes at his skepticism. The crouch she was in was getting uncomfortable, but she stymied the need to shift around, worried her knees would crack and give away her snooping.


    ¡°Yes, Leonon, Iona was concerned about you being so far from the palace. She told me she was worried about how hard it might be for you to have to leave home, after what happened, and that it might be best for you to stay close by- for all of us, actually, myself and Heston included.¡±


    Leo¡¯s face was blank. No snide comment, huh? Iona thought. Her offer to the King all those years ago was not something she ever planned for Leo to know about, but at least maybe he would stop painting her as some stone-hearted despot.


    ¡°Why would she¡­¡± Leo hesitated, but he let the thought peter out. He cleared his throat. ¡°What did you say?¡±


    ¡°Well, I disagreed. I thought it would be better for you to be out of here, away from¡­¡± he trailed off. King Theron was not a man of many emotions; Iona could count on one hand how many times he¡¯d had a notable reaction to something. Even the night they got word of Elia¡¯s attack, the King absorbed the news straight-faced. Heston attempted to follow suit, but could not hold back the tears that escaped from his eyes. Both Leo, and their mother, Queen Margot, broke into sobs. Iona would never forget watching the Royal family from across the courtyard; seeing their reaction, she knew immediately what news had been delivered.


    The King¡¯s deep voice brought Iona¡¯s attention back to the present. ¡°I needed Iona at the palace. She was ready for the path of High Commander, and it started here. That night.¡± After years of ongoing competitions, Iona had bested Leo for High Command, and she knew he always resented her for it.


    ¡°You and Iona have never gotten along, not once in the last ninety plus years that I can remember. But I need you both, now, to help secure the future of this kingdom. And as much as you don¡¯t like her, Iona commands a deep respect from each and every one of her men. She is dedicated to them and the people, and they are dedicated to her right back. It would be wise of you to quash this lifelong competition, and learn to work together. Heston and I trust her with our lives, as you can and should, as well.¡± The King¡¯s tone shifted, now speaking with a gentle optimism, ¡°After all these years, even if I never live to see it, I think you two still have a lot to learn from each other.¡± Iona watched Theron lower himself into his chair with a frailty that stung at her chest.


    Leo took on a look of defeat. ¡°Ugh, I can try, father,¡± he teased, ¡°¡­as long as she has to sit through an unendingly long lecture, too.¡± Theron laughed, shaking his head. With the conversation coming to a close, Iona snuck along the wall to escape out the door. She resolved to take the long way back to her bedroom so as to avoid running into Leo. Ambling back to the west wing of the palace, Iona unballed her clenched fists, her nails leaving marks from where they had dug into her palms. She hadn¡¯t realized how tense she was listening to the King¡¯s story. Her mind was hazy, swirling once again with vivid memories of the night Theron had just recounted to his son. The thoughts crashed down on her in a wave, just as they had many nights before, as she crawled into bed and pulled her blanket tight around her.


    After the engagement, the princess¡¯ future husband would only allow Iona to accompany Elia in his land as a lady-in-waiting. Iona turned down the offer. Her heart and soul had been torn into shreds at the news of her best friend¡¯s death, and whatever healing was needed to put it back together was set aside in favor of war and reconstruction. The recurring thought which haunted her for the last thirty years clawed its way back up as sleep overtook her. She left Elia unprotected. She let this happen.


    If I hadn¡¯t listened to Theron, if I had been with her when the attack began¡­I could have saved you¡­


    +++


    The sounds of metal on metal, clashing swords, the feeling of hot, sticky blood and dirt clinging to her skin, the smell of death in the air¡­


    Iona jerked awake, cold sweat soaking the sheets beneath her skin. She rubbed her calloused hands over her face, and through her hair, pulling back the strands glued to her forehead. Nightmares of the War were nothing new, and though she hated the feelings they dredged up from her, they were also a reminder of lives lost under her command.


    Theron promoted Iona to High Commander about a year into the War. It was her job to coordinate attacks and defenses from the palace, deploying troops full of men and women with spouses and children and homes that still needed their care. She dreaded each and every speech to her soldiers, telling them how they should be proud to fight and die for the kingdom. So many of them would never return. She remembered every one of their faces.


    If there was a large battle ensuing, Iona would gather her most trusted capital warriors and deploy with them. Her guilt compounded with each return to the palace; she managed to survive so many battles, ultimately leading Chrysos and their allies to victory but at an extremely heavy cost. The Ladrons didn¡¯t have many allies, only some rogue groups here and there that wanted to see Chrysos fall for their own selfish reasons. But the traitorous advisors had dark magic at their disposal, allowing them to wreak havoc on many of Chrysos¡¯ cities, towns, and villages. It was not lost on Theron or Iona how lucky Chrysos was that the dark magic also ate the Ladrons alive, sapping their life forces the more they wielded it.


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    Iona opted for a cold bath in an attempt to rebound from her poor night of sleep. She pulled on a sapphire blue linen blouse, black pants, and her favorite riding boots- the same practical outfit she wore every day. She never cared much about making an effort when it came to her clothes or other looks. She hadn¡¯t ever needed to as she was growing up- either she was helping her father in the fields or at the palace for tutoring with Elia or combat training. Her stick straight, dark brown hair nearly reached the small of her back, but she always kept it pulled back in a slick ponytail or bundled on her head in a knot. Her eyes were the same shade as her hair, with no extraneous specks of gold or copper.


    She admired Elia¡¯s talents when it came to things like applying rouge and kohl, and braiding her hair into intricate plaits, but Iona always fussed whenever her friend tried to involve her in such hobbies. Asa would often prod her daughter as she reached her teenage years to talk with some of the boys her age around the palace- sons of guards or stable boys and the like. Iona had no interest. She wanted to excel in her military training, and she refused to let any flirtations get in the way. As she got older, she had plenty of casual flings, but there was never any real attachment that pulled her focus away from her one main goal- being named High Commander. Sometimes she wondered if the younger version of herself would have been so keen on the position if she knew that War would one day be upon them.


    Iona¡¯s mind continued to whirr with remnants of her nightmares, thoughts of the rebuild continuing without her, finding the hostiles¡¯ holdout, and this impending ball. She strolled to the dining hall to grab a small breakfast before her and Leo¡¯s second attempt at a meeting. Leo apparently had the same idea; he was already sitting at the head of the long table, shoveling down a plate of stewed tomatoes, roast lamb, and eggs.


    ¡°That¡¯s quite the breakfast,¡± Iona commented. Leo¡¯s eyes flashed up to her and he took a swig of his drink.


    ¡°After our last meeting, I¡¯m preparing for battle,¡± he winked. He seemed fine enough to not need that apology Iona had been debating.


    ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± Iona said, snatching a ripe plum from a platter in the middle of the table and taking a seat on the opposite end from Leo. She loaded her plate with chunks of sour bread, eggs, and more fruit. They sat in silence for a few minutes before Leo piped back up.


    ¡°Why not just knock this out right now?¡± He stood up with his plate, shoving his seat back.


    ¡°What? Why? I¡¯m almost done.¡±


    ¡°Cause we¡¯re both here, and I want another plate,¡± Leo said as he plopped down in the seat next to Iona.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m not ready. All my maps are in the planning room.¡±


    ¡°I think you¡¯ll survive without your precious maps. We both know all the ins and outs of this place.¡± In spite of her disapproving expression, Iona acquiesced- but only because she, too, was hungry enough for a second helping. She sat waiting for Leo to kick things off, tapping her nails on the table edge. After all, the last time she had tried to help, he accused her of barking orders.


    Leo hemmed, seemingly waiting for Iona to speak first.


    ¡°Well?¡± she prompted.


    ¡°Well, what?¡±


    ¡°You wanted to meet now. You start!¡± she responded.


    He stared at her over his plate for a few seconds. ¡°Ugh, fine,¡± Leo said, ¡°I sent the letters. All advisors have responded, and they¡¯ll be here four weeks from today for a meeting.¡±


    ¡°Four weeks? Why is it going to take them so long?¡±


    ¡°I asked them all to compile their invite lists before they arrived, so they won¡¯t have to travel back for a second meeting prior to the ball just for that. Figured we could just have them do their due diligence now and then you and I separately can meet to review all invitees.¡±


    ¡°Good call. Okay great, so we have eight weeks to get the palace in order as far as patrols leading up to the ball and immediately after- coordinate with local vendors and whatnot, too.¡±


    Leo nodded in agreement. Their second meeting attempt went smoother than the first, though, they had set the bar quite low. For the next few hours, Iona and Leo hunkered down at the dining room table, staff and visiting courtiers funneling in and out of the room, as they made their plans. Though the capital city had always been a safe haven during the War, it was important for Iona and her guards to do everything possible to ensure the safety of their guests during their travel to and from the palace. This ball would be the first event of its kind since the end of the War. While the goal was finding Heston a wife and securing the family line, the ball also provided an opportunity to show the citizens of Chrysos and its allies that their land was once again secure and the power of the King remained as robust as it ever was.


    Outside the vast dining hall windows, the sun began to set, and the golden light of dusk began filling the room. Lunch had come and gone, and the kitchen staff were now bringing out dinner platters.


    ¡°What do you think about having Heston greet all the guests as they enter? Or would that be too time consuming?¡± Leo asked.


    ¡°I thought that part of the planning was your job,¡± Iona snarked. Her hand wrapped around the goblet of wine in front of her which had long since replaced her morning coffee and afternoon tea.


    Leo chuckled, ¡°No greeting. It¡¯ll take too long.¡± He glanced around, and Iona followed suit, realizing how late it had gotten. Leo continued, ¡°Hey, how many times do you think you¡¯ll get asked at the ball why you¡¯re not just marrying Heston?¡±


    Iona threw her head back, letting out a melodramatic sigh. Since she was a teenager, she had been asked that question many, many times. Heston was a good man, but he and Iona had always been strictly platonic. He also favored romantic partners who couldn¡¯t beat him in a sword fight. ¡°Hopefully, zero times. But realistically? I don¡¯t know, I¡¯d say three or four?¡­Maybe five.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s going to be hundreds of guests! I¡¯ll bet at least ten times.¡±


    ¡°Ten?! You¡¯re ridiculous. What are we betting?¡±


    Leo scratched his chin, ¡°Hmm¡­loser has to work in the kitchens for the day?¡±


    ¡°The kitchen staff hate when we do that,¡± Iona replied, remembering the exasperated faces of the cooks who had to deal with them as children. ¡°Let¡¯s just say, winner¡¯s choice. Within reason.¡±


    Leo shot his hand out to Iona, and stood up out of his chair, ¡°Deal.¡± She stood up, too, shook his hand, and started gathering her notes.


    ¡°When are we meeting next?¡± Leo inquired.


    ¡°Umm, how about next week? I¡¯m going to visit the cottage for a bit,¡± Iona responded. She decided that morning it was time for her to see her mother, anxious about it as she may be. But she really did miss home, and she owed her mom an apology for being away for so long. Asa most likely would have caught wind by now of her return, anyways.


    ¡°Ah, okay,¡± nodded Leo, ¡°Tell your parents I said hello.¡±


    ¡°My father passed away, actually,¡± Iona stated, her head tilted towards her feet. She looked up at Leo and saw his face had gone a bit pale with pity jumping into his eyes. ¡°But I¡¯ll tell my mother you said hi,¡± she said, offering a small smile to buffer the news.


    ¡°Oh¡­Iona, I didn¡¯t know. When did that happen? Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡±


    ¡°It was two years into the War. Was I supposed to send a note while you were in the middle of battle? ¡®By the way, my dad¡¯s dead, just thought you¡¯d want to know,¡¯¡± her words had an attempt at playful sarcasm, but they were laced with sadness. ¡°You only met him a couple of times, anyways.¡±


    ¡°I know, but-¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll be back in a few days,¡± she asserted, nodding at Leo as a goodbye. She shuffled out of the room without waiting for his response. The loss of her father, like the loss of Elia, was not a topic of conversation she liked to linger on in any fashion.

 Chapter Six

    Iona and Tower started the day long ride out to her old cottage early the next morning. The winding stretch of road leaving the city and heading towards the countryside was heavy with fog and a light chill. There was a time when Iona and Asa made this exact trip together every month. Eventually though, Iona began to stay at the palace for longer and longer periods of time, until she thought of the palace more as her primary residence over the cottage. Her parents never seemed to mind since Iona was taking part in royal lessons and combat training, and she had Elia with her there. But now, Iona could sense looking back that Asa would have preferred to have her daughter at their family home more over those years. Time spent apart that they would never get back. She hadn¡¯t made the trip to see her mother in¡­


    Ten years, she thought, anxiety bubbling up in her stomach. Iona had thrown herself into the rebuild work after the War- twenty years of constant plotting, evacuating, fighting. She was simultaneously relieved when the final battle had ended, uneasy at the prospect of lingering hostiles, daunted by the vast amount of repairs that faced them, and emotionally lost. She needed to keep her mind busy to avoid falling into the deeper despair towards which her grief pulled her. Reconstruction filled that time well, but she could have found opportunities to see her mother.


    Asa had lost her husband, Shome, two years into the War, the husband she¡¯d loved her whole life. But unlike Iona, she had nowhere to go and a whole farm to maintain. Iona had learned from Asa¡¯s letters that the townspeople assisted her any way they could, many of whom had children that were taught by her mother throughout the years. Iona used it as an excuse to avoid coming back, convincing herself that Asa had enough help. She would gloss over the invitations that closed out each one:


    ¡°I would love to see you darling, whenever you can spare the time.¡±


    ¡°I think about you every day, can¡¯t wait until you¡¯re able to visit.¡±


    ¡°I know you¡¯re busy saving the kingdom, but don¡¯t forget your mom who misses you!¡±


    A mother¡¯s guilt was a dark magic all its own, and even more powerful when it was deserved.


    The sun had long set by the time they arrived, as Tower galloped up the rolling hill, and Iona¡¯s eyes settled on the familiar cottage that sat atop. Even in the dark, Iona could see that nothing had changed- the sunbeaten bricks, the wall of thick, bright green ivy, her father¡¯s various vegetable crops, and her mother¡¯s gardening beds filled to the brim with a rainbow of flowers. The day¡¯s ride was nothing of consequence to Tower, and he trotted right up to the door. Iona dismounted and pulled off his bridle. He knew he was free to roam here, and he would answer her call when she was ready to leave. With the energy of a child let loose on a playground, Tower scampered off. Confronted with the rickety wooden door, a lump formed in Iona¡¯s throat. She¡¯d run through what she would say to her mom over and over again on the ride, trying to strike a balance between saying sorry for abandoning her and staying strong in her resolve that heading straight out to reconstruction was the right thing to do- even if she didn¡¯t quite believe the latter anymore. Did she ever?


    Iona let out a long breath and reached her fist up. A single, hesitant rap on the door, and it swung open so fast, it could have flown right off the hinges. ¡°Iona!¡± Asa cried. She flung her arms around her daughter and burst into tears. Iona stiffened, as she had prepared herself for the cold shoulder from her mother because, well, that¡¯s what she deserved. But of course, her mom, a woman whose kindness radiated off her like sunlight, would never do such a thing to her own daughter.


    ¡°M- mom,¡± Iona stammered, tears beginning to well up in her eyes. The two women held each other as if their embrace could fill in all the missing time and space that had passed the last decade. For the first time in years and years, Iona felt the kind of comfort one can only feel in their true home. Her shoulders slumped a bit, her posture relaxed, and the rigidity of daily life as a commander dissipated here in this cottage of hers.


    She pulled away from Asa¡¯s arms, and started to speak, ¡°Mom, I owe you an apology.¡±


    Asa shooed away the words without a thought. ¡°Oh, nonsense, my love. Come inside, and take those raggedy boots off. I¡¯ll make sure they get cleaned and shined before you leave.¡± She herded Iona into the living room, warm from the crackling fireplace. Iona couldn¡¯t give up that easily even though she wanted to, but she decided to try another apology later in the evening. Or maybe the next day- it was getting late, after all.


    ¡°My boots aren¡¯t that bad,¡± Iona said as she tugged them off. She looked around the room and took in the sights- the small kitchen, brimming with baskets of fruits and vegetables harvested from their farm, the dining table her father had built with three chairs, one for each of them- and no visitors. Shome was never much for company. The couch in front of the fireplace needed replacing years ago, but Asa was very sentimental, and it was made for her and Shome as a wedding gift by a local builder. The two bedrooms were down the hall, and Iona got sleepy the second she laid eyes on her old bedroom door.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you wash up and get some rest, honey? I know you¡¯ve been riding all day. Your bed¡¯s made up with fresh sheets,¡± Asa said, walking over to Iona and placing her hand on her daughter¡¯s cheek.


    ¡°Fresh sheets? Did you know I was coming?¡± Iona asked, yawning halfway through her question.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know for sure, but I hoped you would. It was wishful thinking, but turns out, I was right this time!¡± Asa smiled, her eyes wrinkling at the edges. This time, she thought. How many other nights had her mother dusted the house, changed the sheets on her bed, and prepared a fire, only for her daughter to not show up? Iona¡¯s stomach twisted, and her face dropped, but Asa, ever her positive self, grabbed each of Iona¡¯s hands and squeezed them reassuringly, ¡°I am so happy you¡¯re here.¡±


    Iona smiled, ¡°Me, too, mom.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve left a plate by your bed, eat whatever you¡¯d like and get some sleep; I need your help with harvesting tomorrow!¡±


    Iona gave her mom a final hug and headed for her old bedroom, eager to eat and turn in. Her head hit the pillow not long after, and she was out- no nightmares, no jerking awake with a pounding chest- just pure, uninterrupted sleep.


    Nearly ten hours later, she awoke to the most enchanting fragrance filling the room- her mother¡¯s baking. Iona shot out of her bed as fast as she could and thumped down the hall like she was just a kid again. ¡°What are you making?¡± Iona shouted ahead of her, even though she was only a few steps from finding out herself.


    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°Well, looks like someone got enough sleep,¡± Asa said, her beaming smile permeating the room. Asa turned from the countertop with a platter in her hands and walked over to the dining table. Iona followed suit and finally saw the delicacies that awaited her: her mother¡¯s lavender scones. Iona¡¯s eyes widened as she snatched one up.


    ¡°Is it true that Prince Heston is finally being compelled to marry?¡± Asa mused. She popped back over to the counter and brought over her daughter¡¯s favorite apricot preserves. Iona felt like she had been transported to the past, eating these cherished treats, usually reserved for her birthday. She supposed a homecoming counted as a celebration, too, even if she still needed to own up to her selfish decisions over the last ten years.


    Asa waited for her daughter to scarf down a second scone with a thick spread of the sweet, fruity jam. After polishing off her breakfast, Iona realized she hadn¡¯t answered her mother. ¡°Sorry,¡± she said sheepishly, putting down the third scone that had magically appeared in her hand, ¡°Heston, yes, it¡¯s true. His search for a bride is why I was forced to leave behind my real duties. The King¡¯s commanded that I work with Leo, of all people, to ready the palace and coordinate a ball for all the eligible princess-hopefuls throughout the kingdom and beyond. And I assume if we¡¯re successful, there will be an immediate wedding to plan for, as well.¡±


    Asa let out a hearty laugh, deep from her belly. ¡°Leo?! Oh, I would love to watch the two of you in a room after all this time, planning a royal ball, at each other¡¯s throats for no reason.¡±


    ¡°No reason?! Come on, Mom, Leo is always the reason. He is constantly trying to get a rise out of me, disagreeing with everything I suggest for his own entertainment. He¡¯s never grown up,¡± Iona complained.


    Asa¡¯s face was awash with amusement, ¡°You¡¯ve always let him push your buttons. And you do it right back to him, don¡¯t even begin to pretend you don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but when I do it, he deserves it,¡± Iona smirked, grabbing her third scone back up and tossing the whole thing in her mouth.


    ¡°Well, I think Heston is lucky to have you two on the hunt for his future wife. I don¡¯t think he would ever settle down without the King making him anyways.¡±


    ¡°I still think the King could have hired a party planner,¡± Iona huffed while chewing.


    Asa chuckled, ¡°I¡¯m sure he¡¯s happy to have you all back with him at the palace, though. That man has been alone for a long time, hasn¡¯t he?¡±


    Iona nodded in agreement. ¡°The Queen was always miserable though, so I suppose even before she absconded, he was quite lonely even when she was around,¡± she answered. Theron was married to Margot, the daughter of ¨¢vine¡¯s high lord, when they were both teenagers to secure a trade deal and allyship between the lands. The Queen refused to participate in kingdom business, preferring to exist as a ghost roaming the halls of the palace. Her contribution to Chrysos was having her children, though she never cared for them. Margot disappeared after news of Elia¡¯s death.


    ¡°Chrysos has been in need of a real queen, one who actually cares to see that the kingdom is cared for. Margot was never that person, nor was she remotely a mother to her own children. Though I suppose she never even wanted to leave ¨¢vine,¡± Asa pondered.


    ¡°No, she didn¡¯t. But I guess we have an opportunity to get that all righted if we find Heston a wife at the ball,¡± Iona offered.


    Asa smiled, and patted Iona¡¯s leg. ¡°I have complete faith in you. Finish up those scones, and let¡¯s harvest. I have some wild carrots I¡¯ve been growing that I think Tower will just love.¡± Iona smiled back, ready to get to work. She used to love assisting her father with the farm work, even though it could be grueling. Iona stood to follow her mom out the door, but glanced over her shoulder towards her parent¡¯s bedroom. She half-expected to hear his voice coming from down the hall or see him walk by the window with a basket overflowing with his latest bounty from the garden. The thought of it pricked at Iona¡¯s eyes, threatening to bring out tears, but she managed to smile through it and be grateful to be with her mother again.


    Over the next few days, Iona and Asa fell right into their old routine- early wake up, sunrise ride with Tower and Whinny, Asa¡¯s mare, then breakfast, harvesting, sorting, and cleaning. Each evening ended with glasses of wine and freshly picked fruits after dinner, snuggled up together on the couch in front of the hearth. Iona hadn¡¯t experienced such comforts in too long; she needed this visit, just as much as Asa did.


    A week flew by, and the time came for Iona to return to the palace. Refreshed as she was, Iona would like to have stayed even longer.A week just wasn¡¯t enough. Asa and her daughter sat at the dining table for one final cup of coffee before she left.


    ¡°So the ball, it¡¯s in¡­three months, you said?¡± Asa asked between sips.


    ¡°Yeah, maybe closer to two and a half, by now.¡±


    ¡°Wow, that¡¯s¡­close,¡± Asa responded, almost murmuring. She watched her daughter over the edge of her coffee mug. Iona nodded, her eyes fixed on the table in front of her. Asa meant the ball was close to the date of Elia¡¯s passing- the thirtieth anniversary of her best friend¡¯s death. The ball was only a week after, and Iona was not looking forward to spending such a difficult day in the castle.


    ¡°King Theron is holding a dinner. Just with the boys and me. Would you be able, I mean, would you be willing to make the trip?¡± Iona could get through the night alone if she had to, but the thought of her mother being there in support made the task seem much less daunting. ¡°If not, it¡¯s okay, I know it¡¯s a long ride.¡±


    ¡°Of course I¡¯ll be there, my love,¡± Asa replied, giving her daughter¡¯s arm a reassuring squeeze. Iona¡¯s pinched expression softened.


    ¡°Thank you, Mom. For everything. I know that I haven¡¯t been here as much as I should have, and look, before I go¡­I should have said this a long time ago-¡±


    ¡°Iona, it¡¯s-¡± Asa started, but she let the words go as Iona lifted her hand off the table, signaling her need to continue.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry I haven¡¯t been more reliable, Mom. I should have visited more, I should have written you more. I¡¯m sorry, I left you here to deal with dad¡¯s passing all by yourself. I will be better, I swear, it¡¯s just been a hard few years, with everything¡­¡± Iona started to cry, unable to stop the words from tumbling out of her mouth, ¡°I miss you, and I miss Elia, and I miss dad.¡±


    ¡°I know, honey, I know,¡± Asa answered, sweeping her daughter into a soothing hug. ¡°You¡¯ve been through a lot. We both have.¡± Iona sat back and looked at her mom. ¡°I¡¯ve missed you, too. And though you never needed to offer it, of course I accept your apology. But I am so proud of you, Iona. And your father was, too,¡± Asa said, pushing the hair that had fallen in Iona¡¯s eyes back behind her ears, ¡°You¡¯re just like him. Your tenacity, your passion. All the things I loved about your father and more, I see them in you.¡± Comfortable silence passed between them for a few moments, swirled with sadness, love, and warmth.


    Iona was able to spare a few words without more tears. ¡°Thanks, mom. I¡¯m lucky to have you,¡± she said, wiping her cheeks. They sat holding hands for another minute, enjoying the last few moments of each other¡¯s company. Iona stood up and gathered her things, the weights with which she arrived falling away. ¡°I¡¯ll see you for the memorial dinner.¡±


    Asa and Iona said their goodbyes, and Iona hopped on Tower to start the trek back, an extra bag of wild carrots tucked into the side of the saddle for him. A feeling remarkably close to contentedness filled Iona from head to toe, and off she rode for the capital city.

 Chapter Seven

    Iona took her time on the ride back, letting Tower wander a bit off course to sniff at whatever caught his attention. She wanted to extend her reprieve from the constant bustle of the palace as long as possible. A day and a quarter after leaving the cottage, she arrived at the palace, caught up on sleep, and awoke energized. Iona adjusted to sleeping in tents in the woods after thirty years but she certainly never enjoyed it and neither did her muscles.


    Her next meeting with Leo was planned for the following morning, and Iona needed to do a walk of the estate perimeter in preparation. She grabbed a notebook from under a pile of papers on her desk, pulled her hair into a low knot, and headed out to the north entrance. It would take her around four or five hours to walk the full border. She could easily assign such a task to one of the palace guards, but Iona preferred doing everything. Delegation didn¡¯t come easy to her; it was a skill she had to be taught by the King.


    About an hour into her day, Iona stumbled upon a familiar sight- the old combat ring outside the main wall, where young soldiers would put their training to the test against one another. She assumed it had been disassembled when a new ring, sturdier and safer, had been built just after the War ended. But there it was, beckoning to her, and she found herself drawn right to its side. The ring sat several feet off the ground, and Iona, as she had many times over the years, hoisted herself up onto the creaky canvas. She ducked under the ropes which had become dry and prickly with age and drifted to the middle of the ring. A chill hung in the air but the sun beamed overhead, pushing against it. Iona began to shadowbox mindlessly- a light jab, just to get a feel of the distance between her and her non-existent opponent, followed by a stronger right punch, two more jabs at a quick speed.


    Duck to the left, throw a matching hook. Hands up, protecting the face. Front kick. Slide in to close the space¡­


    Iona used to shadowbox for hours and hours alone in this ring. When she was still quite young, fourteen or fifteen years old, her patience for courtier lessons began to grow thin. Elia tried to keep her engaged, but she hated every second of it. Iona often wondered where the boys were and why they didn¡¯t have to take these ridiculous classes, even though- technically- Iona didn¡¯t have to either. But she had promised her mother that she would so long as she was allowed to stay at the palace for longer stretches of time.


    One day, she decided to see for herself what Leo and Heston were up to during the girls¡¯ etiquette lesson. Elia grumbled that she would get in trouble for sneaking out of class, but knew she couldn¡¯t stop Iona from doing whatever she had set her mind to. Iona waited until the lesson had kicked off and made some excuse about feeling woozy, asking to lie down for a few minutes. She was dismissed by the palace courtier teaching them, shooting Elia a sly wink as she hustled out of the room.


    Instead of heading to the sleeping quarters, Iona crept through the hallways, listening for the sound of familiar male voices to indicate that she¡¯d found Heston and Leo. After ten minutes or so, Iona knew she was running out of time and had to get back to the lesson or risk her mother hearing that she¡¯d skipped out. She resolved to try again another day, but when she started back to the room, nothing around her looked very familiar. She had wandered to a part of the palace she¡¯d never before been.


    Iona hurried down the hallway she was in to another one, took a few various turns, and tried to pretend like she wasn¡¯t lost. Several minutes of unsuccessful navigation later, she found herself in a small corridor with a skinny, elongated window at the end of it. Her frustration was replaced by curiosity as she walked over to peer out the glass. Below Iona was the combat ring, filled with young boys and seasoned soldiers, training in pairs with one partner running through boxing combinations while the other absorbed their blows. Eventually, the partners switched places so each could learn to both strike and be struck. Iona was absolutely fascinated. She spotted a familiar face in the ring- Leo, and another familiar face outside the ropes shouting instructions- Heston.


    So this is what they get to do instead of learning embroidery and hostess duties, she thought. Lost in ruminations of jealousy, Iona didn¡¯t hear the figure that crept up behind her. A hand clapped down on her shoulder, and Iona¡¯s eyes widened at the touch- she was definitely supposed to be back to her lesson by now. A gravel laden voice filled the hall, ¡°Little miss, I believe there¡¯s a dance lesson happening at which you should be in attendance.¡±


    King Theron.


    Despite being best friends with his daughter, Iona hadn¡¯t spent much time around the King. Their first real interaction, one on one, and it was his majesty finding her sneaking around the castle, sticking her nose where it shouldn¡¯t be. ¡°King Theron,¡± the young Iona managed to spit out, wheeling to look at him, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, your majesty. I got lost, I didn¡¯t mean to end up¡­snooping.¡±


    Theron let out a hearty laugh, ¡°When I was about your age, I got lost looking for the kitchen and they couldn¡¯t find me for an entire day!¡± Iona responded with an uncomfortable chuckle, still not quite sure how to interact with the King himself. Theron then asked the question that changed the trajectory of Iona¡¯s life from then on: ¡°Would you like to join them?¡±


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    ¡°J-join them?¡± she stammered.


    Theron gestured towards the window, ¡°Those are our soldiers. Well, one day they will be. Some of them are girls, like you. If you want to join in, you¡¯re more than welcome. Iona, correct? Asa¡¯s daughter?¡±


    Iona nodded. She looked over her shoulder, peering down at the ring of trainees. A chance to get out of those wretched courtier lessons. A chance to be a soldier of Chrysos. ¡°I¡¯d like that.¡±


    ¡°Good. Always happy to have new recruits- and you look strong. You¡¯ll make a great addition to the team, so long as you¡¯re dedicated and willing to work. And you¡¯ll need your mother¡¯s permission.¡±


    ¡°My father will say yes. I help him around our farm most days. Digging, and pulling weeds, and chopping wood, and all,¡± she assured. King Theron grunted an approval, and led her back through the maze of hallways.


    Unlike courtier lessons, combat training came easy to Iona. She excelled. She thrived. For the next fifty plus years, she rose swiftly through the ranks of Theron¡¯s army alongside her assigned training partner- Leo. A penchant for competition paired with mutual disdain propelled them both to top leadership positions within their cohort. The last time Iona fought in the ring, it was against Leo. The day before the War broke out. The troops were on edge, as reports of the Ladrons¡¯ attacks were beginning to increase. To let off some steam, the soldiers gathered at the ring and took turns sparring, with side bets being placed here and there on winners and losers.


    Iona and Leo had been keyed in earlier that week by Heston that the King was considering engaging against the Ladrons, and since Theron¡¯s previous High Commander had stepped down a couple years prior, it was clear that he would need to name a replacement as soon as possible. Iona and Leo had been jockeying for the position and were the obvious frontrunners. When it was Leo¡¯s turn in the ring, he scratched his chin and eyed the crowd, as if there was even a chance he¡¯d pick someone other than Iona.


    ¡°I choose¡­¡± he started, swinging around to point at Iona, ¡°My sister¡¯s lackey.¡± Idiot, she thought, as she ducked under the ropes. Iona readied herself for the match, while Leo made a proposition, ¡°Let¡¯s make this one count. Winner gets High Command.¡± He raised his knuckles, sweat forming on his brow. It was the dead of summer, and all the soldiers donned their lightest training clothes but the heat cooked right through them.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t work like that,¡± Iona replied, rolling her eyes. She pushed up the sleeves of her shirt and shook out her arms, as Leo bounced back and forth on the balls of his feet.


    ¡°You¡¯re just scared you¡¯ll lose.¡±


    She knew that this spar had no impact on King Theron¡¯s decision, but it was the principal of the thing. Leo had long been a thorn in her side, and it was time to put him down once and for all. Iona sharpened her stance, unlocked her knees, and put up her fists, ¡°Deal.¡± With a nod, the fight was on.


    A flurry of jabs, punches, hooks, and backhands commenced. Iona stayed in the kitchen, as close as possible to Leo¡¯s body, since his height was such an advantage if she gave him space. Her right uppercut landed with power, but Leo returned with an even more forceful knee, followed by a shooting front kick, sending her careening into the ropes. Shouts and jeers from the crowd of their fellow soldiers filled the air, as if they were enjoying a show on stage.


    For nearly five minutes, the training partners exhibited a range of combat techniques, putting on a clinic for everyone watching. They were so equally matched, the fight was more about who had the endurance to outlast the other rather than the brute force.


    Iona¡¯s breaths were as heavy as lead, her eyebrow split from an elbow Leo had thrown. Leo¡¯s lip was swelling, bruised purple, and bleeding. The men surrounding the ring had quieted, rapped by the fight in front of them, until a young recruit shouted something about Heston coming out from the palace. Leo turned his head in response, and Iona took advantage. She dropped to her feet and threw out a sweeping kick, sending Leo crashing to the canvas. Iona jumped atop him, threw a hand on his neck and cocked her fist back for a final punch. But she held it in the air, dangling in front of Leo¡¯s face just to rub it in- she¡¯d won.


    ¡°Don¡¯t get distracted so easily,¡± she chided, standing up and offering her hand out to a defeated Leo. Rebuffing her help, he pushed himself up off the ring without a word. ¡°Such a sore loser, little prince,¡± she snapped at him.


    ¡°That was a cheap shot, and you know it,¡± he griped. Before she could respond, Heston was calling Leo to get out of the ring and follow him.


    Over thirty years later, here Iona was in that very same ring, remembering the scene like it was yesterday. She could still feel the wave of superiority that flowed through her, victory over Leo secured. She could see him ducking under the ropes and jumping down from the ring after Heston, neither of them prepared for the news they¡¯d shortly receive of Elia¡¯s murder.


    Iona took a deep breath as she realized just how much time she¡¯d wasted standing in the ring, bound by her memories. They were everywhere in the palace, waiting for her at every turn like animal traps littered through the hallways, the meeting rooms, the courtyards, itching to ensnare her. Lowering herself back to the ground, Iona wondered if maybe this return to the capital city was a necessary evil for her to get some much needed closure. The closure that she craved inside and maybe even deserved.

 Chapter Eight

    ¡°Commander Iona,


    No skirmishes to report. The pace of rebuilds remains steady in your absence. - Espo¡±


    Iona sat in bed with her legs hanging off the side as she read the message, delivered to her a few minutes earlier, over and over again. This was good, things were moving along well while she was at the capitol. Prince Desmond hadn¡¯t contacted her at all, which was a bit of a surprise, but Iona assumed he might still be unhappy with her abrupt exit. Dez was always touchy, a dramatic kid wrapped up in a brawny, handsome body. It was annoying.


    The first meeting with Theron¡¯s advisors was approaching, and Iona was looking forward to seeing Adina, advisor of the southernmost domain of Chrysos, and one of the few people she considered a friend. She got along fine with the other advisors, mostly, though Lord Grayser never seemed to like her much. Iona got out of bed and dressed for another day of planning. As she washed her face and brushed her teeth, she wondered if she and Leo should be thinking ahead towards the potential wedding of Heston and his unknown bride. Better to be prepared early. Iona walked out of her bedroom and poked her head into Leo¡¯s room, two doors down. The door had been left open, but Leo wasn¡¯t in sight. A grumble came from deep in her stomach, and Iona figured she should grab some food- maybe Leo had beaten her to breakfast. However, like Leo¡¯s bedroom, the dining hall was empty save for a couple bakers putting out platters of food.


    ¡°Morning, Poppy,¡± she greeted the baker closest to her, as she grabbed a couple of pieces of dark bread and a soft boiled egg. ¡°Have you seen Leo?¡±


    Poppy shook her head, ¡°I have not, Commander. Would you like me to send a guard to find him?¡±


    ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary,¡± she responded, taking a bite of her breakfast, ¡°Thank you, though. Bread¡¯s delicious as always this morning.¡±


    The compliment added a little sparkle to Poppy¡¯s smile. ¡°We¡¯re all happy to have you back, Commander,¡± she said before heading to the kitchens.


    Iona smiled, appreciative of the kind words. She figured that she would find Leo eventually, so she savored her meal, sipped on a piping hot mug of tea, and took in the calmness of the deserted dining room. The guilt of being away from reconstruction was waning, and Iona enjoyed these moments as best she could. With her breakfast consumed, and her mind ready for the day, Iona headed towards the east wing to find Leo. Within a few minutes, she saw him stomping out of a meeting room and down the hallway towards her, scowling.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± she asked, playing back their last interaction in her head. Was it something she said? She couldn¡¯t think of anything that would have put Leo in such a mood. Iona looked down the hall at the room from which Leo had exited and saw Heston leave the opposite direction.


    ¡°Nothing. I¡¯m going for a ride,¡± he snapped, hustling past her. Iona¡¯s curiosity was piqued. She was a professional, of course, and she knew it was best to stay out of family tiffs. But, her nosiness often got the best of her anyways.


    ¡°I¡¯ll come with,¡± she offered, expecting Leo to shoot her down.


    ¡°Fine,¡± he chirped over his shoulder. Iona had to jog to keep up with his pace, but soon they were both at the stables, saddling up Tower and Corso in complete silence, which remained a fixture of the ride for almost an hour. Iona decided it was best not to pry, and rather wait for Leo to finally open up. When it came to emotions, he was a talker, just like Elia had been. Her patience was rewarded as Leo pulled back the reins on Corso, and both horses slowed to a walk.


    ¡°Heston¡¯s an ass,¡± he bellowed. ¡°He acts like he¡¯s the victim of some major injustice all because he has to get married. He¡¯s the fucking prince, the heir to the throne.¡± Iona didn¡¯t respond, though she agreed. There was a fine line to walk as Heston¡¯s future High Commander, even if it was just the two of them. She looked to her right, and caught Leo peering up at the sky. His amber eyes were lit by the sun, taking on a fiery edge in the moment. He ran his hands through his hair, clearly exasperated. ¡°We¡¯re doing all of this for him, bringing a fucking buffet of women to his doorstep. And he just complains like it was all thrust upon him suddenly. Like he hasn¡¯t been preparing for this his entire life!¡±


    Iona was taken aback at the sound of Leo¡¯s voice breaking. He even had a few tears in his eyes as he mumbled, ¡°Our dad is dying. And all he cares about is himself.¡±


    Iona was never very good at being comforting. Elia was the one who people could turn to for support and compassion. Even Leo was better at the sympathy thing than she was. Iona cleared her throat, buying a little time to find the right words, ¡°I¡¯m sure he¡¯s worried about your dad. Maybe that¡¯s just his way of¡­of covering it up.¡± Leo gave a slight, reluctant nod in return. ¡°It¡¯s not easy,¡± she said, ¡°Losing a parent. I¡¯m sure that it¡¯s hard for him, knowing that this day he¡¯s been preparing his whole life for, to be king, that it¡¯s predicated on your father¡¯s death.¡±


    Leo looked ahead, ¡°Yeah, maybe that¡¯s true¡­but he¡¯s still an ass about it.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s also true,¡± she said with a chuckle, her capacity for comfort draining already. ¡°How about a race to get it off your mind?¡± she said, snatching up Tower¡¯s reins.


    ¡°Aw, come on, don¡¯t make Corso show up Tower for the hundredth time,¡± he responded, grabbing Corso¡¯s reins in anticipation. Iona and Leo stared at each other, both bracing their legs against their horses, ready for the ride ahead.


    ¡°GO!¡± Iona shouted, cracking Tower¡¯s reins. Both steeds lurched forward, breaking into a sprint. Iona couldn¡¯t stifle the smile that was painted on her face. She loved riding at full speed, and it had been a very long time since Leo and her had gone head to head.


    Tower galloped powerfully, just at the heels of Corso. As always, whoever reached the edge of the North Forest first, would be declared winner. But Iona could tell that Tower wasn¡¯t keeping up well enough and as they closed in on the edge of the Forest, her competitive nature took over. Instead of pulling up like Leo when they reached the boundary, Iona plunged ahead with Tower, straight into the woods. Moss covered trees and dense vines flew past her. For being so imposing, Tower weaved masterfully through the thicket, and Iona glanced to her right to see Leo frowning back at her from Corso a few paces behind. She laughed at the sight, but as she turned her attention to the Forest ahead of her, she realized that they had quickly ended up in unfamiliar territory.


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    ¡°Whoa,¡± she called out to Tower, pulling back on his bridle. He slowed down, coming to a stop, and Corso trotted over to their side. ¡°Where are we?¡± Iona had walked through the woods many times, but the sights around her now were¡­strange. The air felt murky and thick, filled with a sense of magic that made Iona¡¯s skin tingle.


    ¡°You just had to plow into the Forest, huh? Couldn¡¯t accept that I beat you. Again,¡± Leo shouted, anger booming into his voice.


    ¡°Yeah, whatever, just help me figure out where we are,¡± Iona said, guilt setting in that she got them lost. They turned their horses back the direction they came from, and tried to retrace their path, but nothing looked familiar. It was as though the Forest was playing a prank on them. After an hour or so with no luck and growing shadows, Iona hopped off Tower to look around from the ground.


    ¡°The sun is setting, you know. We¡¯re going to be stuck out here all night,¡± Leo groaned, laying back against Corso.


    Iona pushed her sleeves up, shook out her arms, and rolled her head back and forth to loosen her neck. ¡°Do you ever stop complaining? You¡¯re starting to sound like Heston,¡± she sniped.


    ¡°Wow, bold of you to get us lost in the Forest, and then have the nerve to blame me for being rightfully annoyed.¡±


    ¡°You could have stayed at the boundary line!¡±


    ¡°We were racing! And you lost!¡± Iona started to grind her teeth, frustrated with herself. Leo kept on, ¡°I know you think I¡¯m a sore loser, but you¡¯re even worse. Heavens forbid I beat you in anything, you can¡¯t take it. You never could.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, well that¡¯s not a very common occurrence is it?¡± she jabbed back, anger swelling.


    ¡°Fuck off, Iona.¡± Leo had dismounted Corso, and the former training partners glared at each other, surrounded by the Forest getting darker and darker.


    ¡°Well, you know what I really think?¡± Iona stepped closer to Leo. ¡°You were going to get High Command handed to you on a silver platter, and you couldn¡¯t stand someone stepping up and earning it rightfully. And you¡¯ve never let it go.¡±


    A smile broke out across Leo¡¯s lips while he shook his head and started to laugh. He reached up a hand and wiped his mouth; the smile wiped off with it. He rested his hands on his hips. ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding me, Iona.¡±


    ¡°Admit it,¡± she demanded.


    ¡°Admit what? I always knew you¡¯d be High Commander! I never even wanted it!¡±


    ¡°Bullshit,¡± she answered, narrowing her eyes at his ridiculous assertion.


    ¡°But you show up out of nowhere one day, and take to training like you were born for it when I was the one who was supposed to be born for it. It was hard enough to be compared to my brother, but at least he was older than me and bigger than me. Imagine what it was like to be barely scraping by at something you were expected to be great at, and then some nobody shows up and knocks you down every single chance they get just to prove they''re better than you. I have always been your stepping stone. Little Iona¡¯s very own punching bag, and you enjoyed it.¡±


    Iona wasn¡¯t immediately sure what to take from his rebuke. It¡¯s true that Leo was subject to high expectations from his father, but that wasn¡¯t her fault. Instead, with a harsh look, Iona responded, ¡°I am not a nobody.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant¡­¡± Leo said, looking off, and waving his hands as if he could push the insult away. ¡°I¡¯m just saying. Heston is heir. Elia was the golden child. I was supposed to be good at something, and my father decided it would be combat. But, then you came along. I didn¡¯t stand a chance.¡±


    Iona chewed her lip while she mulled a response. Arguing meant staying in the depths of the North Forest for even longer, which was not ideal. ¡°Am I supposed to feel bad for you then?¡± Iona teased, trying to lighten the mood instead, ¡°Poor Prince Leonon, in his giant castle with everything he could ever ask for got his butt kicked by a country peasant.¡±


    Leo laughed a little, to Iona¡¯s relief. ¡°No, of course not, since that would require you to have feelings.¡± He smirked at her, and she rolled her eyes, as she lifted herself back onto Tower¡¯s saddle. Leo did the same and hopped back on Corso.


    Iona thought back to the way she felt basking in the glow of Theron¡¯s approval when she bested Leo in training- the other side of the coin being the anger and resentment she stewed in on the nights that he beat her. She was always so embarrassed when she lost in front of the King. Iona never much bothered to consider how it felt to be Theron¡¯s own son in those times. She could feel something gathering in her throat, words that she felt compelled to say aloud. They pushed against her teeth until she relented. ¡°You would have been a great High Commander,¡± Iona spilled, meeting Leo¡¯s gaze. ¡°But only if this nobody hadn¡¯t come along.¡±


    Leo was clearly caught off guard, and Iona thought she saw a bit of redness rise into his cheeks. ¡°Thanks¡­¡± he said incredulously, ¡°But I suppose my father made the right decision. The way you lead, the way the men and the citizens react to you¡­he knew you were the best person for the job.¡± Iona responded with the softest smile she could muster, slightly uncomfortable with the praise, especially from him.


    The air had grown cold, and it was past time to get going again, so the two nudged their horses to get moving. But something caught Iona¡¯s attention at the base of a nearby tree. ¡°Hold on!¡± she called to Leo, already a few paces ahead of her. She hopped off Tower and scurried over to a patch of delicate white flowers.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Leo yelled from ten yards away, ¡°It¡¯s almost pitch black!¡±


    Iona ignored his question as she went about collecting the flowers. They were moon drops, with thin green stalks and beaming silvery petals that barely hung on at the base. They smelled like rain and only grew deep in the North Forest. Iona had loved them since she was small, when her father trekked all the way to the Forest from their town the first time Iona came down with a nasty cold. Some people believed they had healing properties, and while Shome didn¡¯t buy it, he wanted his daughter better as soon as possible. Iona drank in the sweet scent before she jogged back to where Tower waited for her. They trotted over to Leo, who had slowed to a snail¡¯s pace but hadn¡¯t stopped moving.


    Leo glanced over to the bouquet in her hands. ¡°You stopped for flowers? Really?¡± he asked mockingly, ¡°Never pegged you for the type.¡±


    ¡°Moon drops aren¡¯t just any old flower. They¡¯re special. You can¡¯t grow them outside of the Forest, and even here, they¡¯re pretty hard to find. They¡¯re my favorite,¡± Iona added sheepishly, earning a small snort from Leo. She looked up from the moon drops in her hand and, as if everything had shifted around in a second, they were back in a spot she recognized. ¡°Hey, I think I know where we¡¯re at.¡±


    ¡°Whoa¡­yeah, it¡¯s just out that way,¡± Leo said, pointing in what was apparently the direction of the palace. The pair noticed a small trail that seemed to materialize out of thin air. They followed it back to the edge of the Forest and made it to the stables in a couple hours. Without so much as a word of goodnight, Leo and Iona retired to their rooms. Neither quite understood what happened, but the North Forest sometimes had its own way of operating.

 Chapter Nine

    ¡°Has every single one of them gotten lost on the way here or something?¡± Leo groaned, as he, Iona, and Heston waited impatiently for the King¡¯s advisors to arrive. The unseasonably warm day along with Heston¡¯s obvious reluctance to be there made for a stuffy, tense atmosphere. The time had come for the group to compile a final invite list for the ball and start on the heavy lift of accommodations and logistics. Iona could feel the dread radiating from Heston.


    ¡°Can someone crack a window, for fucks sake?¡± he huffed. Leo and Iona exchanged a look; he took care of the window as she walked over to Heston¡¯s seat at the head of the table- normally reserved for the King- and patted his shoulder. Heston looked up at her, eyelids heavy with uncertainty.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to be just fine,¡± she assured him, ¡°There are many more unfortunate realities than marriage and kids and ruling a kingdom.¡±


    Heston didn¡¯t so much as crack a smile. ¡°I had this grand idea, though¡± he said, ¡°that one day I¡¯d marry for love.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Iona questioned with blatant skepticism. She cleared her throat before trying again, ¡°Um, you never know, Hest. You could still fall in love.¡± She tried to will some hope into her voice, but Heston was unconvinced.


    ¡°Well, whoever he ends up marrying, she won¡¯t need to be worried about having big shoes to fill,¡± Leo chimed in from the other end of the room, peering out the window. The boys didn¡¯t often talk about Margot, so Iona opted not to chime in. The room grew silent once again. It was almost midday, and the sunlight that had poured in was going to start waning. ¡°Where in the heavens are they?¡± Heston griped. Practically on cue, the first of the four advisors walked through the door.


    ¡°Iona!¡± Adina said, hurrying over to the High Commander with arms wide open, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry I¡¯m behind, it seems there are some issues with the road in causing delays.¡± The women embraced, excited to be in the same place for the first time in years.


    ¡°No apologies needed,¡± she responded. Iona leaned back from Adina and looked her over. A smile beamed across her face- ¡°You¡¯re pregnant!¡± Iona gushed. Adina was easily eight plus months along, and questions flooded out, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you write me? How was your trip here? You didn¡¯t have to come, look at you! What do you need, water? Anything to eat?¡±


    ¡°Iona, darling, take a breath. Nothing was going to stop me from making this meeting. The ball, on the other hand, I¡¯ll have to miss. And I wanted to surprise you! And yes, water would be lovely,¡± she answered all at once. Iona got a guard¡¯s attention and sent them off to the kitchen. She took Adina¡¯s hand and helped her lower into a seat.


    ¡°How¡¯s the town holding up after construction finished? How¡¯s your husband?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s great, everything¡¯s great, really. Just waiting for this little one to get a move on,¡± Adina responded, patting her bump. ¡°You owe us a visit, then you can meet the baby! And I¡¯m sure our people would love to see their fearless leader in person soon.¡± She gave Iona a wink.


    Iona cringed a bit at the comment. ¡°Not their leader,¡± she corrected, ¡°But yes, I do need to get back out there. I would love that.¡± Iona had missed her Adina. Her friend.


    See, Leo, I do have friends, she thought. Well, at least one.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get this going!¡± shouted Vin, sauntering into the room a few minutes later. Behind him trailed Liza, then eventually, Grayser showed up. Everyone said quick hellos, before Iona called them to attention to begin the meeting. The advisors each took a turn presenting their list of eligible brides over the next several hours, and Iona watched as Heston turned from overwhelmed to pained to totally exhausted. In total, there would be close to two hundred women invited as potential matches for Heston, each with their own escort. The meeting room could fit upwards of thirty people, but watching the prince run his hands over his face and rub his eyes, it felt suffocating and cramped. ¡°Why don¡¯t we take a break?¡± Iona suggested. ¡°Get dinner, come back after and start on logistics.¡±


    Lord Grayser let out a grumble, just loud enough for her to hear. ¡°Is there an issue, Lord Grayser?¡± she asked. She fixed her gaze solely on him, and out of the corner of her eye, she could see Leo, Heston and the other advisors shooting little glances at each other. Grayser was older than the King, a stuck-in-his-ways entitled grouch, and he never approved of Iona¡¯s promotion to High Command.


    He raised an eyebrow, and coughed a bit to clear his throat. ¡°I¡¯m just so grateful that our High Commander chose to take a break from reconstruction work to plan this ball. I know it must have been quite tiring for you to be gone.¡± Was he going to be so bold as to insult her here? In front of the other advisors and future king? ¡°And the hostiles¡¯ stronghold, it still has not been located, is that true?¡± Grayser was sporting a smug expression that grated on Iona¡¯s very being.


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    ¡°If there is something you wish to say, Lord Grayser, then say it.¡± Iona¡¯s patience was growing thin.


    ¡°Alright, Commander, if you insist. The tales of Prince Heston¡¯s¡­debauchery are well known throughout the kingdom. No offense meant, your highness,¡± he nodded at Heston, ¡°And rumor has it that the urgency to find the prince a wife and future queen, is because the King is ailing from the War. That he may pass any day now.¡±


    The uncomfortable atmosphere caused by Heston¡¯s earlier apprehension was nothing compared with the bubbling tension that filled the room now. ¡°What¡¯s your point, Grayser?¡± Iona rejoined.


    ¡°Well, since we¡¯re all thinking it.¡± He reached down and gripped the edge of the table, leaning forward, ¡°Why are we bothering with any of this? In front of me sits an un-betrothed woman, perfectly capable of marrying Prince Heston and ensuring Chrysos¡¯ future. Yet you are so pompous, you would prefer to risk the death of the King and leave our land without a queen for who knows how many more centuries rather than serve your people the way a lady should.¡± Every word out of his mouth dripped with misogyny and condescension.


    ¡°I was not thinking that at all,¡± Liza mumbled from her seat. Iona¡¯s deathly stare remained on Grayser, as she wrangled her outrage to stay poised.


    Grayser was not finished. He sneered, wrinkling his nose and pulling back his thin, pale lips. ¡°But perhaps it isn¡¯t the people of Chrysos that you care about, truly. Everyone knows you¡¯ve been sharing a bed with that Morencis boy. Perhaps when you¡¯re finally married off to him, Prince Heston will name a High Commander with a real understanding of what our kingdom needs, someone who will finish these incessant rebuilds and snuff out the hostiles that you¡¯ve been too distracted to find.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± A jolt shot through the room at the boom of Leo¡¯s voice, demanding everyone¡¯s attention. He stood up from his chair, and fixed his glare on Grayser. ¡°When you question the integrity of our High Commander, you question the judgment of the King. He ordered her back to do this work, and you dare to insinuate he was wrong in doing so. For that alone, you should be removed from your position this very second. Unfortunately for us all, my father had other matters to attend to, and missed your remarks.¡± Lord Grayser¡¯s lips tightened and his face paled. Iona wondered if he was going to get sick right there on the table. ¡°Tell me, Lord Grayser, when Commander Iona was leading her men into battle to secure the freedom of your lands, did you take up a sword and fight with her? And last year, when she was raising frames and pouring foundations for homes that had been destroyed, alongside your townspeople, did you take up a hammer and offer a hand?¡± Leo¡¯s questions were met with weighty silence. ¡°How and with whom the High Commander chooses to spend what little time she has outside of repairing our kingdom is her business alone. Let me remind you, Grayser, that it was Prince Desmond¡¯s armies who protected your property during that battle, under Iona¡¯s command. And I believe it was one of the only structures left standing in your land.¡±


    Lifting his chin and avoiding Leo¡¯s eyes, Grayser murmured, ¡°Feisty today, are we, Prince Leonon?¡±


    ¡°Lord Grayser,¡± Heston stepped in, pushing back his chair to match Leo and standing straight, ¡°You are toeing a dangerous line. You may have been installed by my grandfather, but you can be just as easily replaced. High Commander Iona has served and continues to serve Chrysos with all the dignity and care that you so clearly lack.¡± Grayser cleared his throat again and looked down at the table. ¡°Thank you all for your contributions today, you¡¯re dismissed.¡±


    Iona mumbled over her shoulder to Heston, ¡°Dismissed? We still have more-¡±


    ¡°Dismissed.¡± Iona gave him a quick nod and stacked up her maps and notes. So much for coming back after dinner. Ending for the day meant she had more work on her plate now, but Heston seemed like he¡¯d had his fill. She would need to speak to each of the advisors at some point before they left the next morning to discuss their travel plans, escort needs, and the like, which meant dealing with Grayser again. The bastard could question her all he wanted; he was just grasping at any bit of power he could knowing that his time as an advisor was likely coming to an end with Heston¡¯s ascension to the throne. The group filed out of the room, Adina giving Iona a squeeze on the shoulder before she left in a small show of support. They were friends, surely, but Adina was never one to get involved in conflict. Iona could handle her own battles, anyways. Even so, she felt like she owed someone a thank you before she grabbed dinner and returned to her bedroom for the evening.


    ¡°Leo!¡± Iona called ahead of her, locking up the room and hustling to catch up to him.


    He turned, ¡°Please no more planning Iona, I am absolutely starving.¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not that. Even though that¡¯s our job, to be clear. But I just wanted to say¡­to¡­to thank you.¡± Getting the words out was harder than Iona had thought. She wasn¡¯t used to being grateful for anything from Leo. ¡°For stepping in with Grayser.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Leo¡¯s dark eyebrows rose and his forehead wrinkled, ¡°No problem. Ha can¡¯t be allowed to spout that bullshit. I was actually kind of surprised you didn¡¯t say anything¡­cutting.¡±


    Iona laughed, ¡°I don¡¯t have to explain myself to that prick. But I appreciate that you did.¡± Leo responded with a mild smile and bow of his head. Iona crossed her arms, and rocked back on her heels, ¡°Hey, if you¡¯re interested, I¡¯ve been training most mornings. In the old ring just outside the wall.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t they take that thing down?¡± Leo asked. Iona shook her head. ¡°Huh, okay, well¡­why are you training?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re going to find the hostile base soon, I know it. I need to stay sharp, and so do you in case your men are needed when the time comes,¡± she said with a sharp poke to Leo¡¯s chest, ¡°I start just after sunrise, I expect you to be there.¡±


    ¡°Is that an order, Commander?¡± he replied with a snide delivery. Iona raised an eyebrow and pursed her lips.


    Leo¡¯s grimace was his only response before Iona headed the opposite direction. She had a lot of work to do and an early morning ahead of her.

 Chapter Ten

    Iona awoke to a few gentle knocks on her door from Poppy, who kindly agreed to be her alarm every morning so she could be up early enough to train. But laying there, the sun still hidden under the horizon, Iona was regretting her mental commitment to start each day in the ring. She could just as easily stay curled up in bed, her hands closing into fists around the soft sheets beneath her at the thought. Maybe just this morning, and then she¡¯d be back to it tomorrow¡­


    But what kind of discipline does the High Commander have if she can¡¯t get out of bed for an early morning session? Iona might not be in the field, her soldiers may not know if she shirked her self-imposed rules, but she would. And she owed them for their dedication with her own.


    Ugh, just do it, just get up. Reluctantly, Iona slunk off the bed.


    Another note from Espo had been waiting for her when she arose, this time containing news of a small run-in with a couple straggling hostiles just near the border. There was no fighting, her second in command assured her, they simply surrendered their weapons and were taken in for questioning. Iona wondered if the last of the hostiles were still clinging onto whatever magic was conjured during the War to keep their holdout hidden, though it couldn¡¯t be much. Surely, they would find something soon.


    The weather was shifting from a crisp breeze to a full on chill, so Iona pulled on a thick knitted coat over her training clothes, grabbed her sword, and trudged to the outer walls. Solo swordplay practice, shadow boxing, and stretching were helping her keep her mind focused on the task at hand during the day- finding Heston the best partner Chrysos had to offer. Maybe it would even be someone he genuinely likes.


    It was a shame that the new training ring was built within the confines of the palace walls, though confines was a strong word considering its overwhelming size. Iona arrived at the ring¡¯s edge and climbed up. It was so beautiful out in the expanse. She closed her eyes and took in a deep, satisfying breath, the chill stinging her nose. The sounds of the palace outskirts filled her ears- the sweet song of early rising finches, rustling leaves, crunching grass¡­


    Wait, crunching¡­were those footsteps? Iona¡¯s concentration broke, swinging around to see an exhausted-looking Leo plodding toward her with a mug in each hand. ¡°Is that coffee? Did you bring coffee for me?¡±


    A grunt was all she got in return, along with the mug. He may have looked grumpy, but he wouldn¡¯t have come out there if he didn¡¯t want to train, too. This was old hat for the two of them, anyways- they had practiced together a thousand times before today.


    Without a word, Iona and Leo fell into the usual routine: stretching every muscle with intention from the tips of their fingers down to their feet, shadow boxing, striking techniques, defense techniques, and finally- sparring.


    They began with hand to hand combat. Squaring up, Iona thought back on all of their previous sessions, always filled with a competitive tension. Sparring was meant to be a way of learning your opponent¡¯s strengths and weaknesses, as well as your own, and how to fight through fatigue and pain. But there was always an extra layer when it came to Leo and Iona- it wasn¡¯t just about learning, it was about winning. It was about proving who was the stronger fighter, harder worker, and ultimately, the better leader. But that competition had long since been decided. Maybe today, with no audience, in this creaky, familiar boxing ring, they were in a place to simply learn from one another, to improve as training partners and fellow warriors.


    A strange thought tugged at the back of Iona¡¯s mind, stealing a bit of her focus- Leo told her in the North Forest that he never wanted to be High Commander. Was that really true? She always saw him as the main hurdle to reaching her goals, and thought he saw her the same way. Iona looked over her fists raised to her eyeline at the man in front of her as they circled the middle of the ring- the small scar on his chin from a particularly nasty uppercut she landed during their first time sparring, the tall frame that she always took as a personal affront to her size. All these years, should she have been¡­nicer? Was she in the wrong or-


    Oh shit.


    Leo landed a left hook straight under her ribcage. Iona tried to hold it together, but her knees went out from under her, and she sank to the canvas. He hit her liver square on, and there was no fighting the slow shut down of her body.


    ¡°Woo!¡± Leo cheered, waving his arms over his head and jogging around the edge of the ring. ¡°Take that, High Commander,¡± he mocked, grinning ear to ear.


    I hate you, Iona thought, letting her earlier musings dissolve into thin air. She begrudgingly took his outstretched hand, and braced her hands on her knees, trying to catch up on breath.


    ¡°Have any energy left for the next round?¡± Leo asked, waving his sword back and forth.


    ¡°Obviously,¡± Iona choked out. She walked over to the ring¡¯s edge, and pulled her blade up, laying it flat on the canvas. With the same careful handling as she always used, Iona unsheathed her trusty sword, Yuna. She was a gift from Elia- a parting gift, before she left for Siminy. Iona had gotten particularly attached to one of the practice swords from training, the only one with a slightly curved guard while all the others¡¯ were perfectly straight. She unofficially claimed it for herself; no one else was allowed to train with the sword. She began storing it in her bedroom for safe keeping, and her grip wore into the hilt.


    One day, it disappeared overnight off her desk while she was asleep. Iona tore up the palace room-by-room for hours trying to find her beloved practice sword. She grew increasingly upset and frustrated as days passed without finding it, while not a single person seemed to know where it had gone. A week after the sword was swiped from her room, Heston informed Iona that Elia wanted to meet her in the throne room after combat training, which was odd since they normally met for dinner in the evening. But that night, there was Elia, sitting on the steps in front of Theron¡¯s empty throne, just the two of them in the massive hall. Iona¡¯s voice reverberated through the room, ¡°Why are we meeting in here, I want dinner!¡±


    Elia snickered. ¡°Can you just come sit down please?¡± she asked, patting the floor next to her.


    Iona plopped down close to her friend, ¡°Fine, fine,¡± she sighed, ¡°Let¡¯s hear it!¡±


    Like ripping the bandage off a wound, Elia declared, ¡°I¡¯m engaged. I leave for Siminy in ten days.¡±


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    Iona¡¯s chest tightened at the words. She knew this day would come eventually, but¡­this was still too soon. ¡°Siminy? So you really are marrying Prince Maselle?¡± Iona responded, her heart swirling a heavy, sinking feeling at the idea of Elia leaving. Her eyes welled with tears, but she threw her arms around Elia, ¡°I¡¯m¡­happy for you. If you¡¯re happy- you¡¯re happy, right?¡± Iona leaned back, gripping Elia¡¯s shoulders and staring at her like she could maybe read her friend¡¯s mind. She needed to make sure this was something she wanted. Not that either of them had any say in the matter.


    Elia¡¯s eyes were teary, too, and Iona could practically see her own reflection in her friend¡¯s glassy, emerald gaze. ¡°I¡¯m happy, I think. Siminy isn¡¯t too far, right? And Prince Maselle is so kind. He¡¯ll be a great king¡­and guess what?¡±


    Iona could only raise her eyebrows in response, words escaping her.


    ¡°In Siminy, the queen has her own coronation, and throne, and power. Isn¡¯t that wonderful?¡± Elia asked, a small crack in her voice as though she was trying to convince herself to be excited, rather than Iona.


    In most kingdoms, including Chrysos, ¡°queen¡± was a title, but the position was only as important as the king allowed. Queens weren¡¯t coronated, they had no throne or crown, and the king could include her in decision making or not, as he chose. ¡°That¡¯s great, Elia, really,¡± Iona muttered, ¡°Queen Elia. It has a nice ring to it.¡± The friends exchanged smiles loaded with the sadness of a changing reality bearing down on them.


    But Elia¡¯s uneasy smile was replaced with a look of despair that pained Iona deep in her core. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I can do this by myself,¡± she lamented, tears now streaming down her face freely. Iona reached her arm around Elia¡¯s shoulders and tugged her close. Since they¡¯d met all those years ago, Iona considered herself Elia¡¯s protector, the person she could always rely on to have her back. But sitting in this monstrous, empty throne room, the walls closing in on them, there was nothing she could do to stop Elia from leaving. ¡°What am I supposed to do without you around?¡± she whispered.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to be just fine, I swear. And we¡¯ll spend every day together until you leave, I¡¯ll skip training and everything- maybe we can ride to the next town for a day, do a little exploring,¡± Iona offered.


    Elia looked down at her lap where her hands sat, picking at her nails. ¡°I wish you could just come with me.¡±


    Iona opened her mouth to offer reassurance, but stopped and thought for a moment- why not go with her? Sure, she wanted to be High Commander one day, but Elia needed her. Her chosen sister needed her. That was more important than any lofty dream of Iona¡¯s, wasn¡¯t it? ¡°Well then I¡¯ll go with you,¡± she resolved.


    Elia slipped out from under her arm and faced Iona. ¡°I wasn¡¯t being serious. Look how far you¡¯ve made it in training, and your parents are here. I couldn¡¯t ask that of you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not asking- I¡¯m offering. I can always rise through the ranks of Siminy¡¯s army, too, right? And work in tandem with Chrysos. I did it once, here, I can do it again. Especially with you as queen. Just like we planned when we were kids.¡±


    Elia¡¯s teary eyes dried up as she broke out into a real smile, reaching ear to ear, ¡°You¡¯re serious? You would come to Siminy with me?¡± Iona responded with her own grin and cheery nod. A sharp, excited squeal erupted from Elia, who wrapped Iona in a warm embrace.


    ¡°You¡¯re my best friend; I¡¯m always going to look out for you,¡± Iona assured her, holding onto Elia like if she let go, she¡¯d be snatched away to Siminy right that second.


    ¡°Promise?¡± Elia asked.


    ¡°Promise.¡± The only reason Iona ever felt comfortable in this palace, the only reason she ever had the confidence to work towards the goal of High Command from the beginning was about to up and move to another kingdom. Elia needed her in Siminy, so that was where Iona would go.


    ¡°Well, I got you something as a going away present, but now I guess it can just be a thank you present,¡± Elia said, jumping up and shuffling to the throne. She picked up a long, thin ivory colored box sitting off to the side and brought it down to the step where Iona sat waiting. ¡°Here, this is for you.¡±


    Iona lifted the lid of the box to reveal a stunning, deep red and gold scabbard, intricately engraved with winding green vines and dozens of moon drops. She lifted it out of the box, and wrapped her hand around the hilt of the sword inside. Unsheathing the blade, it felt somehow both incredibly familiar and brand new to Iona. The weight was perfectly balanced, and the hilt seemed made for her hand alone. She was at a loss for words.


    ¡°I had your practice sword reforged- I¡¯m sorry I took it without telling you, I wanted it to be a surprise,¡± Elia admitted. ¡°Do you like it?¡±


    Iona burst into tears- what had she done in her life to deserve such a thoughtful, loving friend? ¡°Of course, it¡¯s perfect,¡± she blubbered.


    ¡°You have to name it,¡± Elia gushed.


    Iona held the stunning, bespoke sword in front of her and pondered for a moment. ¡°Well, you gave it to me so¡­I think I¡¯ll name her¡­Yuna. It means ¡®sister¡¯ in the old language of the land.¡± she grinned.


    Elia stuck out her bottom lip and cocked her head to the side, ¡°Aww, Iona,¡± she said, tears returning to her eyes. It was settled then, Iona would be going with her best friend to Siminy. In her mind, she owed it to Elia, and honestly, Iona wasn¡¯t quite sure how to survive in this kingdom without her anyway.


    Yet here she was, over thirty years later, standing in the same ring she used to train at every day, holding the sword Elia had gifted her that night. But there was no Elia anymore.


    ¡°Hello, Iona?!¡± Leo¡¯s voice interjected, ripping her back from her spiraling memory. Iona shook her head. ¡°Are we stopping now or what?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, umm, maybe we can just pick up on fencing tomorrow.¡± Iona realized she was still sitting on her knees at the edge of the ring, staring at her sword.


    ¡°Fine, fine. It¡¯ll give you a day to take Yuna to the blacksmith, anyways. When¡¯s the last time you had her cleaned? And sharpened?¡± he quizzed, looking over Iona¡¯s shoulder at the blade.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a while¡­¡± she confessed, ¡°Back off. I don¡¯t want them to fuck her up!¡±


    ¡°They forged your sword, Iona, I think they can handle sharpening and shining it.¡±


    Iona¡¯s face twisted a bit, knowing that Leo was right. Yuna could use some extra care. She sheathed the sword, and picked up her bag to head to the palace. Leo did the same, and they both hopped down from the ring. ¡°I was thinking, after the ball, you should take a break. Take a trip or something,¡± he said as they walked back toward the palace wall.


    ¡°A trip?¡± Iona asked like she¡¯d never heard the word.


    ¡°Yeah, a trip. Go visit Adina for a while, or take your mom sailing, or¡­I dunno, spend a few weeks with Desmond somewhere.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s still a lot to do with the rebuilds. And we haven¡¯t found the final hostile outpost, and once Heston is engaged, we¡¯ll need to figure out his wedding and coronation, and-¡±


    ¡°Iona, stop,¡± Leo cut her off. He halted in place and turned to look at her. ¡°You¡¯ve done enough to at least have some time off. Anything that comes up, Heston and I can handle, okay? Just think about it.¡±


    Iona mustered a small, non-committal smile and nodded. It was unlike Leo to suggest something so thoughtful, and of course he and Heston could handle whatever came up. But he just didn¡¯t understand. This was her job, her duty as High Commander. She started walking once again without a response, though in the back of her mind, Iona felt a spark of gratitude for Leo¡¯s offer.

 Chapter Eleven

    It was pitch black outside as Iona tossed and turned, sleep eluding her for a third miserable night in a row. At least there were no cold sweats tonight. Huffing aloud, Iona ripped the silky gray sheets off her, and begrudgingly slipped out of bed. Her exhaustion had evolved into frustration, and she needed to walk off everything that was clouding her mind. Tomorrow was the anniversary of Elia¡¯s passing. She was usually alone in a tent in some town miles and miles away, with several days¡¯ supply of dark liquor to get her through that night and those leading up to it. She wished she was far away from the palace right now, memories of her friend scattered throughout the rooms, the halls, the courtyards.


    Iona ambled through the halls from the sleeping wing towards the kitchen, dimly lit lanterns guiding the way. The sprawling palace was mostly silent at night. Security patrols stalked through the halls, but they were even more reticent than herself. The bakers wouldn¡¯t be up to start on breakfast for another few hours.


    Iona crept up to the kitchen entryway and as she turned to face the enormous pantry, she was startled to find a fellow restless night owl. Iona let out a murmur of annoyance and Leo turned to face the woman who had snuck into the kitchen behind him.


    ¡°Well look who¡¯s up!¡± he said, way too loud for the middle of the night. Iona rolled her eyes, and pinched the bridge of her nose. She was too tired and grumpy to talk to anyone right now. With a small breath in and out, an attempt to shake off the crankiness, her gaze slid over Leo- his billowy tunic was mostly unbuttoned, revealing his chiseled, stubbly chest. His hair was a mess, like he, too, had been tossing and turning in bed mere minutes prior to their encounter. Her eyes snagged on the tiny wrinkles bundled at the sides of his eyes and the darkened bags underneath them. They were even worse than hers.


    She met his stare, and Iona was reminded of Elia and the hundreds of sleepovers they had as children here. The girls would be up all hours of the night after long days of courtier training for Elia and combat training for Iona, excitedly discussing their plans for the future- Elia, a queen consort or high lady after marrying a prince or a lord in some far away land, and Iona, working as her main advisor and emissary. One night, the girls were chattering on about how long they each could survive out in the North Forest on their own, when they heard someone pattering down the hall.


    Elia¡¯s ears perked up at the noise, ¡°I¡¯ll be right back,¡± she told Iona, as she popped up from the floor and hurried to the door. Nosy as always, Iona got up to follow her after a few seconds. She peeked out the bedroom door and saw Elia and Leo in the hallway; Leo looked weary, almost as he did now, and he¡¯d clearly been crying, his eyes streaked red and puffy. Elia pulled her brother into a hug after exchanging some whispers. She said goodnight and the siblings went their separate ways. Iona hustled back over to sit down before Elia caught her eavesdropping.


    ¡°What was that about?¡± Iona inquired.


    ¡°It was Leo,¡± Elia explained as she walked through the door, dropping back to the rug and folding in her legs, ¡°He has trouble sleeping sometimes when he¡¯s feeling anxious. Caught him this time before he made it to the kitchen though; he always ends up eating something the bakers were counting on using for breakfast when this happens,¡± she said with a chuckle.


    ¡°What could he possibly have to be anxious about? Getting his ass handed to him at training?¡± Iona snarked.


    ¡°Iona, be nice!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m nicer to him than he is to me! You know, he told our entire team behind my back that I have a glass eye,¡± Iona groused. ¡°They¡¯ve been looking at me strange for two weeks. Then I took a head kick from Espo in training yesterday, and he dropped to the canvas looking for it thinking it popped out!¡± Elia burst out laughing, rolling onto her back, golden hair splayed over the ground. ¡°It¡¯s not funny!¡± Iona insisted, shaking her friend, though she was holding back a slight giggle, too. ¡°He¡¯s always trying to undermine me.¡±


    Elia looked over at Iona, smiling. ¡°It¡¯s a little funny.¡± Iona returned the smile, paired with a roll of her eyes.


    Elia pushed up onto her elbows. ¡°He has a lot of weight on his shoulders, ya know,¡± she responded. In a quieted voice, as if Leo could somehow hear her down the hall, Elia continued, ¡°I think my parents ignore him. My mom is absent most of the time, and my dad spends all of his time focused on Heston. I can tell it really hurts Leo¡¯s feelings. He¡¯s always trying to prove himself only to be overlooked.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to coddle him, Elia, he¡¯s not a little kid. As much as he acts like one,¡± Iona scoffed.


    ¡°I¡¯m not coddling him, I¡¯m making sure he¡¯s okay. He¡¯s my brother, and I¡¯m the only one who ever checks on him, even though I¡¯m certain that Heston and my mother both know that he could use some support,¡± Elia responded, with the soft tone that always made Iona feel a little guilty for being the harsh one. ¡°Sometimes it¡¯s nice to know that someone else in this family is capable of emotion.¡± She looked at Iona, and gently scolded her, ¡°You could stand to be a little more like Leo in that way.¡±


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    Iona had brushed off that comment in the moment, but now, it was just her and Leo in this kitchen, both struggling with the same lingering sadness. Maybe Elia was onto something. Maybe she could show some¡­compassion. Iona¡¯s gaze settled on the plate sitting behind Leo on the butcher block filled with fluffy chunks of bread and a huge spoonful of jam and butter- surely something the bakers planned on serving tomorrow.


    ¡°Iona, are you sleepwalking?¡± Leo said as he pushed off his elbow on the bench, standing up straight, ¡°You¡¯re just kind of standing there.¡±


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Iona responded, realizing she¡¯d been staring at Leo in silence for too long. ¡°Just, have a lot on my mind, I guess.¡± She cleared her throat to ask, ¡°Are you, um, doing okay?¡± She tried to fill the words with more sincerity than she¡¯d ever spoken to him before.


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, I¡¯m okay. I just always have trouble sleeping when I¡¯m feeling¡­anxious, I suppose. Elia¡¯s anniversary is coming up¡­obviously, you know that. I didn¡¯t mean to imply that you didn¡¯t. It¡¯s just¡­I hate this time of year,¡± he replied. His words swelled with the same melancholy that filled Iona¡¯s thoughts. Iona wondered if Leo felt alone in the mourning of his sister over the years, as she had.


    ¡°I hate it, too. I miss her.¡± She added, ¡°And I¡¯m sorry about your father, too. I know I haven¡¯t said anything about it, but, you know it¡¯s¡­hard for me. But I know what it¡¯s like to lose a parent. I¡¯m sorry you¡¯re being faced with it like this.¡±


    Leo seemed surprised by the sympathy she was trying to offer. ¡°At least we¡¯ll get to say goodbye.¡± They sat for a moment in the heaviness, a feeling close to kinship passing between them.


    ¡°Have you spoken with Heston about it all?¡±


    Leo rolled his eyes, ¡°I¡¯m sure you know the answer to that. Tried and failed. He¡¯s even worse at talking about this kind of thing than you are.¡± Iona looked off, embarrassed. He was right, she had never been a person of comfort for others, but the reminder stung.


    Leo sucked in a breath between his teeth, ¡°Sorry, that was¡­unnecessary.¡± Iona waved him off, not wanting Leo to see that she was upset by it. ¡°What about you? How is it being back?¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± she answered. She hadn¡¯t meant to talk about herself at all, and frankly, preferred not to.


    ¡°Just fine?¡± Leo said, clearly not believing her.


    Iona bit her bottom lip, and shrugged her shoulders, ¡°Yep.¡±


    Leo¡¯s deep voice dropped to just above a whisper, ¡°You don¡¯t have to lie.¡± Iona avoided his gaze, but she could tell there was pity in his amber eyes. Or maybe it was kindness, but both felt the same to her. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you been back to the palace in so long?¡±


    Perhaps she was too tired to push back on the question, or her mind was simply done fighting it, because before she knew it, Iona answered with honesty, ¡°Because I was too busy. I was fixing the mess I caused.¡±


    ¡°Caused? Last time I checked, Iona, you don¡¯t practice black magic. Unless there¡¯s a lot you¡¯ve been hiding.¡± Leo crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back on the counter behind him.


    ¡°Okay maybe not caused, but I let it all happen. It was my responsibility as High Command to prevent the damage the Ladrons did to our kingdom. My responsibility to protect everyone, and I couldn¡¯t even protect the one person I loved the most, let alone all those villagers and soldiers, and¡­and now? Hostiles are still out there. I can¡¯t find them no matter what I try. I¡¯ve failed.¡± Iona couldn¡¯t stop the tears building in her eyes, the wave of hurt she¡¯d released crashing onto her. She picked at the skin at the side of her nails until they were close to bleeding. Leo walked over and wrapped his strong hands over her shoulders on each side, looking down at her with the compassion she couldn¡¯t muster herself.


    ¡°Iona, that is quite possibly the most idiotic thing I¡¯ve ever heard,¡± he said, one side of his lips tugging up into a half smile.


    She craned her head back to look at him, her face crossed at the comment, ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    Leo chuckled and dropped his hands a bit, now cradling her arms. ¡°I mean that it¡¯s absurd to think that of yourself. I¡¯ve never met anyone so determined to paint resounding successes as shortcomings. You did everything you could before and during the War, and now even after, you¡¯re giving everything you¡¯ve got. You led hundreds of soldiers to victory, and saved thousands of lives. Only you would consider that a failure. You shouldn¡¯t. You should be proud of yourself. The rest of us are.¡±


    Iona didn¡¯t know how to react to such generous words of support. Especially once she realized exactly how close Leo was standing to her. His warm breath smelled of the sweet jam he¡¯d been eating when she arrived at the kitchen. Leo must have realized it, too, and coughed a bit, releasing her arms and stepping back. ¡°When did you get to be all caring and supportive?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m a sensitive guy,¡± he smirked, ¡°I¡¯m not an asshole.¡±


    ¡°Mmmm, you¡¯re still an asshole,¡± Iona teased.


    Leo laughed, ¡°I¡¯m not a heartless asshole.¡± He punched her lightly on the shoulder, ¡°Like you are.¡± Iona laughed, too. The room took on a quiet awkwardness while she considered what to say next. Leo beat her to it.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you get some sleep, and uh, we should take tomorrow off from training. We¡¯ll need our rest.¡± He took a step to her right, turning to slide by her and through the entryway. Without a thought, Iona reached out as Leo made his way past her and wrapped her fingers around his wrist. His eyebrows rose a bit, wrinkling his forehead. He turned, looking first at her hand, then up at Iona.


    She turned her head to the side, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, too. Goodnight, Iona,¡± he answered. With that, he breezed out of the room, and Iona made herself a mug of hot mint tea. Within a few minutes of crawling back into bed, she was overtaken with the drowsiness that had been escaping her. Her tea went cold as she drifted off to sleep.

 Chapter Twelve

    Beads of sweat rolled down the sides of Iona¡¯s face following a particularly hard training session, and all the tiny hairs that had escaped her ponytail were now clinging for dear life to her sticky skin. Today was it- the thirtieth anniversary of Elia¡¯s passing. Her mother would be arriving any moment, so Iona hustled back through the palace to her room to bathe and get ready for the dreary day ahead. A few paces before she reached her door, she noticed that it was open, rustling noises coming from inside. Iona stilled herself before reaching across her body to unsheath Yuna, lifting the blade and taking two noiseless steps towards the doorway.


    There wasn¡¯t a guard or staffer in this place that would dare enter someone¡¯s bedroom without permission, especially the High Commander¡¯s. Something was off- and unlikely as it was that this was a threat of some sort, she was not to be caught off guard. Iona crept through the doorway, lifting Yuna higher, ready to put an end to whoever it was that had broken into her private space. She laid eyes on the intruder, ready to announce her presence when-


    ¡°What the fuck are you doing in my room?¡± she swore. Leo startled, his tall figure whipping around to face Iona¡¯s fuming stare.


    ¡°Whoa, whoa, put the sword down, would ya?!¡± he answered, holding up his hands as if they could somehow block the impending blow. Iona pressed her tongue against the top of her mouth, and let out an exasperated sigh, dropping Yuna back down to her side before sheathing her.


    ¡°Breaking into my room is a stabbable offense, Leo.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t break in, it was unlocked, and I thought you would be here. Where were you, by the way?¡± Leo looked Iona over, throwing his hands on his hips in a huff, ¡°Did you train this morning? We agreed to take today off!¡±


    ¡°So? I was restless,¡± she responded, though Leo¡¯s displeasure remained clear, ¡°I needed it.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but we both decided a break was a good idea. It¡¯s gonna be a long day, you needed sleep more than anything.¡±


    Sidestepping his unnecessary concerns, Iona pressed on, ¡°You still haven¡¯t explained what you¡¯re doing here.¡± Leo seemed to stiffen a bit.


    Throwing his hands up, he offered, ¡°I was dropping something off for you, forgive me for doing anything nice.¡± He stomped past her without another look, and the something he was dropping off was left behind on her desk- a vase with a fresh bouquet of moon drops.


    ¡°You brought those for me?¡± Iona shouted over her shoulder, still facing the flowers in disbelief. Leo reappeared in her doorway, having only made it a step or two out of the room.


    ¡°Yeah, your other ones were dying.¡± Iona raised her eyebrow at him. ¡°Flowers that get left in their vase too long wilt, and they get gross and smelly, and I¡¯m only two rooms down from you so¡­I knew you¡¯d never think to replace them before that happened, so, yeah, I took it upon myself,¡± he prattled.


    ¡°You went all the way out to the North Forest for these? This morning?¡± she asked, her eyes narrowing as she notched Leo¡¯s hair, pulled back into a half knot- something he only did for training sessions and long rides. ¡°Must¡¯ve been up pretty early. So much for getting sleep, hypocrite,¡± she spat.


    ¡°I needed a ride to clear my head before today.¡±


    ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re allowed to go for an hours-long ride, but I can¡¯t train?¡±


    Leo began to open his mouth, but snapped it back closed. ¡°I¡¯m not doing this,¡± he resigned, shaking his head and stalking down the hallway. ¡°You¡¯re welcome!¡± Iona heard him yell, followed by a slamming bedroom door.


    What the hell was that? Iona thought, stripping off her sweat-dampened training clothes, her eyes fixed on the fresh flowers in front of her. Do flowers really get that stinky? No way Leo could smell them all the way in his room. It was nice that he took the time to replace them for her though¡­I guess I should say thank you later, she thought.


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    Emotions were going to be high for everyone today, so she didn¡¯t feel all that bad. Yes, they had decided to take the morning off, but her mind was jammed with thoughts of Elia, daring her to slip over the edge from sadness to full on blubbering, inconsolable darkness. But her mom would be here soon, and she would help keep her off that cliff. Obviously, Leo was in the same boat or else he wouldn¡¯t have been out early riding who knows how many hours out to the North Forest and back.


    After a steaming bath, Iona made her way out to the front gates to meet her mother, hoping she had an easy ride. Rocking back and forth in anticipation, Iona could make out the shape of Whinny and Asa galloping towards her, and relief flooded through her system. She was so grateful to have her support today. Hopping off her mare, Asa pulled her daughter in for a comforting hug, ¡°Hello, my darling!¡± Behind them, a guard unloaded an unusually large bag strapped to Whinny¡¯s back.


    ¡°Sheesh, mom, you¡¯re only here for a couple nights. What¡¯d you pack?¡± Iona chuckled. Asa waved her off, ¡°How about you give me a little tour while they get all that up to my room?¡±


    ¡°A tour? Not much has changed since you were last here, Mom.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been decades! And I¡¯m an old woman, now, my memory is foggy,¡± Asa joked, nudging her shoulder into Iona¡¯s. ¡°Come, come!¡± She tugged on her daughter¡¯s arm, and they kicked off a long walk around the palace. Hours passed easily, Asa and Iona winding through courtyards, out to the old ring, to the stables, and back. The sun climbed higher and higher until it reached its peak, followed by a descent that informed Iona it was time to prepare for Elia¡¯s memorial dinner. Asa kept Iona busy the entire time, asking her all about the ball, how planning was going, and what she¡¯d heard from her men out in the field about the hostiles. There wasn¡¯t a second of lull in their conversation as they meandered the premises, and Iona didn¡¯t mind one bit.


    The ladies headed back to their bedrooms to change, but Asa pulled Iona into her room across the hall first. ¡°I have something for you,¡± she said. First the flowers from Leo, now this? Everyone must feel bad for her, babying her with gifts, she thought. Iona padded over to the side of Asa¡¯s bed and plopped down while her mother opened the oversized bag she dragged all the way here from the cottage. She pulled out a linen bag that had been lightly rolled up inside, and laid it on the bed next to Iona. Iona racked her brain wondering what this could be about, but sat quiet, letting her mom finish undoing the bag¡¯s buttons that reached from top to bottom. Out she lifted a dress, holding it in front of Iona in all its glory.


    A ball gown crafted from the finest satin, deep maroon with gilded leaves and vines snaking their way along the wide neckline and down to the floor. The dress was unlike any Iona had ever worn or even seen- a ballgown so masterfully constructed, it must have been made for royalty. Iona reached out, caressing the silky fabric in awe. This is for me? Why?


    ¡°I¡¯ve been holding onto it for you for some time now. The gown is a gift for you, from Elia,¡± Asa explained. Iona snapped her head to her mom, as she lowered the gown back onto the bed, tucking it neatly into its linen bag.


    Still running her fingers over the satin, Iona asked, ¡°A gift from Elia? What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°She had the gown made for you in Siminy, and sent it to me for safekeeping. She wanted you to wear it to her coronation. I thought it would be perfect for you to wear to the ball.¡± A stitch of guilt creeped up on Iona. This dress was meant for a coronation that never came. A day that Elia was so excited for, never realized. She should have known her friend would do something like this; Iona wore the same dress to every event for years, a plain black, floor length tunic dress with long sleeves. No sparkle. No embroidery. The dress was functional and comfortable, and Elia had always despised it. This ball gown was the complete opposite: unique, stunning, and intricate without being ostentatious. Siminy was known for having the most stylish citizenry, dressed by the top modistes in any kingdom. An impeccable, bespoke gown for someone holding a title of nobility made just for her, the High Commander.


    Iona opened her mouth, but nothing came out, sputtering at the edges of her lips and falling away. Her eyes welled, and she brushed the tears away before they could fall with the back of her hand. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I can wear this, Mom.¡±


    ¡°Oh, honey,¡± Asa moved to gather Iona¡¯s face in her hands. ¡°You don¡¯t have to. But Elia wanted you to have this, to wear it. Plus,¡± Asa laughed a bit, lightening the air around them, ¡°You know how much she hated your other dress. Your only dress.¡± Iona couldn¡¯t help but laugh, too, at the thought of Elia seeing her in that boring, old black dress again, instead of the masterpiece buttoned up in its linen bag. Elia would be so offended; she would fume, and huff, and ball her hands into fists, and then¡­resign. She would accept Iona¡¯s stubbornness and reluctance to step out of her comfort zone. Because she always did.


    The tightness in Iona¡¯s chest relaxed a little. ¡°No, you¡¯re right. Of course. Of course, I¡¯ll wear it,¡± Iona assured her mom, shaking her head to loosen the reluctance that had been building in it. ¡°Thank you, for keeping it all this time.¡±


    Asa smiled, ¡°Oh, absolutely, darling.¡± She patted Iona¡¯s cheek, ¡°Now get out of here, I have a dinner to get ready for.¡±


    With that dismissal, Iona grabbed up the dress and walked to her room. Tonight was going to be rough.

 Chapter Thirteen

    ¡°Thank you all for being here with me tonight,¡± King Theron began, seated at the head of a small table set up in the staff quarters, ¡°We¡¯ve gathered to remember and celebrate the life of our dearest Elia. Daughter, sister, friend.¡± Both his voice and hand, lifting a dainty, tulip shaped glass, shook. ¡°I miss her greatly.¡± He sipped the syrupy, bright magenta liqueur that sat in front of each of them, made by the staff each year from fermented wild raspberries and chamomile flowers. It was Elia¡¯s favorite, though no one else liked it much at all. Theron requested they eat in the dining room usually used by staff. It was tiny compared to the palace dining hall, making for a more intimate setting that was sure to get a bit emotional.


    Iona stared down at her empty plate, trying to gather the strength to look around at her fellow dinner guests. She knew they all shared the same somber expression and lack of appetite to match, but the kitchen staff had worked for hours on this meal before being given the evening off, and it would be disrespectful not to partake. Leo took his father¡¯s plate first and started to serve him. Dinner was made up of Elia¡¯s favorite foods: roasted pork and figs, charred wild carrots brought by Asa who made them any time Elia visited, potato dumplings smothered with saucy onions and garlic, and macerated berries with sweet cream pudding. Once he set the meal in front of Theron, the rest of them dished up and dug in. Only the clinking of silverware against ceramic filled the space until everyone had cleared their plates. A heavy silence returned, and Iona debated scooping up seconds just to add some noise back into the room.


    Heston cleared his throat, ¡°I thought maybe it would be nice for us all to share some personal stories about Elia. Maybe ones that the rest of us haven¡¯t heard before.¡± He glanced around the table, gathering wordless agreements from everyone. When Iona locked eyes with him, she reluctantly nodded- if everyone else was going to tell stories, she couldn¡¯t be the only person to opt out. But this¡­was going to be hard for her. Nervousness and gloom swirled in her stomach, as she leaped from memory to memory in her head. A story to tell of her best friend, one that hadn¡¯t been told before. Of course, she had a plethora to choose from, but they all felt too significant, too close to her heart to say aloud.


    Dammit, why would Heston want to do this? she thought. Leo was the only one who ever opened up, never Heston nor Theron. Realistically, though, this was the last time they would all be together for Elia¡¯s anniversary considering Theron¡¯s health. Maybe they were finally willing to share their sadness, and maybe that meant they could find some comfort in it. Her stress must have been written all over her face as Iona felt Asa slide a hand over her own in support.


    ¡°There was this one time, Iona, you were staying over for a few days, and I was in the kitchen getting some food after a rather late night out,¡± Heston grinned. ¡°Elia came sneaking in, all wrapped up in a huge robe like she was ready for bed. Obviously didn¡¯t see me. She snatched a bottle of this,¡± he said, lifting his glass of raspberry liqueur, ¡°And, crept back out. I followed behind her all the way through the palace. She was tip-toeing around, poking her head around corners. It was hilarious, she really thought she was getting away with something.¡± The mood in the room was already livening- maybe this wouldn¡¯t be so bad. ¡°I waited until she was maybe a hundred feet from her room, and came up behind her, and snatched the bottle right out of her hand. Her face,¡± Heston laughed, mimicking his sister¡¯s panicked expression, ¡°She was so shocked. She started whisper yelling at me, begging me not to tell you, Dad.¡± He had broken into a full on cackle, slapping his chest, ¡°My little sister, so perfect, never breaking any rules. And here she was sneaking this nasty booze out of the pantry. I asked if it was your idea, Iona, but she insisted she was acting alone.¡±


    ¡°It was definitely my idea,¡± Iona confirmed, a smirk reaching from ear to ear.


    ¡°I knew it!¡± Heston proclaimed, pointing his finger at Iona.


    ¡°And what did you do with the bottle?¡± King Theron chimed in, raising his eyebrow.


    ¡°I took it right back to the pantry, of course.¡±


    Iona shot Heston an incredulous look; he responded with an almost imperceptible head shake. But she knew how that story really ended. ¡°No, you didn¡¯t.¡± Heston¡¯s eyes widened and his nostrils flared, a silent warning to Iona to hush. Iona expounded, ¡°She didn¡¯t tell me you caught her, but she definitely still had the bottle when she got back to the room. She got so drunk, she threw up all over the rug and we had to roll it up and hide it in a storage closet!¡±


    Leo and Asa burst out laughing, while Heston leaned his head against the table to avoid Theron¡¯s reprimanding, ¡°You let Elia keep it?! You¡¯re her eldest brother, Heston, you¡¯re supposed to watch out for her!¡±


    ¡°Ah, come on, Dad, at that point, she was older than I was when I first got drunk. Plus, when did Elia ever do anything fun? She needed a little trouble in her life.¡±


    Even Theron¡¯s scolding rang empty as he broke into a chuckle along with the rest of the table. Asa jumped in next, telling a story about the first time Elia stayed for a weekend at the cottage. She was enthralled with the variety in Shome¡¯s gardens and asked to have some seeds to take back to the palace. The next time she came out with Iona, Elia had brought back brand new leather gardening gloves for Shome and the highest quality cookware Asa had ever seen as payment. ¡°Shome¡¯s work gloves were completely worn through, and my pots and pans were scratched and stained. She must have noticed. But it was just a handful of seeds; I tried to explain there was no need to repay us, but she insisted. She was a very generous young woman, very thoughtful,¡± Asa affirmed.


    Theron reminisced on Elia¡¯s earliest days, how bubbly and happy she was as a baby. He spoke about how Elia would tug on his beard from where she sat in his lap during conferences with advisors and audiences with townspeople; how for a few years, it felt like half of his meetings were conducted in whispers because she¡¯d fallen asleep in his arms. Leo talked about the time he went out to the stables for a ride just before sunrise, and Elia was out there already. She was walking stall to stall, checking on every horse and every foal.


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    ¡°I asked what she was doing, and she told me she was making sure they were all healthy. I told her we had a stable hand for that, but she said she felt personally responsible for keeping them all safe.¡± His voice got a little higher, trying to sound like Elia, ¡°Dad¡¯s the king, Heston¡¯s the advisor, you fight. I take care of our home, which includes all the animals!¡±


    ¡°Remember how angry she was when we had to put down an injured filly?¡± Heston asked, turning to Theron. Theron whistled, ¡°Oh yeah, that was so unlike her. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen her angrier than that.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I have,¡± Iona mumbled, sipping on her liqueur. Iona looked around at all the eyes turned on her, as she realized she¡¯d made the comment aloud.


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Leo inquired, ¡°Please do tell.¡± Iona remained quiet. How stupid was she to say that? She was hoping to share some lighthearted quip about Elia, not this story. She just got caught up in the evening. ¡°Yeah, come on, Iona, you haven¡¯t gone yet!¡± Heston added.


    Iona looked to her mom, who scrunched her nose and patted her hand in encouragement. The High Commander took a deep breath and chugged the rest of her drink, feeling uneasy at the thought of sharing. ¡°Umm,¡± she started, with a sigh, ¡°I haven¡¯t ever told anyone this before so¡­¡± She filled her glass again. ¡°As you all know, after Elia was engaged, Maselle offered to let me come along to Siminy as her lady in waiting. And obviously, I wanted to be an advisor or join their ranks, or something but he wouldn¡¯t budge,¡± she shrugged, ¡°So I accepted.¡±


    Asa¡¯s mouth dropped, Iona¡¯s shoulders slumping with a little guilt. The men at the table all shared a similar look of confusion. ¡°I didn¡¯t tell anyone because I didn¡¯t want Elia to find out, I knew she wouldn¡¯t like it. But I promised her that I would go with her to Siminy, that I would always look out for her, and I was going to do that one way or another. Maselle must have let it slip cause the night before the caravan was set to leave Chrysos, Elia barged into my room, screaming, actually screaming, at me for lying to her. I remember being totally stunned, I didn¡¯t even know she could yell that loud. I had told her he agreed to let me join his advisor¡¯s staff, which I mean, wasn¡¯t a total lie if you think about it. Elia would have been an advisor in a way, and I was going to be her staff..¡±


    Iona could see it all so clearly, like the night was playing out right in front of her. Elia threw open her chest, all neatly packed, and started tossing her clothes around the room. ¡°You¡¯re not going to Siminy like this, Iona.¡±


    ¡°If I don¡¯t go like this, I can¡¯t go at all!¡± Iona ran around the room, gathering up her things and shoving them back in the chest, only for Elia to throw them out again.


    ¡°Then you¡¯re not going!¡± Elia barked.


    ¡°Would you stop that?!¡± yelled Iona, ¡°This is my choice! I¡¯m going with you, and that¡¯s it.¡±


    Elia froze, holding a bundle of wrinkly shirts in her arms. She dropped them all on the floor and with the firmest tone she¡¯d ever used with Iona, she stated, ¡°You¡¯re not going to Siminy. I have final say over all my staff, and you are not welcome among them.¡±


    The women stared at each other for an eternity, tears in their eyes, facing the reality of being apart. ¡°Please, Elia, don¡¯t do this,¡± Iona entreated. Elia shook her head and walked forward, taking Iona¡¯s hands in hers.


    ¡°And have you give up everything here to do what? Serve me? Do you believe me to be that selfish?¡± she asked.


    Her question was backing Iona into a corner, ¡°Come on, Elia¡­¡±


    ¡°I could never live with myself. You¡¯re going to be the High Commander one day- whipping troops into shape, and telling everyone what to do, and protecting our home. You¡¯re nobody¡¯s lady in waiting.¡± Even if she wanted to argue, Iona didn¡¯t have it in her. She knew it was a long shot that Elia would ever be okay with this. Maybe it was best to spend some quality time with her friend instead of arguing, if this was going to be it. Elia and Iona sat on the floor together for hours that night doing the same thing they were doing in the present- reminiscing, crying, comforting.


    Iona¡¯s story had pulled the joy right out of the room. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she said, ¡°I probably should have told another story.¡± Asa caressed Iona¡¯s hair, ¡°No, it was beautiful, sweetheart. She was right, you did belong here.¡± Iona looked around the table and was met with nods from Heston and Leo. Her eyes caught on his, the tears making his eyes look like a fire under water.


    ¡°I agree, Elia was right to insist you stay here. And we¡¯re all the better for having you with us.¡± Theron said, his words kind but his voice aching. He motioned to Heston, who helped him stand from his seat, ¡°The time has come for us to move out to her burial site, and give our prayers.¡± Leaning on Heston, the King slowly exited the room, followed by Leo, Asa, and Iona.


    When they arrived at the grave, each stepped up to Elia¡¯s headstone in turn and rested a hand flush against the cold granite. It was tradition to mark the anniversary of a loved one¡¯s passing with a private prayer to the North Forest, asking that the deceased find peace in their next life. Iona walked up her best friend¡¯s grave and knelt before it, leaning her forehead against the icy, rigid stone despite the way it dug into her skin. Her prayer was simple: To the Gods of the North Forest, take care of my sister. Give her everything she deserved in this life and more.


    She let her tears flow freely, collecting into the smallest of puddles at the base of the headstone. With a sharp breath in and long, controlled exhale, Iona stood and walked back. Sobs began forming in her throat, which she was unsuccessful in choking back. Standing shoulder to shoulder with Leo, she felt him wrap his arm around her waist. Grateful for the show of comfort, she leaned into him, his warmth bracing her against the chill. Leo bent his head down and whispered, ¡°For what it¡¯s worth, I think you would have made a terrible lady in waiting.¡±


    Iona snickered, the teasing offering a welcome reprieve from her tears.


    Tonight was not easy, but maybe this was the bit of closure she had been chasing for so long.

 Chapter Fourteen

    ¡°Morning, sweetheart,¡± a familiar voice cooed from above Iona, cozy in the comfort of her bed. The soft pad of someone¡¯s thumb swept across her forehead, moving a lock of hair off her face. Iona¡¯s eyes fluttered open to see her mother perched on the side of her bed. ¡°Morning, Mom,¡± Iona smiled, ¡°Breakfast?¡±


    ¡°Ah, I already popped down and grabbed some food. I figured you could use a little extra sleep. Whinny¡¯s waiting for me at the gate, it¡¯s about that time.¡± Asa had stuck around for a few days after the memorial dinner, for which Iona was so grateful. She had forgotten what it was like to lean on someone rather than clutch onto her own burdens alone. It was the calm before the storm that was about to hit- the final days of prepping for the ball.


    Iona pushed herself up off the mattress and sat up, leaning her back against the headboard. Asa snuggled in next to her. ¡°I¡¯m gonna miss you, Mom. I think I¡¯ve gotten incredibly spoiled having you around here,¡± Iona sighed.


    ¡°I¡¯ll miss you, too, honey. But that just means you¡¯re going to have to make more of an effort to get out to the cottage!¡± Asa chided lovingly. Iona tilted her head and threw on a guilty smile, knowing her mom was right. Asa cleared her throat as her expression shifted from playful to something more serious.


    Oh no, please don¡¯t let this be about Elia.


    ¡°I wanted to talk to you before I left about Elia.¡±


    Damn it. ¡°You know, Mom, that¡¯s not really necessary, we¡¯ve done so much talking the last few days,¡± Iona said, shaking her head and scooting toward the edge of the bed.


    ¡°Oh, no you don¡¯t,¡± Asa responded, pulling her daughter back to her spot at her side. ¡°I want you to hear this. Because I know that you¡¯re still struggling a bit, and I¡¯m your mom, and I finally have you here in front of me. I let you fight it out and run around the kingdom for thirty years, which obviously wasn¡¯t enough.¡±


    ¡°Let me, huh? I don¡¯t remember you having a say over us going to war or not, Mom,¡± Iona replied.


    Asa dismissed the snark, and forged ahead, ¡°I know what it can be like to get swallowed up by loss. After your father¡¯s funeral, I stayed in bed for days. I didn¡¯t leave the house for even longer. I let his beautiful gardens and the crops that he gave all his time and energy to get run over with weeds. Practically all of them died, too. It was just easier, in the moment, to wallow in my pain.¡±


    Iona couldn¡¯t help but apologize again, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mom, I should have reached out more and maybe-¡±


    Asa shook her head before Iona could finish her thought, ¡°No, Iona, honey. I¡¯m telling you about all this to help you, not to make you feel guilty. That is not a weight you should carry on my behalf, I promise.¡± Iona nodded, sinking a little further into the bed. ¡°Now, what I really needed to get myself out of my spiral was to use everything he taught me, not shove it all aside like I¡¯d been doing. One morning, I just forced myself out of the house. I ripped out the weeds. I got seeds from the neighbors. It took a long time, but bringing your father¡¯s hard work back to life, it brought him back to me, too. It brought me back. Now, all the gardening and the weeding and the harvesting that I used to complain about, it¡¯s in that work that I keep him alive, and I honor his memory.¡±


    Iona soaked in Asa¡¯s story. She may have fought a war, she may have rebuilt towns and villages, she may seem fine to most. But handling the loss of Elia, the person she trusted the most to help her navigate these emotions, was something she was still very much figuring out. And her mom did that all herself.


    Gods, she really is much tougher than I am, she thought.


    ¡°I know you think you could have saved Elia, but honey, thinking that way, staying stuck in that hurt after all this time, it just diminishes what she left behind,¡± Asa explained.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°She knew you needed to stay here, in Chrysos. She trusted you to look after her family. And you did, and you still do. Elia¡¯s death was a tragedy, an unavoidable one. If you¡¯d been there, they would have killed you, too, with that black magic.¡± Asa took her daughter¡¯s face in her hands, ¡°But you¡¯re here. And she left you with so much good to remember her by; it¡¯s up to you to take that good and live it out. In the moments you miss her the most, just remember everything she taught you- be loving and vulnerable and patient. You don¡¯t ever have to stop missing her, but let her memory bring you forward in life.¡±


    ¡°Like you and dad?¡± Iona asked, her voice wobbling a bit.


    Asa nodded, her smile lighting her face, wrinkling her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s not always easy, and some days, I lose myself a bit missing him. But then I get back to the good stuff. You will, too.¡± Asa planted a kiss on her daughter¡¯s forehead. ¡°I hope that helps.¡±


    ¡°It does,¡± Iona affirmed. ¡°Thanks for staying the last few days, Mom.¡±


    After one more hug, Asa hopped up to start gathering her things in her room. As she headed out the door, she commented, ¡°Those flowers on your desk are beautiful, by the way.¡±


    Iona glanced over at the moon drops, ¡°Oh, yeah, Leo brought them by a few days ago.¡±


    ¡°Did he now?¡± Asa said, eyebrows raised. ¡°That¡¯s very kind of him.¡± Whatever she was getting at, Iona wasn¡¯t playing along.


    ¡°Let¡¯s walk you out, shall we?¡± she said, now hustling her mother towards the palace gates. They said their goodbyes, and Asa wished her luck with the ball. Iona watched as her mother galloped off on Whinny, and steeled herself to go back inside. Today was the day. It was time to find Heston a wife.


    The palace was a perennially animated and populous place, but preparations for that evening had it filled to the brim. Staff whizzed by Iona carrying massive embroidered banners of all colors to hang in the grand ballroom, vibrant floral arrangements, trays of empty goblets awaiting their fill of wine, and more. She ducked and weaved through the cacophony of workmen, chefs, and servers to a small meeting room in the east wing. There, she laid out the final assignments for palace guards, walked through rotations with them, and confirmed that everything was in place and ready to go for the ball. Upon dismissing her guards, she returned to her bedroom to enjoy a little reprieve from the commotion.


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    Iona pulled off her boots, and tossed them into the corner, followed by her pants and blouse. She perched on her bed, bare skin prickling a bit from the cold. She noted that she¡¯d need a fire in the hearth to sleep tonight. Three months had come and gone since she received word from Theron to return home to Chrysos, and she was only a few hours away from seeing the culmination of her effort. Well, hers and Leo¡¯s, and all the other staff working around the clock to make the ball happen. She¡¯d been so unhappy with the charge from the King, angry at being forced to confront her old wounds. They exhausted her. They sapped her energy, gripped her from inside and out, and held her back. But somehow, much to her surprise, that grip loosened day by day. Iona felt lighter than she had in decades. Her bed sheets hadn¡¯t needed changing since that late night chat with Leo in the pantry, nightmares and cold sweats fading steadily.


    Each morning, she awoke with a fresh eagerness to get to the training ring, where Leo would be waiting with coffee before they sparred for hours at a time. Sometimes, the pair would go for a ride, which often included a race between Corso and Tower when Heston didn¡¯t join them. Tower had been adding more wins to his column, of which Iona was childishly proud. During her free hours between meetings, she would lay around the courtyard, and read one of the few books that were new to her from the library or follow Poppy around the kitchens until she taught her some new cooking technique or recipe. For the first time in far too long, Iona felt content, maybe even, dare she admit, happy. Not a fleeting happiness that was always soured by an aftertaste of guilt- but real, warming, irrefutable happiness.


    It was with that happiness that Iona looked at her dress for the ball, as it hung waiting for her over the door. She stood and walked to it, running her hands over the soft, shiny crimson fabric. Oh, Elia, still looking out for me from beyond, she thought, grateful for the beautiful gift. ¡°I¡¯m still keeping the black dress, though,¡± Iona commented aloud. She turned on a heel towards the bathroom, and hopped in the bath to clean up for the party. Heston was going to find someone to marry tonight, and Chrysos would be all the better for her hard work.


    Iona was finishing drying off when she heard urgent banging on her bedroom door. She wrapped herself in a towel quickly, and ran to answer. ¡°Hello Commander, long time no see!¡± a short, mousy looking blonde woman greeted Iona, shoving past her into the room. The woman was followed by two others, a slightly older woman and a tall, slender young man, both with long, silvery hair. They also hustled into the room without Iona¡¯s permission.


    Iona clutched her towel around her, aware of how close she was to being naked in front of complete strangers, though they did seem familiar up close. ¡°Excuse me, but who are you? And would you please get out of my room?¡± she questioned.


    The three visitors exchanged puzzled looks. ¡°Oh no, Commander Iona, did your mother not tell you?¡± the mousy woman asked. Iona¡¯s bewildered face was answer enough, so she continued, ¡°Lady Asa stopped by the staff quarters before she left town, and asked that we come by to get you ready for the ball.¡± Iona¡¯s face shifted from confused to cranky.


    ¡°Unbelievable¡­¡± she muttered. Putting on a flat smile, she said, ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary, I apologize for my mother¡¯s¡­lack of communication.¡± Rather than shuffling out, as Iona expected, the trio stood staring at her. ¡°So¡­¡± she motioned towards the door.


    ¡°Please, Miss Iona, let us help,¡± the silvered hair man insisted, clasping his hands in front of his chest like a little prayer. ¡°It¡¯s our first real chance in so long.¡± It dawned on Iona in that moment where she¡¯d seen these people before- they were Queen Margot¡¯s former staff. She¡¯d never interacted with them before this.


    ¡°Yes, please, Commander. Your mother said you have a dress all the way from Siminy, and it may need tailoring, and she said you don¡¯t know how to wear your hair or put on makeup or-¡±


    ¡°-Yes, yes, I get the point. Thank you,¡± Iona huffed, rubbing her hands over her face. ¡°Okay, sure, I suppose I could¡­use some help. Your names?¡±


    All three of them let out various squeals of excitement at her resignation. ¡°I¡¯m Sosi,¡± the blonde woman introduced herself, ¡°And these are my assistants, Orla and her brother, Dureem.¡±


    With belabored nods, Iona acknowledged them each in turn. ¡°Uh, well, I took a bath, as you can tell. Dress is over there,¡± she said, pointing towards her door, ¡°Please be careful with it. And I know you were probably used to doing all kinds of things with the Queen¡¯s face and hair, and all that, but I prefer to stick to a more simple¡­look. I¡¯m not necessarily working tonight, but I¡¯m still the High Commander, and I need to maintain-¡±


    ¡°- Ah, ah, ah, Commander Iona,¡± Sosi cut in, leading Iona to the seat at her desk, ¡°I¡¯m fully aware of your credentials and preferred way of¡­dressing.¡± Iona could tell Sosi was trying her hardest not to be judgmental, but it seeped through anyway. ¡°But we are also the best at what we do! Let us help you do this stunning dress justice,¡± she said as she began to comb through Iona¡¯s hair. Orla and Dureem flitted around the room, setting out bottles of perfume, palettes, pots, and pigments. Iona¡¯s face twisted at the sight, concerned for what was to come.


    Over the next couple of hours, Iona was poked, prodded, and measured while her dress was hemmed and tweaked so it fit just right. It felt like Sosi, Orla, and Dureem never once stood all the way still, chattering about all the women rumored to be at the ball, the food that was to be served, and how excited everyone was at the prospect of a royal wedding. In spite of her discomfort with all the fuss, warmth bloomed in Iona at the thought of some normalcy returning to their kingdom. The ball was the first event of its scale since years before the War.


    ¡°Alright, ready for the dress!¡± Orla called out. Sosi had Iona stand from her seat, and helped as she stepped into the gown. Orla and Dureem tightened the corset, and fluffed the fabric pooling lightly at her feet. The trio gathered in front of the Commander, admiring their work. She turned to look at herself in the mirror they¡¯d leaned against the wall. Iona was stunned by her own reflection. The maroon satin was striking against her tan skin, and the gilded leaves and vines sparkled along the sweeping neckline. Her hair flowed down in waves around her shoulders to the small of her back, pinned away from her face to display the shimmering, golden maquillage expertly applied by Sosi. She walked up behind Iona, and gently laid a hand on her shoulder, ¡°What do you think, Miss?¡±


    Iona cleared her throat, still a bit stunned by her appearance. ¡°I think it all looks just wonderful¡± she praised, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°It was our pleasure,¡± piped up Dureem, while his colleagues nodded in agreement.


    ¡°I¡¯m quite certain with how lovely you are, and in such a unique dress, Prince Heston won¡¯t be the only one courted this evening,¡± Sosi gushed. As they always did when she was embarrassed, the tops of Iona¡¯s ears warmed.


    ¡°That¡¯s, um, very kind of you to say, Sosi, but, ahem,¡± she stammered, ¡°I doubt it very much.¡± Her eyes wandered over to the vase of moon drops that sat on her desk, and her ears got a little hotter for some reason. ¡°Oh wow, it must be time for me to be going.¡±


    The trio said their goodbyes and well wishes for the evening. Once they left, Iona turned back for a final look in the mirror. She remembered her mother¡¯s words as she ran her hands down the sides of her gown, Forward¡­


    Tonight was going to be the start of Chrysos¡¯ next chapter, and Iona was going to do her damndest to enjoy it.

 Chapter Fifteen

    Her ball gown swished side to side as Iona made her way from the sleeping quarters to the grand ballroom. The golden accents twinkled from the firelight of the sconces lining each side of the wall. The second she stepped out the door of her bedroom, a fresh cloud of anxiety began to form over her head. It wasn¡¯t the slight discomfort donning the unfamiliar gown and matching heeled boots; she was worried about looking foolish. Much to her mother¡¯s chagrin, Iona was a terrible dancer.


    She had ducked ballroom lessons more often than she¡¯d attended them in her younger years at the palace. Elia took to them easily, of course, but Iona always struggled. She could adhere to a rhythm, and her footwork grew to be impeccable thanks to her combat training. But when it came to dancing, Iona could not follow someone¡¯s lead to save her life. She would grow rigid in her partner¡¯s arms, and the waltz would inevitably end up blocky and tense. She used to count on escaping to the edges of the crowd after her obligatory dance with Heston or some courtier¡¯s son. But now, as High Commander and ranking member of the court, Iona would be expected to dance- a lot.


    She reached the massive double doors of the ballroom which opened onto the landing of the grand staircase. Her stomach tightened into a knot at the very sight of it. You¡¯re excited. You¡¯re going to have a great time. Stop being so insecure, you¡¯re the fucking High Commander. Iona pressed the palm of her hand to her abdomen, stilling herself. How a dance floor filled to the brim could be more daunting to her than a battlefield, she¡¯d never understood. She pushed past the reluctance, feeling like there was glue on the soles of her shoes, and she had to wriggle herself free of it. Straight away, she saw one of her soldiers standing guard at the top of the stairs. His eyebrows rose, beholding the sight of his commander in all the trappings of a royal courtier. It suddenly occurred to her that none of her men had ever seen her in anything other than training clothes or battle armor. Iona shot him a warning glare to prevent a snarky comment, if he should so dare. Stifling a smile, he bowed his head to her, and reached out his hand to assist her down the stairs, but Iona blew right past him.


    She surveyed the party- almost four hundred guests, spilling out onto every balcony and winding down to the courtyard. Chrysos¡¯ palace was unrivaled in size and opulence, and the grand ballroom was its jewel. The ceilings seemed upwards of a mile high, filled with magnificent golden and crystal chandeliers overlooking the finest black marble. This grandiose room stood empty for years, but tonight, it was alive again, filled with buzz, excitement, and optimism about the future of the kingdom.


    The chatter was deafening; endless goblets of jammy red wine sat on the bars along the edge of the room, and attendants circulated with platters of roasted vegetables and mutton, pastries filled with herbs and cheese, and fresh fruit. Iona looked down at herself- there was no denying she would fit in. Elia would be thrilled to see her like this, and Iona was filled with gratitude at her old friend¡¯s enduring thoughtfulness.


    The High Commander made her way down the rest of the stairs, navigating through the crowd toward a platform on the other side of the hall. King Theron was seated on his throne atop it, his second son standing to his side, while Heston had already begun his mingling.


    Leo whistled cheekily as he watched her approach, and hustled down the steps, offering his arm. Iona scoffed at his unnecessary politeness, but hooked her hand around it anyways, and the two ascended to Theron¡¯s seat. ¡°I hardly recognize you,¡± Leo remarked, ¡°Thank the gods you got rid of that wretched, potato sack of a dress you used to wear.¡± Iona pinched his skin through his tunic eliciting a small yelp. She smirked at that, but looking over at him, Iona noticed they nearly matched, and her lips softened to a smile. The tunic was made of luxe, woven cotton with lavish embroidery of golden wildflowers and ivy vines. His amber locks were left loose and wavy, and the sun from training every morning had brought out his freckles splashed across the bridge of his nose.


    ¡°Hoping to hit it off with one of the many women who won¡¯t be successful in courting Heston this evening?¡± she inquired, pulling her gaze away from Leo.


    ¡°You could say that, I suppose,¡± he answered, as they reached King Theron. ¡°It¡¯s about time for another glass of wine, though,¡± he declared, nodding at his father, and sauntering off towards the crowd. Iona thought about how she could use one of those goblets of wine right about now. More than one. Five, perhaps. Instead of indulging that need, she maintained her composure and greeted the king. ¡°Your majesty,¡± she bowed as deeply as her corset allowed. As she stood, she reached out to meet his hands, extended from where he sat.


    ¡°I think it¡¯s safe to say that you are the loveliest High Commander this kingdom has ever had,¡± Theron grinned, the wrinkles at the edge of his eyes growing in prominence.


    ¡°That¡¯s very kind of you, sir.¡± Iona took her place at the King¡¯s side, turning to face the crowd of partygoers with her hands clasped behind her back. She knew how hopeful Theron was for tonight; he needed to ensure that Heston was positioned as well as he could be to take over the crown. Marrying was an essential part of that in his view. Heston would meet a slew of eligible women from well-respected families tonight, all working to impress him and secure the kingdom¡¯s future. Iona never much liked the tradition, but she supposed it was better than the way Theron and Margot were forced on one another. At least these women chose to accept the invitation. And one of them would be the next Queen, so hopefully Heston picked well.


    After an hour or so of eating and drinking and mingling, the crowd began to gather, meandering in from the balconies and courtyard. The music began, and a wave of colorful gowns and sleek suits crashed onto the dance floor as peppy violin and cheerful piano filled the room. Couples formed with ease, synching up their movements with each other, all in perfect time. Iona watched them all swap partners, twist, turn, come together and fall apart like they¡¯d been practicing for months. She was dreading the moment that the King would insist she descend off their podium of safety and make an embarrassment of herself. Dancing was imminent.


    Four or five songs had passed when Iona heard the King clear his throat. ¡°You know Iona, I appreciate all the effort you put in to make this a successful ball, so I must encourage you to join the party.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, sir, I am absolutely enjoying the party.¡± Iona said, looking straight ahead to avoid his look of displeasure.


    ¡°Is that so?¡±


    ¡°And on top of that, there are so many guests, I should really be here to ensure your safety at all times,¡± she nodded, holding on to a small sliver of hope that the King was buying her nonsense.


    ¡°So what you¡¯re telling me is that you¡¯ve done such a poor job securing this ball that you have to be my personal guard all evening?¡± Amused, the King shifted in his seat to look at Iona.


    ¡°If I say yes, will you let me stay?¡± she pleaded.


    ¡°Iona.¡±


    ¡°Yes, your majesty?¡±


    ¡°Go dance.¡±


    Iona resigned with a sigh, ¡°Yes, sir.¡± She gathered the sides of her gown, and descended the steps. To her relief, a short intermission began, and Iona wandered over to the closest bar for a goblet of wine. She thought she had spied Desmond somewhere in the throng when she first arrived. If he wasn¡¯t still peeved at her for leaving their last liaison so abruptly, she figured she could hound him into dancing with her, if necessary, for sake of ease. Heston emerged from the crowd, and leaned against the bar, swapping his empty goblet for a full one. ¡°I see you¡¯ve been sent out to dance, finally!¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, the King did not find it in his heart to excuse me from this torture.¡±


    ¡°Poor Iona, our little woeful waltzer. I would offer to be your partner for the evening, but my duty is to dance with as many beautiful women as possible.¡±


    ¡°What a nightmare,¡± Iona quipped, though she knew it was a bittersweet evening for the perpetual bachelor. Iona twisted to ask if Heston could spare just one dance at the start of the next song, but he was already off chatting with a group of ladies that had traveled in from the southern villages. She sighed and took a large swig of her wine.


    Iona felt a tap on her shoulder. ¡°High Commander.¡±


    Iona¡¯s attention was brought to a young woman with jet black hair expertly braided in a crown atop her head. Her eyes were the same jeweled tone as her dress, a unique blue-green, the color of an emerald dropped into the ocean- a common feature of the people who live off the coast. ¡°My name is Jessa,¡± she said as she gave Iona a bow. ¡°I wanted to say thank you for your work in my city. I know how difficult it was to reconstruct Chrysomar¡¯s ports- and your troops completed them rather expeditiously.¡±


    ¡°It was my honor, Lady Jessa,¡± Iona replied. She had promptly clocked the bodyguard that closely followed the woman. Only high ranking courtiers would have their own security.


    Jessa motioned toward her the man behind her, a stately, porcelain skinned fellow with the same ink colored locks. His presence exuded strength, his jawline carved from granite. Iona wondered if he was head of his town¡¯s legion. ¡°This is my guard, Kono. He serves as chief command for our town.¡±


    Knew it. Iona and Kono dipped their heads toward one another. It was unusual for a High Commander to make any show of respect to lower ranking soldiers, but Iona wasn¡¯t much for tradition in that way. These people had given up years of their lives to fight the Ladrons, and protect their homeland. To Iona, they deserved the same acknowledgment and respect as she did.


    ¡°I did not see you on the dance floor earlier,¡± Jessa said, ¡°You are not required to work all night, are you?¡±


    ¡°No, no, I am off-duty. Dancing, however, is¡­not my forte. I typically try to avoid it as long as I can,¡± she admitted. ¡°Heston is a fine dancer, though. Have you had a chance to meet the prince?¡±


    ¡°Not yet,¡± Jessa laughed, ¡°He¡¯s quite in demand. Apologies if this is too forward a question, but I heard that you spent a great deal of time at the palace when you were young. Are you not considered a prime match for Prince Heston? It seems as though that would be a strong pairing for the crown- High Commander and King.¡± Iona thought of the deal she¡¯d made with Leo- one down.


    ¡°I did, in fact, spend much of my younger days at the palace, thanks to my mother. She was the royal siblings¡¯ teacher. Heston has been a great friend and advisor, but no, we are not a match. And even if we were, I would be required to give up my post as High Commander which is not something I could ever foresee doing. But I look forward to serving Heston as King, as well as whomever he chooses as his queen- hopefully someone with a strong will and pension for politicking. This kingdom is due for a queen with her wits about her.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I agree. We have not had one in far too long,¡± Jessa responded. The break in music came to an end, and people began working their way back to the dance floor. Jessa turned to Iona, ¡°It was lovely to finally meet our High Commander in person. The North Forest blessed Chrysos with your leadership.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s very generous of you to say, thank you,¡± Iona replied, ¡°I will make sure Prince Heston seeks you out, Lady Jessa.¡±


    Jessa grinned, ¡°Just Jessa. I never much liked the title. And thank you, I would appreciate that very much.¡± Iona gave a nod to Kono, as well, and they began to move on. She glanced over to the throne, where Theron¡¯s disapproving look bore into her- apparently, she had stalled enough. It was time to do her duty and knock out some dances. Iona took a long breath, finished her wine, and turned toward the festivities behind her.


    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    She scanned the crowd, searching for familiar ashy blonde locks and blue eyes. Ah! There was Desmond on the edge of the floor, surveying his options for his next partner. Iona positioned herself on the other side of the room, settling among a group of observers to catch his eye. Desmond¡¯s gaze passed right over her, and Iona got the distinct feeling that he was purposely avoiding her stare.


    Fine, I will ask you myself, she thought. Iona made her way through the outer fringe of partygoers, slipping between swaying bodies, careful not to trip on the hem of her gown. Desmond must have felt her presence coming towards him, since he turned her way as she closed in on where he was standing. His tall frame was outfitted in a chic black leather tunic and his hair was stylishly slicked back. A sense of relief was about to set in only for Desmond to breeze past her without so much as a glance. The High Commander cocked her head in disbelief. She glimpsed over her shoulder, trying not to be too obvious following Desmond¡¯s brush off, only to see the foreign prince requesting a dance from another courtier. The woman accepted with a gleeful squeal, and as Desmond led her toward the floor, he flashed an arrogant look at Iona.


    Unbelievable.


    Iona had been on the receiving end of Desmond¡¯s snobbery and pettiness before, when they were in the middle of reconstruction and he didn¡¯t like her throwing commands his way, but this was different. She had been counting on Desmond to keep her from standing around awkwardly, waiting to be asked for a dance. Maybe her reputation had preceded her and none of the courtiers would give her a chance. Though perhaps that was less embarrassing than actually having to get out in front of all of these people and pretend like she knew what she was doing, when she clearly did not. Even if that meant Theron would be upset with her for not participating.


    Iona made her way back over to the nearest bar, and snatched up a glass of wine. She watched Desmond dance with his partner, and her cheeks began to heat again with timidity. The alcohol burned her throat as she drank it in a few large gulps. Just before she could grab another goblet, someone appeared at her side, so close it jolted her from her wallowing.


    ¡°I expected you to be out there by now with a line of men waiting desperately to be your next dance partner,¡± Leo teased. Iona let out a huff, but her confidence was shaken a bit too much for her to put together the right comeback. She rolled her eyes and remained silent instead, staring at the crowd. Leo followed her line of sight which was once again following the Prince of Morencis. ¡°Iona, tell me you¡¯re not bothered by that idiot.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not an idiot,¡± Iona said as she dropped her eyes down to where the hem of her gown met the marble floor. If anyone was an idiot, it was Iona for letting herself feel this way; she was High Commander for crying out loud.


    ¡°He is if he¡¯s dancing with some random courtier over you,¡± Leo rejoined.


    A tiny smile tugged at the sides of Iona¡¯s lips. ¡°That¡¯s¡­nice of you to say,¡± she mumbled.


    ¡°Well, you know,¡± Leo lilted, stepping forward past Iona, toward the dance floor. He turned toward her and extended a hand, ¡°You can¡¯t go letting him have all the fun.¡± Iona looked at his outstretched palm and then at the crowd of dancers. She stayed planted where she stood.


    He could clearly sense her hesitation, so Leo closed the small distance between them. ¡°I won¡¯t let you look foolish, if that¡¯s what you¡¯re thinking. I promise,¡± he said to her quietly, his deep voice taking on an alluring edge. ¡°Just follow my lead, and I¡¯ll take care of the rest.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t follow anyone¡¯s lead,¡± she responded, ¡°You know that. It¡¯s why you refused to dance with me when we were kids, remember?¡±


    ¡°Well I was stupid when I was a kid,¡± he said in earnest, ¡°I¡¯ll take care of you out there.¡± A playful smirk appeared across his lips, which Iona returned. With a grounding sigh, she took his hand, and Leo walked them out to the center of the floor.


    You can do this.


    At first, like all the times before, Iona¡¯s body stiffened as soon as she turned to face her partner. She regretted not polishing off another goblet, but no amount of wine could loosen her muscles. Leo slipped one hand behind her back and held her hand loosely with his other. She really didn¡¯t want to embarrass herself, which meant letting Leo control their movements to the best of her ability. All of the couples moved synchronously, waltzing along with the melody. Leo murmured the step count aloud for Iona to follow. He gently nudged her one way and pulled her another, and slowly but surely, Iona was picking it up with Leo¡¯s encouragement.


    ¡°See, you¡¯re not so bad,¡± Leo encouraged, as their feet shuffled in time, ¡°You¡¯re too hard on yourself.¡±


    Iona scrunched her face and confessed, ¡°My mom insisted on giving me some refresher lessons before she left.¡±


    ¡°Thank goodness for Asa,¡± he said, throwing his head back, like he was praying to the heavens. Iona laughed wholeheartedly, grateful, as well, for her mom¡¯s pushiness.


    A new song began, this one extra spirited and lively, and the Prince pulled her clockwise in time with the rhythm. Iona reveled in the looks she caught out of the side of her eye from Desmond across the floor. The time came in the routine for a switch of partners, much to Iona¡¯s dismay, and Leo squeezed Iona¡¯s hand before sending her off to the lord nearest to her, as he moved over to the woman to his right. Instead of focusing on her new partner, Iona glanced back at Leo, who was now dancing with Jessa. They looked so natural, effortless in their waltzing, and something resembling jealousy echoed in the back of her mind. Iona shook it off, feeling incredibly silly for a moment, and concentrated once again on her steps- one step right, one step right, one step back with her left, wait, no, forward-


    Her partner stepped on her toes, and they bumped into each other; a pained look washed over his face, as if he was counting the seconds until he could dance with someone else. Luckily for the both of them, the choreography brought Leo back to Iona after a minute, who breathed a sigh of relief.


    ¡°That was a little rough to watch,¡± Leo joked to her, ¡°But you survived. I¡¯m proud of you.¡±


    ¡°No more switching, I¡¯m just getting used to you,¡± Iona grumbled with a sheepish tone in her voice.


    ¡°Yes, Commander,¡± Leo nodded, his eyes fixed on Iona.


    Leo kept his word, avoiding any other courtier from taking her from then on. Another song began, and Iona found herself more at ease than she expected, finally following his lead with full comfort. Leo guided her through every motion, giving her security in each turn and dip with his strong, confident grip on her hand, the small of her back, her hips. Iona couldn¡¯t believe that she was dancing, willingly, and enjoying it.


    A second song rolled into a third, a fourth, a fifth. The night grew darker and darker outside, and a sultry sounding violin number crept up in place of the poppy, bright music which kicked off the party, filling the room bit by bit. Iona¡¯s heart began to beat a little faster as the melody escalated, and Leo tightened his arm around her waist pulling her closer to him. If Desmond was watching them, Iona could no longer be bothered to notice.


    Iona wondered if that was another other universe, some strange world in which she didn¡¯t mind being at the whim of Prince Leonon. One in which she not only trusted him, but wanted to be as close to him as possible. With nimble footwork, through spins and dips, Iona followed Leo in every movement. The chatter of the crowd had fallen away. Iona¡¯s chest thrummed with the rich and haunting music, wrapping itself around her and Leo, drawing them ever nearer. He gripped each side of her hips and swept her into the air with ease.


    The pace quickened, along with Iona¡¯s breath, and the violin built up and up into a sweltering climax before it halted. Leo and Iona stood pressed against each other, their eyes locked together as they had been the entire dance.


    The heady violin promptly gave way to a gentle, romantic melody. Iona and Leo had not moved from where they stood, as if they were tied to the marble beneath them. Iona became keenly aware of how close her lips were to Leo¡¯s, her stomach brewing with nerves in response. She felt Leo¡¯s grasp loosen, but he did not retreat, instead leading them into a gentle sway to match the sweet song that played. She slid her hand across his back and laid her head against his chest. Iona could hear the steady thump of Leo¡¯s heart beneath his tunic. As much as she worried about making it through a single dance, he had guided her through them all with grace. He¡¯d more than kept his promise not to let her look foolish. Iona was sincerely grateful, and a sense of peace breezed through her. All the tension that had built dance after dance released from her body, and she melted into the security of Leo¡¯s arms. Back and forth, back and forth, they flowed.


    The notes of the piano slowed, and Iona lifted her head, still holding her hand against his back. She stepped away just enough to look at him while the song came to a close, and the crowd broke into applause. Leo peered down at her, his gaze hot on her skin. Iona felt compelled to say something, anything to interrupt whatever it was that radiated between them. Before she could think of the words, Leo leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers. Iona¡¯s eyes closed without a thought as she absorbed every facet of his kiss, warm and dreamy, tender and firm. All too quickly, he pulled back just until his nose grazed hers.


    Eyes wide, Iona sputtered, ¡°I, um¡­I need some wine.¡± Dropping his hand, she turned on her heel and sprinted through the dispersing crowd. A faint call from behind her suggested that Leo might follow, but she continued to speed ahead. Wine and air, that¡¯s what she needed. Iona reached the bar, grabbed a goblet still in motion, and scrambled out to the closest empty balcony. Showered with the cold winds, Iona tried to gather her thoughts.


    What the fuck just happened? What was he thinking?! It was just a dance¡­since when did Leo¡­do I¡­


    She knocked back the full glass of wine in one go, attempting to wash away the mess in her head, and slammed the goblet onto the balcony edge. Raising her hand to her mouth, she grazed her finger along her bottom lip. The image of Leo¡¯s eyes just before the kiss was seared in her memory. Those eyes¡­as rich as copper and dangerously enchanting, they commanded every bit of Iona¡¯s attention not just in that moment, but even before, song after song, dance after dance¡­


    Iona stared out over the balcony, sunken in her thoughts when two hands gripped either side of her hips, sliding around her waist from behind. Heat burst into her cheeks at the touch.


    ¡°If you¡¯re trying to make me jealous,¡± Desmond growled in her ear, ¡°It¡¯s working.¡± His breath was swollen with the stench of too much wine. Iona exhaled, realizing that she¡¯d been holding her breath. She turned around to face him, shaking off a feeling too close to disappointment for her comfort. Of course it was Desmond. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get out of here,¡± he said over his shoulder, already wrapping his hand around hers and starting for the doors. Still in a daze, Iona stumbled behind him into the ballroom, preoccupied with the kiss.


    Iona looked around as the crowd flashed past her while Desmond led them towards the exit. Her eyes darted from left to right, but there was no sign of Leo. Just a few yards from the double doors, she looked back once more and found those beautiful amber eyes staring back at her from the edge of the dance floor. He had been looking for her, too.


    Leo¡¯s face fell at the sight of them, washed over with a heartrending look of hurt and anger. The guilt settling in her stomach, mixed with all the wine, made her queasy. Iona opened her mouth, but what was she to do? Shout across the room to him? Her thoughts were muddied, as is. Even if she could find the words, Leo spared no time reaching to his side and pulling a waiting courtier onto the dance floor- the woman looked enamored with him straight away. Iona¡¯s heart plunged. Half a minute later, and she was still staggering down the hall, hand in hand with Desmond.


    ¡°Dez,¡± she said, finally coming to her senses, and stopping them both, ¡°I think I¡¯m just going to call it a night.¡±


    ¡°Aw, come on Iona, don¡¯t make me go back in there alone like some pathetic reject.¡± He leaned down to kiss her neck, but she pulled just out of his reach.


    Desmond¡¯s playful tone dropped. ¡°Is this about Leo?¡±


    ¡°Leo? No¡­no. I¡¯m just tired. I was working all day before the ball,¡± she sputtered.


    ¡°Bullshit.¡±


    Iona remained quiet; she didn¡¯t have anything to say.


    Throwing up his hands, Desmond blustered. ¡°Oh, I get it. You¡¯re collecting princes now, huh?¡± he slurred.


    ¡°Fuck you,¡± she spat back.


    ¡°Who¡¯s next? First me, now Leo¡­maybe Heston? Or are you going to wait until after he¡¯s made king to try fucking him?¡±


    A familiar voice thundered from behind them, ¡°Speak to her like that again, Desmond, and I¡¯ll slice out your tongue and hand deliver it to your father.¡±


    Iona¡¯s gaze snapped up to Leo, standing just down the hall. The queasiness rumbled through her again.


    ¡°Ah, here¡¯s the man of the hour. We were just talking about you!¡± Desmond stumbled toward Leo, and clapped a hand on his shoulder, ¡°Enjoy my leftovers, Leonon, she¡¯s a good ride.¡±


    CRACK.


    Leo¡¯s fist collided with Desmond¡¯s jaw in an instant. Iona gasped, her hands shooting up to cover her mouth at the scene. The crash of Desmond¡¯s limp body slumping to the ground reverberated through every inch of the hall. He was out cold, his lip split, and Iona could see blood gathered on Leo¡¯s knuckles. His eyes slid from the man he had just laid unconscious up to Iona¡¯s face, painted with shock. Without a word, Leo swiveled away and marched back to the party.


    Iona stood frozen, staring down at Desmond, who had started to wake up. Her legs began to walk her toward her bedroom, but her mind was still lodged in that hallway. She went through the same routine as she did every night- undress, rinse her face, pull on a nightgown, shake out her sheet, settle into bed. But the sound of Leo¡¯s right hook connecting with Desmond¡¯s face crowded out all other thoughts in her head. Though the night¡¯s surprises- all of them- still buzzed around her mind, they had thoroughly drained her energy, and the sweet relief of sleep embraced her.

 Chapter Sixteen

    Iona waited in an empty ring for the fourth morning in a row, hoping Leo would show to no avail. At first, she was relieved to be alone, sorting through all her thoughts and emotions after the night of the ball. The kiss replayed in her head on a loop, interrupted only by the image of Leo knocking Desmond out cold. But as the shock of what had happened wore off, Iona was left with a vacant feeling that settled in its place. Not even a week had passed, but if she was willing to be honest with herself, she really missed Leo. Every meal, he managed to finish before she arrived in the dining room. Any time they were in the same hallway, he immediately turned down another corridor. It was clear he was avoiding her, but it couldn¡¯t last. It was his fault, for fuck¡¯s sake, that she even felt like talking through what happened rather than just sweeping it under the rug as she usually preferred.


    Over the last few months, Leo had pulled her out of the isolation in which she had long dwelled; while her first inclination was to write off what happened as a mistake and go back to her solitude, she had to try to make things right. She had feelings for Leo. And if she couldn¡¯t shake those feelings, then she had to confront them, which meant hunting down Leo, whether he liked it or not. Iona resolved to find the Prince after training, which went poorly since she was so distracted. She returned to the palace, cleaned up, and started her search. She began with the lower chambers, making her way up to the main floor, winding through each hallway. After an hour or so, Iona had cleared the entire manor to no avail. Next up: the stables.


    Lo and behold, there was Leo, preparing for a ride with Corso. A ride on which she would have normally been invited. Stomping down the pathway from the gates, Iona shouted, ¡°So what, you¡¯re just going to avoid me forever now?¡± Leo didn¡¯t spare a look at her as he finished pulling on Corso¡¯s saddle and reins and herded him out of his stall. There was nothing that incensed Iona more than being ignored. She made it to the stable entrance and continued, ¡°I know you can hear me. Where have you been?¡±


    ¡°The ball is over,¡± Leo turned to her, ¡°We have no reason to talk anymore.¡±


    ¡°No reason to-¡± Iona stumbled over her words in frustration, ¡°No reason?! You kissed me four days ago out of nowhere,¡± she shot back in a hushed tone, in case anyone was eavesdropping.


    Leo looked nothing short of offended, ¡°Out of nowhere? Really, Iona, are you that dense?¡±


    ¡°Oh, now I¡¯m dense?!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about this.¡± Leo tried stepping past her, but Iona moved into his path.


    ¡°Well, too bad, because we are!¡± she demanded.


    Leo¡¯s anger began to build; Iona could see it in his eyes. ¡°You left with Desmond.¡±


    ¡°It just happened,¡± she said, not really knowing how to defend herself.


    ¡°It just happened? You remember that he was courting other women all night, snaking his way around the room and completely ignoring you, right?¡± he chastised.


    ¡°Yeah, I remember, thanks.¡±


    ¡°And you just left the ball with him? With that fucking lowlife?¡±


    ¡°Why do you even care?!¡± she baited. This conversation was supposed to be about the two of them, not about Desmond, but she couldn¡¯t help herself.


    Leo¡¯s expression turned hard and cold, ¡°I thought you were better than that.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± Iona asked, the sting from his comment pushing her back a step. Leo stood silent. ¡°I didn¡¯t come here to talk about Desmond,¡± she muttered, driving her foot into the dirt underneath her.


    ¡°Then what did you come here to talk about, Commander?¡± Leo¡¯s tone bit into her so sharply, he could have drawn blood. Iona¡¯s mind, which had been so full of everything she wanted to say to him that it was bursting at the seams, went blank. She swallowed and cleared her throat, willing something to come out.


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    ¡°I don¡¯t know why I even bother,¡± Leo hissed, turning from her, and hoisting himself onto Corso¡¯s saddle. Iona didn¡¯t try to stop him this time. Defeated, she closed her eyes and waited until the stallion had galloped away before she turned back to the palace. If anyone greeted her or called her name, Iona hadn¡¯t noticed as she hurried back to her bedroom. The last thing she needed was for anyone to see her upset like this. She slammed her door shut, and leaned back against it as tears rolled down her cheeks. The distinctive smell of moon drops filled her nose. Since Leo had brought them for her, Iona drank in their sweet scent every day with pleasure. Even the morning after the ball, they gave her a small sense of reassurance that things would be okay. But that sense had now dissolved, and the smell turned acidic; she crossed to her desk, pulled the flowers out of their vase, and slung them into the hearth.


    She fought off a twinge of regret, watching as last night¡¯s lingering embers flared and consumed the moon drops bit by bit. Iona knew pain, she knew hurt and despair in the deepest of ways, but whatever sinking feeling that settled in her now was unfamiliar. She hated it. This is what happens when you let yourself get distracted, she thought. She failed at her meager attempt to make amends; now, the best option was to lock this away, and get back to her routine, rather than let it fester. Iona pivoted from the fireplace, and changed back into training clothes to head to the ring for a few more hours. Fresh air, sweat, and focus. That¡¯s all she needed. Like always.


    Sure, sit ups were easier to do quickly with someone holding her feet against the canvas. Sparring was more productive with a partner. Training was more enjoyable with Leo. I don¡¯t need him here, I¡¯ve never needed him here, Iona told herself. A flicker of doubt chased the thought, but she pushed the feeling into that box at the back of her mind before it could take hold. A few hours of nonstop movement later, and she could feel her muscles giving up; she¡¯d worked herself to exhaustion. She dropped to the middle of the canvas, arms hung over her knees, shoulders slumped. The sky was full of deep gray clouds, threatening to unleash a downpour at any moment. A warning came first in the form of a heavy mist. The chilly water collected on Iona¡¯s face, as she stared back up at the sky. Whatever all this was causing her mind to be as muddled as the clouds above her, she had to be clear of it.


    The rebuilds were all but finished, per her last missive from Espo, and there had been little to no activity regarding the hostiles. Theron had requested she stay at the palace until Heston was engaged, if not longer. Tempted as she was to pack and leave, Iona couldn¡¯t stand the idea of being away when the King passed, and she didn¡¯t dare give Leo reason to think she ran off because of him. As if he had some sort of hold on her.


    But what if he does? Why is that such a bad thing? The questions managed to climb up the walls in Iona¡¯s mind despite her best effort to lock them out. How badly she wished to talk to Elia. Except, she thought, Elia would be overjoyed at this development. So how much help would she really be? What about mom? Iona tried to muster an image of Asa in her head. They were sitting together on her couch, rain pouring outside the window, so loud it made it hard to hear clearly. Okay, mom, help me out here.


    I¡¯m not sure I understand the issue, sweetheart, Asa replied, her voice murky. Iona envisioned herself jumping up off the couch and pacing the room. The issue is that¡­Leo¡¯s ignoring me. Ugh, why must he be so sensitive? We planned this whole ball together, we¡¯ve been training every day together, and it wasn¡¯t half as bad as I thought it would be. It¡¯s actually been¡­really great. And now, he¡¯s throwing that all away. Her heart sank a bit at the words. All over what? A kiss?


    Distant yet soothing, Asa¡¯s reply flooded her mind, Is that what this is about? You¡¯re upset he kissed you? The question was luring her towards the truth, and stubborn as she may be, Iona could envision something floating just outside of her reach- a distinct sense of relief she was desperate to grab. She resigned to it with honesty. I¡¯m upset at myself for how I reacted. Upset I was too cowardly to admit to him how I feel. I¡¯m worried I¡¯ve ruined any chance at it happening again. Iona looked up from her fidgeting hands to her mother, the mirage moving towards her until she was wrapped up in her embrace, Love is a scary thing, isn¡¯t it, sweetheart?


    A strong gust slammed open the window, letting in a deluge of rain and howling wind. Iona sprinted to shut it, but couldn¡¯t manage to fight the strength of the storm, as she heard Asa¡¯s call from behind her, Iona! Iona! Iona turned back to her mom, but she had disappeared. The cottage around her was fading¡­


    ¡°Iona! Iona! WAKE UP!¡±

 Chapter Seventeen

    Iona opened her eyes, as she was being shaken back to reality. Freezing rain pelted her, stinging her skin with every droplet that made contact. She sat up, and wiped her face slick with water. Leo held her shoulders for a second before hoisting her up to her feet. Slow to wake, Iona realized she was shivering, and her fingers and toes were like ice. Wind whipped around the pair, and Leo pulled her towards the edge of the ring. They ran back to the palace to escape the storm, directly toward the sleeping wing. Iona reached her room, and veered into the bathroom, shut the door, and stripped off her sopping wet training clothes. She leaned over the bathtub to wring out her hair, trying to make sense of her dream. Maybe the conversation with Asa hadn¡¯t been real, but the feelings she confronted were.


    With a firm exhale, Iona tied up her hair, dried off from the rain, and pulled on her robe to get some warmth back into her body. Staring in the mirror, she took in her reflection. Her bronze skin glowed against the deep green silk, her cheeks rosy from the frigid air outside. Her face had filled out from eating regularly again, her arms and legs, shoulders and back toned with muscle packed on from training. Below the surface, she was no longer the haggard, hurting soul who arrived at the palace nearly four months ago. She had found ways to climb out from the slog of daily grief. She was healthier, happier. Content.


    Unexpected as it was, Leo had been an integral part in that change. Nerves bounced around her chest at the thought of telling Leo how she felt, but they took on an edge of excitement and hope. Now was the time, no more hiding or choking on words. Iona turned away from her mirror to get dressed and find Leo. She opened the door, and saw finding Leo wouldn¡¯t be necessary, as he was kneeling in front of the hearth, stoking a fresh fire. He had changed into a loose fitting, parchment colored linen shirt and dark brown trousers that sat low on his hips. His hair was damp from the rain, but he left it hanging free.


    Iona gulped at the sight. Damn, he is¡­thoughtful. Steadying the flutters caused by the handsome, kind, generous man in front of her, she announced her presence, ¡°Thank you for that.¡± Leo sat back from the fireplace, and stood, wiping the ash off his hands on a rag.


    ¡°You burned the moon drops,¡± he commented. It wasn¡¯t a question, but Iona couldn¡¯t stand the disappointment in his voice so she answered anyway.


    ¡°They were starting to smell, actually,¡± offering an explanation, ¡°Like you said they would.¡± Hopefully that softened any sting she¡¯d caused.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Leo said, ¡°Oh okay.¡± He seemed comforted a tad by the white lie, which comforted Iona in turn. ¡°I was looking for you all day today. Only you would sleep outside in the middle of a storm to avoid me,¡± he chuckled.


    She huffed, tugging at the ribbon that cinched her robe, ¡°I wasn¡¯t avoiding you, I was just training a little extra. And you¡¯re one to talk about the lengths someone will go to avoid another person.¡± She tried to keep her tone from turning harsh- she wanted to avoid a fight this time.


    ¡°Fair enough,¡± Leo relented, wandering from the fireplace. He kept his eyes fixed on Iona, and the attention made the tips of her ears heat. She bit her bottom lip in anticipation of the things he might say. Her chest was tight, as she ran through all the ways to apologize to him for her reaction at the ball and after, and maybe even for how she¡¯d treated him over the years.


    He cleared his throat, ¡°Iona, I owe you an apology. Several, actually.¡± Iona shook her head in protest, but Leo insisted, ¡°Please let me explain.¡± He motioned to the bed, and the two sat on its edge facing one another. ¡°I had no right to be upset with you leaving the ball with Desmond. I just¡­I finally found the courage to kiss you after all this time, and I had this vision of it going much better than it did,¡± he shared with a slight grimace. ¡°But that didn¡¯t mean you owed me anything, and it wasn¡¯t fair of me to avoid you. I¡¯m sorry.¡± His sincerity hit Iona like a wall, how willing he was to hold himself to account. ¡°But it¡¯s not just how I reacted that night, but what I said at the stables. Not three months ago, I rebuked Lord Grayser for criticizing your¡­personal choices. And then I went and insulted you the same way.¡± Leo¡¯s words were heavier now, as he hunched forward and looked at his feet planted on the floor. ¡°You didn¡¯t deserve that. I was just being selfish.¡±


    Iona reached out and pulled his chin to face her, leaving her hand caressed over his cheek. ¡°You may not need an apology from me, but I am sorry about running away at the ball. I got flustered and nervous, and I just needed some air to clear my head. Truly, I didn¡¯t mean to leave with Desmond,¡± she affirmed, ¡°And I meant to tell you that at the stables, but, I¡¯m not really the best at being honest about how I¡¯m feeling.¡± At that, Leo sat up straighter, and Iona noticed he moved a bit closer to her. ¡°Elia always used to tell me to be more sensitive, like you,¡± she smiled, evoking a smirk from Leo. She absentmindedly stroked her thumb on his smooth skin. ¡°So here I am, trying.¡±


    ¡°Well, you¡¯re doing a great job,¡± Leo whispered, his hair still carrying the sweet smell of rain. The air between them was buzzing, and Iona was very aware all of a sudden that she never managed to get dressed- she was still only wearing her robe.


    ¡°You know, Leo, you also called me dense, and I didn¡¯t hear an apology for that,¡± she teased.


    His deep laugh and warm smile charmed Iona in a startling way. ¡°Ah, yes,¡± he lilted, ¡°Apologies, but you said I kissed you out of nowhere. It was absolutely not out of nowhere.¡± She cocked her head to the side, needing further explanation. Leo rolled his eyes and specified, ¡°I get out of bed at the crack of dawn every morning for you. I make sure the kitchen staff brews your coffee extra strong, since that¡¯s how you like it. I wait to eat lunch because you insist on taking a bath after training every time, even though I am always starving. I let you beat me when we race Corso and Tower because I love watching your face when you realize you¡¯ve won, and the way you stick your tongue out at me to gloat.¡±


    Iona pulled back the hand that was still resting on Leo¡¯s cheek and wagged it in his face, ¡°You let me win?! You know how much I hate being let win, I should never kiss you again just for that!¡± Iona¡¯s breath caught, as she felt Leo snake his arm around her back and pull her in tight against his broad chest. His hand slid up the side of her neck, leaving a trail of goosebumps in its wake. She could have sworn the tips of her ears were on fire now.


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    Leo leaned in until the very edges of his lips brushed against hers. Iona¡¯s heart was pounding, her blood simmering at the touch. He replied with a rasp in his voice that weakened her knees, ¡°What a cruel punishment to propose. But if that¡¯s the case, I swear to never let you win again, Iona.¡± The way he said her name shot jolts through her body; it thrummed in her ears, and she nearly begged him to say it again. Leo¡¯s fingers tightened in her hair, as he skimmed his soft, tender lips against her neck. Iona released a hushed moan, her hands finding their way under his shirt. He placed a gentle kiss on her throat, then another and another, making his way to her jawline and nipped at her ear. ¡°If you¡¯d be so kind, High Commander, as to let me make it all up to you this evening,¡± Leo proposed, ¡°Just follow my lead, and I¡¯ll take care of the rest.¡± Nearly out of breath already, her eyes widened and she bobbed her head in agreement.


    Leo pressed his lips to hers with intention, and Iona couldn¡¯t pull him closer fast enough. There was no more hesitancy, whatever nervousness she felt at the ball had been quickly replaced with pure desire for the man in front of her. His kiss was insatiable; Iona¡¯s was just as needy in return. Their tongues slid against each other in urgency, as Iona threw her arms around Leo¡¯s neck and sunk her fingers into his amber locks. With his powerful hands gripped on each side of her waist, he lifted her onto his lap with ease. Iona clenched Leo¡¯s hips with her thighs, grinding into him while she untied the ribbon holding her robe shut, allowing it to drift off her shoulders. Leo sat back for just a moment, dragging his eyes over her naked body, like he was drinking in every inch of her. Iona leaned towards him, pulling his shirt over his head and threw it to the floor, desperate to see more of him, too. His olive skin glowed in the firelight, as she ran her hands over his muscled torso, and under the band of his trousers. Before she could reach far enough, Leo flipped her on her back against the mattress. Her hair had come undone, splaying messily over the pillows beneath her head.


    ¡°Not yet,¡± Leo chided, kneeling between her legs. He laid his weight on top of Iona, pushing the evidence of his desire against her, as he kissed down her neck and chest. Iona arched her back into him, his lips closing over one of her peaked nipples. Her moans had turned from muffled to uncontained, as Leo worked his way over to her other side. Iona ran her nails down his back, leaving marks in their wake, every bit of her running white hot under his touch. She quivered with anticipation for him to reach even further down her body, but before he passed her hips, Leo sat up. She whimpered in disapproval, and a mischievous grin spilled across his lips.


    Leo slipped off the end of the bed, towering over her where she lay. ¡°I¡¯ve followed thousands of your commands over our years together,¡± he stated, Iona leering at his sculpted chest, ¡°But now, you¡¯ll follow mine.¡± The desire coursing through her was becoming unbearable; she could hardly muster a nod in response. He slid his hands under her thighs, and dragged her hips to the edge of the mattress. ¡°Spread your legs,¡± he instructed. She complied, trying her best to steady her breathing. Leo stared at her opening and his eyes narrowed, as she realized how wet she¡¯d already become. Her cheeks flushed, while Leo lowered himself onto his knees, centering his face between her thighs.


    ¡°Now,¡± he growled, ¡°You¡¯re going to come for me, loudly, and recklessly.¡±


    ¡°Is that an order?¡± Iona taunted. Leo looked up at her, a wicked smile forming on his lips before he leaned in, and draped her legs over his shoulders. He ran his tongue slowly along her slit, before taking her core into his mouth. Iona gasped, overtaken by the immediate pleasure, as he continued to move up and down her folds, sucking her swollen bud in rhythm. Iona was hungry for more, her moans growing urgent and eager. Leo slipped a finger inside of her, adding a firm touch to his slick mouth. With his other hand, he gripped her ass, pulling her even closer against his lips. Iona moaned in desperation, Leo¡¯s name escaping her lips over and over. Mere minutes, and he had her at the edge, her climax building until she couldn¡¯t hold on any longer. Falling over the edge, Iona bucked her hips, but Leo held her steady, while she rode out the waves of ecstasy on his tongue. Leo stood with a look of satisfaction, and pulled Iona up off her feet, wrapping her legs around his waist. She savored the way he whisked her about, as he carried her to the front of the bed, climbed up, and tossed her on the pillows.


    He stalked towards Iona like prey, and his deep voice rumbled, ¡°You did very well, Commander, but I think you can do better. Can you?¡± Iona nodded, reaching out until her fingers found the drawstring barely holding up his trousers, and untying it with ease. Leo wrapped his hand around her neck, eliciting a soft whimper. ¡°Say it,¡± he demanded, his unwavering gaze turning Iona¡¯s will to argue molten, ready to be shaped at his whim.


    She promised, ¡°I can do better.¡± Leo, clearly pleased with her response, shrugged off his pants to reveal sharply toned, rugged legs and his length, hard and ready for whatever Iona could take of it. Just the sight of him made her core ache in anticipation, as he pushed her back against the headboard.


    ¡°Louder this time,¡± he growled in her ear, pulling her legs around his hips, and sliding into her. His motion was delicate at first; Iona could tell he was being careful to make sure she was tolerating his size, but she wanted it all. Leo¡¯s forehead rested on hers, and Iona¡¯s eyes flicked up to meet his, alight with craving.


    ¡°Harder,¡± she whispered, digging her nails into his back to match her request.


    ¡°Beg for it,¡± Leo commanded, as he turned them in tandem, Iona on her back once more.


    At the swift, thrilling dominance of her body, she abandoned any lingering thought of composure or restraint; ¡°Fuck me harder, Leo,¡± she pleaded. He gathered her wrists and pinned them above her head with one hand, obliging her instantly. His pace quickened, thrusting with a ravenous greed. Iona rocked her hips in time, allowing him to plunge even deeper inside of her. His breath was heavy and hot against her skin as he dragged his tongue up her neck. ¡°You are a fucking dream, Iona,¡± he moaned in her ear, their bodies moving as though they were made to fit this way. Her cries grew louder, the fever building every second until she was flooded by euphoria once again. Leo entwined his fingers with hers, and kept his motion steady, pounding into her while he, too, reached his peak.


    Their chests heaved against one another, the room filled with the sound of belabored breaths. Leo pushed onto his elbows, and hovered above Iona, holding her face in his hands. She¡¯d never felt so vulnerable before, as though Leo could see every little bit of her, inside and out, all at once. He leaned in and kissed her, deliberate in his tenderness. The way he looked at her, with such sincerity, gifted Iona a comfort she hadn¡¯t dared to want in a long time.


    She pushed a lock of his dampened hair away from his face, tucking it behind his ear. ¡°To think I¡¯ve taken your sensitive nature for granted all this time. How foolish of me.¡± Leo smiled, peppering her with light kisses in response; he rolled to his back, and pulled Iona on top of him so she was resting her head on his chest.


    With a long night of activity ahead, there certainly would be no need for training the next morning.

 Chapter Eighteen

    The sound of the bathroom door lock unlatching roused Iona from her sleep; she glanced over her shoulder to see Leo lifting the blanket and trying to slide in without agitating the bed. His failed attempt at stealthiness made her giggle. ¡°Oh no, did I wake you?¡± he asked, draping his arm over Iona once more. The sun hang high in the cloudless blue sky, filling the room with a soft, cheery brightness.


    She nestled into him, content to stay tangled up as long as they could.  ¡°A little, but I don¡¯t mind at all. I think it¡¯s already late morning,¡± she noticed. ¡°I can¡¯t remember the last time I was in bed this long.¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t surprise me at all,¡± Leo chuckled, pressing a few lazy kisses to Iona¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I suppose I¡¯ll have to get up soon. My father invited Heston and I to go into town with him this afternoon, apparently there¡¯s some troubadour group performing that we used to love as children. He¡¯s feeling nostalgic, I think.¡±


    Iona smiled, rolling to face him. ¡°Well, that¡¯s very sweet. I¡¯m glad to hear he¡¯s getting out of the palace.¡±


    ¡°Would you like to come? I¡¯m sure he¡¯d be thrilled to have you along,¡± Leo invited.


    ¡°No, no, you three enjoy your father son time. Are you staying overnight? Or will you be back this evening?¡± she asked, risking coming off a bit eager.


    Leo seemed to catch the edge in her tone, a grin growing across his face. ¡°Why?¡± he teased, ¡°Are you going to miss me if I¡¯m gone?¡±


    Iona rolled her eyes, tempted to shut him down before she thought better of it. Of course she wanted him back with her, would it really be so painful to say that aloud? ¡°Perhaps,¡± she responded, opting for the middle ground. It was enough of a yes for Leo to glow a bit.


    ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll definitely be back tonight,¡± he assured her. Iona studied the constellation of freckles crossing Leo¡¯s cheeks and nose. How strange is this? she thought, unaware that her face reflected the words in her mind.


    Leo pursed his lips and crinkled his brow, ¡°What¡¯s that look for?¡±


    Iona tried to choose her reply with care, ¡°I¡¯m just¡­surprised, that¡¯s all. Who could have guessed we¡¯d be here together? Two people who generally hated each other their whole lives.¡±


    Leo shook his head, sitting up against the headboard, ¡°I haven¡¯t hated you for a very long time, my dear.¡± Iona sat up, too, her incredulous expression prompting Leo to continue. ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong, you get under my skin like no one else. But I¡¯ve always been grateful for you. Perhaps I could have said that a time or two over the years.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps?¡± she jabbed.


    ¡°That¡¯s what I said,¡± he replied, ¡°And I think you¡¯ve always had a soft spot for me, as well.¡±


    Such an assertion raised Iona¡¯s eyebrows as high as they could climb. ¡°Is that so?¡± she inquired, ¡°And what makes you say that?¡±


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    ¡°My father told me about that night you offered to deploy, so I could stay at the palace,¡± he said, his tone suggesting it was a revelation. Little did he know Iona had known for months. She bit back the snicker on her tongue, his smug grin making it difficult.


    Playing along, Iona responded, ¡°Well, if you must know, I didn¡¯t offer to deploy simply because I harbored a secret kindness towards you. I felt somewhat beholden to you. I proposed to your father we trade places to pay a debt, without you knowing about it.¡±


    The quizzical look Iona had held was now mirrored on Leo¡¯s face. ¡°Beholden to me? For what?¡±


    ¡°For the night before. Or maybe you don¡¯t remember¡­¡± Iona said, a hint of embarrassment creeping up. Leo half smiled and tilted his head. Of course he remembered.


    ¡°You comforted me. And you didn¡¯t have to.¡± Iona thought back to the night they received news of Elia¡¯s death. There she was, sobbing alone in her bed when her door cracked open. She didn¡¯t have the energy to look up or the care to know who it was. Leo climbed into bed next to Iona and wrapped his arms around her. There were no words exchanged, only free-flowing tears. It took hours, but the pair fell asleep once their eyes had cried themselves dry, curled up together until the morning. Leo was gone by the time she woke up. Iona felt compelled to repay Leo¡¯s support in some way, to do right by Elia¡¯s family, and she resolved to speak with Theron that evening about their battle assignments. Until now, they had never talked about that night.


    ¡°Well,¡± Leo said, stretching his arms up and linking his hands behind his head, ¡°I have to say that I¡¯m thrilled to be back in this bed with you. Under much more positive circumstances.¡± He popped a kiss on her nose and rolled off the edge of the mattress. With actual flutters in her chest, she turned over and smushed her face into her pillow, hiding the cheesy grin that reached from cheek to cheek. When she got a grasp on her expression, Iona looked up and watched Leo bundle his clothes from the night before in his arms, and wander to her bedside. His hair was mussed, and he¡¯d only bothered to pull on those damn trousers, leaving his tan, cut chest exposed for her eyes to drink in.


    He knelt next to her, close enough that she could smell the scent of rain coming off him. Does he just smell this good all the time?


    ¡°You should stay in bed, relax for the rest of the day. You¡¯ve earned it. I can have Poppy send up lunch,¡± he suggested.


    After the thoughtful offer, she felt guilty for what she was about to say. ¡°No, no, don¡¯t say anything to Poppy, I can get some food myself,¡± she answered, swinging her legs over the bed¡¯s edge and sitting up. Leo stayed where he was, looking up at her. Iona ran her hand through his hair and explained, ¡°Look, Leo, I¡¯m really happy about this. I am. But I think we should keep it between us for now.¡± She meant to pause to hear his thoughts, but her mouth continued to spill out her own, ¡°And it¡¯s not that I just don¡¯t want anyone to know, but the focus needs to be on Heston and if your father catches wind from someone, he¡¯ll be so upset we weren¡¯t the ones to tell him, and if we do tell him then he¡¯s going to get so nosy and go on and on about the family line and the kingdom and-¡±


    ¡°-and insist that we marry tomorrow, right next to his bedside?¡± Leo cut in, chuckling, ¡°Of course, we should keep it hush until we¡¯re ready.¡± Iona¡¯s concerns dissolved hearing his agreement. He lifted Iona¡¯s hand from where it rested on her lap and kissed it, the flutters springing to life once again. Leo stood to his full height, before bending down to say goodbye. It started with an easy kiss, a simple peck that decided it needed to be more. Leo pushed Iona back, leaning his weight against her until she was lying down again. His hands ran through her hair, passion building as their tongues began to tangle, and she grabbed at his hips to pull him on the bed. He resisted the temptation though, and released her from his grasp, standing once again. Leo stared at Iona, his lips slick and flushed. ¡°I¡¯ll see you tonight,¡± he assured.


    ¡°Tease,¡± she replied, her heart beating faster than she would have thought. Leo gave her a wink, and whisked out the door. Iona laid there, soaking in the feelings that Leo riled up in her with just one night together. She was heated, content, excited¡­happy.


    Really fucking happy.

 Chapter Nineteen

    Training mid-morning. Rides to the Forest and back. Long lunches and longer walks. Stealing kisses like teenagers in the shadowy corners of the hallway while staff passed by unsuspecting.


    A few weeks had passed since their first night together, and the pair fell into a blissful routine. Most evenings, Iona and Leo had dinner with Theron, and sometimes Heston, and returned to their respective bedrooms for show. They took turns sneaking down the hall every night and back in the morning. It took some convincing, though not much, for Iona to feel at ease with the recess; Leo swore up and down that they had worked hard on the ball and deserved time off, until Iona concurred. The outstanding issue, which nagged at Iona with each day she ignored it, was that Heston had not committed to any of the women he met at the ball.


    She asked him at dinner after several days had passed if anyone caught his eye, to which he responded, ¡°Many.¡± When pressed to elaborate, Heston answered, ¡°I have a lot to think about.¡± And that was that. Courting in Chryson culture could last years before a proposal came, though Heston was on a severely shortened timeline. But Iona and Leo weren¡¯t exactly putting the pressure on, instead caught up in the joy of their new romance.


    One morning, Iona woke up early for some training, followed by a solo breakfast as Leo had stayed overnight with Theron in town after catching another show. Poppy was wandering back and forth from the kitchen, picking up a platter at a time, refilling Iona¡¯s coffee more than necessary. As she poured another fresh cup for her, Iona struck up a chat. ¡°Ahem, so Poppy, how are things? How¡¯s your family doing?¡±


    ¡°Oh they¡¯re just lovely, Commander, thanks for asking. My daughter and her husband just moved back from the coast, so now my grandsons come over on the mornings I¡¯m off, and I cook them a big breakfast spread,¡± she effused, ¡°It¡¯s just wonderful having them home again.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s wonderful, I¡¯m glad to hear that!¡±


    ¡°Indeed, indeed¡­well, so while we¡¯re talking about breakfast,¡± Poppy added.


    Were we talking about breakfast? Iona thought, tilting her head, while she sipped from her mug.


    ¡°Since you¡¯re not training early in the mornings anymore, you know, I would be happy to bring coffee or breakfast up to your room whenever you¡¯d like. For you and¡­you know, anyone else that may also want breakfast brought up.¡±


    Iona choked on her drink, spattering coffee all over the table. She coughed and grabbed a napkin to dry it off, waiving off Poppy¡¯s attempts to pat her on the back. ¡°Sorry, sorry,¡± Iona stuttered, righting her breath. ¡°That¡¯s, um, very kind of you, Poppy, but I prefer eating breakfast in the dining hall. You¡¯ll have to check with Heston and Leonon to see if they want breakfast delivered.¡± She hoped her flushed cheeks didn¡¯t give too much away, though the time seemed to have passed for that. Poppy and Iona stared at each other for a brief second, Iona praying that the baker would take the hint.


    ¡°Of course, Commander,¡± she smiled, before grabbing up the wet napkins and retreating from the hall once again. Well, maybe her and Leo weren¡¯t being as careful as they thought. Oops. As Iona stood to leave, she heard Heston talking to someone in the hall. She hurried out to catch him, and saw the Prince was chatting with a guard. He was dictating a letter and the guard scribbled furiously.


    ¡°Heston!¡± she called, hustling to his side. She looked at the guard, who had pulled the letter to his chest away from her sight. ¡°Sending a letter?¡±


    ¡°Uh, yes,¡± he answered, glancing at the parchment, then back at Iona, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±


    Hmmm. ¡°I came to check in. Have you chosen anyone to court? It¡¯s been three weeks,¡± she asked.


    Heston rocked back on his heels, and shooed away the guard, ¡°Always right to it with you. Don¡¯t you think choosing the new queen of the kingdom should be a well thought out and calculated decision?¡±


    ¡°Not when your father is on his deathbed,¡± Iona responded with a sarcastic smile.


    Heston cringed, ¡°I understand the circumstances.¡±


    ¡°Do you?¡± she followed up. There was a balance to be struck between being Heston¡¯s friend, the Prince¡¯s advisor, and High Commander to the King.


    ¡°Jeez, yes, Iona. Look, I have a few names knocking around in my head, I think maybe I¡¯ll give them a visit, and choose from there.¡± Of course Heston wants to date around. Of course he¡¯s stalling in the most annoying way possible. Iona made her frustrations known with a deep sigh. Heston grinned, ¡°I know you¡¯re staying on top of this because it¡¯s your duty, but I swear, I have it all under control. I will be¡­¡± he swallowed, ¡°Engaged. Soon enough.¡±


    ¡°Fantastic,¡± she answered, unconvinced. She pointed a finger at Heston¡¯s forehead, ¡°Is one of the names knocking around in there ¡®Jessa¡¯ by chance?¡±


    Heston cocked his head with a theatrical scratch of his chin, ¡°Jessa¡­.hmm¡­Jessa¡­¡±


    ¡°Tall, black hair, stunning. Her gown was made from that emerald fabric you can only get in the western port towns. Her guard was wearing it, too.¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes, green dress. Dark hair. Jessa- her name is on my list. Definitely,¡± he assured. ¡°In fact, I will prioritize visiting the coast, in that case.¡± Spinning on a dime, Heston dismissed himself from any further butting in from Iona. At least that¡¯s something, she thought, shrugging her shoulders. She decided to head to the library, grab a couple of new books, and spend the afternoon in the courtyard. A few paces down the hallway, and she heard someone call her name.


    ¡°Iona!¡±


    Leo, she realized, her spirits lifting at his voice. She turned back, and glanced around to ensure the hallway was empty before jogging towards him.


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    Leo snatched her off the ground in motion and crooned, ¡°Hello, beautiful.¡±


    ¡°Welcome back,¡± Iona grinned, scanning the hall once more, just in case. Confirming it was only the two of them, she reached up on her toes and planted a kiss on his cheek. ¡°How was your night?¡±


    ¡°It was good, would have been better with you along,¡± he smirked, ¡°But my father asked me to find you. He wants to have a chat, I guess.¡±


    Iona''s face fell at that, ¡°Why? Is everything okay? What did he say?¡±


    Leo chuckled, ¡°Of course everything¡¯s okay, and that¡¯s all he said. ¡®Find Iona, I want to speak with her.¡¯ He¡¯s in his chambers.¡± Iona closed her eyes for a moment, stifling the spiral that threatened to grow in the few minutes until she found Theron.


    ¡°Alright,¡± she said, ¡°I will go have that chat. Which doesn¡¯t make me concerned at all.¡± Leo pressed his lips together, and she could tell he was trying not to laugh at her. He never assumed anything was wrong until he had all the information, never let the uncertainty get to him or mess with his head. It was a quality of which Iona was quite jealous.


    A couple attendants turned into the hall, and Leo dropped his hands from Iona¡¯s waist. He cleared his throat. ¡°So, I will perhaps see you later, Commander,¡± he said a bit too loud, accompanied by a curt nod. He stepped past her and marched off. Subtle.


    Iona pulled at the collar of her sweater as she walked towards the King¡¯s chambers, which was less a bedroom and more a fully built office, mini library, and conference room that happened to have a four post bed. The final chill of winter was hanging on by a thread, but the spike of anxiety got Iona sweating beneath the knit. She knocked on his door and heard him call her in. The King was laying propped up in bed, a large portfolio full of what looked to be old letters sitting next to him. ¡°Your majesty,¡± Iona greeted him, along with a bow.


    ¡°Iona, there you are. Pull up a chair, would you?¡± His voice was shaky, but it had been for a while now. The King seemed to still be aging at a rapid pace, even over the last few months that Iona had been home. She couldn¡¯t even guess as to how much time he had left. She grabbed a seat from the round meeting table in the adjoining room and situated herself at the King¡¯s side. He motioned for Iona to take his hand, so she abided, noting the affection that he¡¯d grown in his old age. ¡°I was thinking about that day I found you in the hallway snooping around. Back then, a war seemed a near impossibility. So did the idea that a little girl from the countryside would be the reason we not only won it, but recovered from it.¡±


    No, that¡¯s not true. ¡°Sir, I appreciate that, but it wasn¡¯t me. It was you, and Heston, and Leo, and our soldiers- not just me.¡± Of course, she led their strategy for the War, as well as the reconstruction, but Iona was never going to be comfortable taking credit for it.


    ¡°No need to be humble, Iona, it¡¯s just the two of us,¡± he chided. ¡°You pushed us to take the Ladrons seriously. You coordinated our battles and fought on the lines. You jumped right into fixing our towns and villages as soon as the War closed. These here,¡± he motioned to the portfolio, ¡°Are all the letters you wrote me. The updates from every town your men rebuilt. Such care in the way you wrote, the way you took care of my people. I count myself very lucky your mother answered my call and brought you into our lives.¡±


    Tears pricked at Iona¡¯s eyes, ¡°I¡¯m lucky she did, too, Your Majesty.¡± The way Theron looked at her was new- the hard, stern face she was used to was gone, replaced with softness and withered lines, resigned to whatever came next in his story.


    ¡°It makes the reality of dying easier knowing that Heston will have you still once I¡¯m gone. I know you haven¡¯t gotten on well with Leo, but the three of you have many years left in this life, and I hope that you can be there for him, too. You¡¯ve always pushed him to live up to his potential, whether you knew it or not.¡±


    Iona felt a bite of guilt knowing that she was keeping her relationship with Leo hidden from Theron, when he would clearly appreciate the news. But now wasn¡¯t the time, not without Leo here. Instead of letting their secret slip, she squeezed the King¡¯s hand, ¡°I will always look out for them both.¡±


    Theron patted her hand, and his eyes began to droop. ¡°Ah, Iona,¡± he breathed, his eyelids heavy, ¡°It won¡¯t be too long until I get to see my daughter again.¡± Whatever hold Iona had managed over her tears broke, the beads rolling down her cheeks until she tasted salt on her lips.


    ¡°Make sure to say hi for me,¡± she entreated. The King responded with a subtle smile and fell asleep. Iona released his hand and picked up the binder of letters, placing it on his desk. She stopped by her room to splash some cool water on her face and let the redness in her eyes fade before she went to find Leo. Theron¡¯s time was coming, and the two of them needed to light a fire under Heston¡¯s ass.


    ¡°There you are!¡± Leo announced as Iona walked into his room. He popped up from where he had been kneeling in front of a dresser, clothes stacked next to it, and kissed Iona hello.


    ¡°Are you going somewhere?¡± she asked, noticing a travel bag packed to the brim sitting on his bed, ¡°Didn¡¯t you just get back from staying in town?¡±


    ¡°Your observational skills astound me, Iona my dear, they truly do,¡± Leo teased. ¡°I am going somewhere, and so are you. We are taking a little trip.¡±


    ¡°What? No, we can¡¯t take a trip. It¡¯s been over a month since the ball, and Heston has barely written a list of women he intends to visit. We need to sit him down and force some sense into him!¡± Iona lectured. Even with her chastising, the grin on Leo¡¯s face stayed put, making her suspicious. ¡°Hello, are you listening to me?¡±


    Leo snickered, adding fuel to Iona¡¯s fire, before he led her to the chaise that sat beneath his bedroom window. He cracked it open, letting in the breeze which carried the sweet, grassy smell of early spring. ¡°Now, I thought the same thing, until I chatted with Anuk when we returned from town. It turns out, Heston has been secretly traveling basically every day that we don¡¯t attend some event in town with our father.¡± Anuk was the palace¡¯s stable master. Iona raised her eyebrow and thought back to the guard earlier, clutching a note Heston wanted sent. ¡°He always leaves at night, and returns early in the morning. Sometimes after a day, sometimes after two.¡±


    Iona¡¯s jaw dropped at the exciting development, ¡°So he lied to me? Why is he being so strange about it?¡±


    ¡°Probably to keep us from hounding him. Heston just digs his feet in when he¡¯s being told what to do anyway. But this is the part you¡¯ll like best.¡± As someone who had been justifiably accused of being too nosy more than once in her life, Leo¡¯s delivery was scratching her gossipy itch. ¡°Anuk said yesterday morning, he rode up wearing a riding cloak he¡¯d never seen before. And Heston took it off and stuffed it in his saddle bag before reaching the stalls. He described the cloak as a color between blue and green.¡±


    A full on gasp escaped Iona, ¡°Jessa! Oh gods, I knew it, I knew the way he reacted when I mentioned her earlier was odd. And if they¡¯re exchanging gifts, he must be close to a proposal!¡± Excited like children on their birthdays, Leo and Iona traded squeals and an enthusiastic embrace.


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Leo confirmed, ¡°Anuk said Heston asked for a horse to be ready tonight for him to leave again, saying he¡¯ll be back tomorrow. So, let¡¯s go on a trip. I have the whole thing planned, Corso and Tower are prepared, and I packed our bags already.¡±


    Iona couldn¡¯t remember the last time someone planned anything for her. She stuck out her bottom lip in a happy pout before pulling Leo in for a kiss, ¡°I would love to go on a trip with you.¡±

 Chapter Twenty

    Iona and Leo chattered nonstop for the three hour ride outside of the capital city, all about Jessa and Heston¡¯s wedding and his coronation. Somber as the subject was, they even managed to talk through plans for the King¡¯s funeral ceremony before putting a pin in it for the rest of the trip. Spring had descended on Chrysos, and the fields they rode by were full of sparkling green clovers and a rainbow of wildflowers, golden light beaming over it all from the setting sun.


    The pair reached town, a small but densely populated area called Alchrysos, one of the many cities with a name derived from the kingdom¡¯s, which used to trip up Iona during her history lessons to no end. ¡°You know, Leo, it occurs to me that you never actually told me where we were going,¡± she commented as they slowed their horses to a stroll.


    Leo looked over from Corso, his half knotted hair gleaming in the light, just as the wildflowers did. ¡°I didn¡¯t? Hmm¡­¡± he smirked, ¡°Well, as you can tell, we¡¯re in Alchrysos.¡±


    ¡°I can see that, but I¡¯m not particularly sure why. Is there something special here?¡±


    ¡°Patience, my dear, all will be revealed,¡± he said, releasing the reins in his hands and wiggling his fingers around like a magician convincing the crowd to stay for his show. Iona giggled, plenty happy to be out and about with Leo regardless of where they stayed.


    Upon arriving at their inn for the evening, Leo and Iona tied up Corso and Tower, dropped off their bags and walked to a nearby tavern for a rich dinner of braised pheasant, fresh bread, and sweet wine. The owner recognized them both, insisting that their food was covered for the Prince and High Commander any time they wished to visit, but Leo left behind more money than needed regardless. Alchrysos was vibrant at night, with musicians, jugglers, and contortionists on every other corner, performing for the crowds of tourists and locals that gathered. The couple walked hand in hand under twinkling lights hung between lamp posts lining the uneven cobblestone streets. It had been eight years since Iona had been here with her squad, fixing the damage to these buildings, cleaning the streets, and getting the people back into their homes. She basked in the energy and romance that had returned in time, thankful to be visiting under much happier circumstances. Every so often, she caught Leo¡¯s gaze on her from the corner of her eye.


    They reached the main square, filled with townspeople dancing and drinking, in the middle of which stood a massive statue of King Theron. It had been originally constructed in his honor after his coronation hundreds of years prior. ¡°There¡¯s a statue I want to show you,¡± Leo said, tugging Iona from where she stood looking at the bronze Theron.


    ¡°I¡¯m looking at it,¡± Iona answered, ¡°I helped polish it eight years ago, in fact.¡±


    ¡°Not that statue,¡± he explained, leading Iona down an alley off to the side. She could hear the hum of the main square, but it was much softer now, as the alley opened into another square, smaller and emptier, save a few other couples enjoying the peace and quiet.


    A knot formed in Iona¡¯s throat at the sight of it. A statue, ten feet tall, of Yuna in her sheath. The bronze replica had all the same intricate carvings as her own sword, all the way to the hilt. Leo released Iona¡¯s hand as she drifted up to it and laid her palm against the cool metal. She read the plaque engraved at its base:


    Yuna, Sword of Iona, High Commander of Chrysos


    Defender of our kingdom


    May the Gods of the North Forest protect her always


    Overcome with gratitude, Iona was too stunned to look away from the words as Leo circled his arm around her waist. She leaned back against him and asked, ¡°How did you know this was here? I didn¡¯t even know this was here.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve visited a good number of our towns and villages after they got back up and running. I believe we¡¯ve had a few¡­squabbles about it,¡± he quipped. ¡°I asked if they notified you when it was first built, but the town council said they would wait until you finished construction. So you wouldn¡¯t feel obligated to step away from your work.¡±


    Iona turned to face Leo, ¡°And you didn¡¯t tell me until now?¡±


    His cheeks reddened at her playful yet accusatory tone, ¡°See, the thing was, back then¡­I was just a bit jealous you got your very own statue.¡±


    Iona dropped her forehead to his chest and laughed, unable to keep a serious face. ¡°Thank you for bringing me here. Even if I don¡¯t know that I deserve my own statue.¡±


    ¡°You do. And I wanted you to see how much our people appreciate you.¡± Leo bent down to meet Iona¡¯s waiting lips, ¡°Shall we stay here and admire giant Yuna or return to our room, where I can show you my personal admiration all night?¡±


    Iona bit her bottom lip and nodded, ¡°Let¡¯s go back.¡±


    Arm in arm, the two meandered to the inn for the night, ready to escape the evening chill that had set in. The room was cozy, with a large, fluffy bed which took up nearly all of the space. As soon as they crossed the threshold, Leo picked up Iona and threw her onto the mattress, shaking the frame. Iona pushed her finger to her lips and shushed Leo, ¡°We have to be quiet, people are sleeping!¡±


    He took off his coat and boots, and climbed on the bed after her. ¡°Actually, we don¡¯t have to be quiet at all. I rented the whole place.¡± Iona shook her head, grinning from ear to ear. Of course he did. Without another word of protest, she unbuttoned his shirt before pulling off her own, their lips hardly leaving each other¡¯s. Leo¡¯s hands ran up her thighs, her stomach, her breasts. Everywhere he touched made her crave him even more, but she pushed him away, and slid off the bed.


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    He watched her with lust in his eyes as she first dropped her own skirt to the floor before she walked towards him and loosened his trousers. Kissing him gently, her teeth nipped at his bottom lip, ¡°I¡¯m going to show you just how grateful I am for tonight.¡± Iona slipped her hand underneath his clothes, and grasped his already solid length. She ran her fingers up and down his shaft, his moans growing in neediness with each motion. Stepping back, she pulled off his trousers and kicked them to the side with a smirk.


    Iona got on her knees, ready and willing. Leo hovered over her from where he sat on the edge of the bed. ¡°I thought I was the one showing my admiration tonight,¡± he said, his deep voice heavy with a feverish need.


    ¡°We have all night,¡± Iona smirked, before licking the tip of his member and surrounding it with her mouth. Leo shuddered at her touch, a loud moan escaping in response. She could see his hands gripping the mattress as she trailed her lips over his sensitive skin, sliding him in and out.


    He gathered her hair in his fist and pulled her head back so she was looking up at him. ¡°You¡¯re so fucking pretty on your knees.¡± His gaze and the hunger behind it made her throb between her legs, as he guided her head back to his length. Her hand wrapped around its base, in time with her mouth, and the added pressure pulled a heavenly groan from Leo. Her hair tugged back again, as Leo hauled Iona onto her feet and drove her back against the wall.


    Dropping his hands to her legs, Leo picked Iona up and wrapped her legs around him. Kissing her with urgency and greed, he thrust into her entrance, in one smooth motion. Iona buried her head into his neck, savoring the way he filled her. Rough, demanding, and possessive; she was his through and through, and it was intoxicating. With every pulse, the pleasure built in her core, driving her closer and closer to her release. Their moans grew louder together, and Iona¡¯s legs began to tremble, only for Leo to push into her faster, harder. She grabbed at the wall with one hand to brace herself, her other clutching Leo¡¯s neck as she reached her climax. Pleasure erupted through her and Leo both, his pace remaining steady as they let the euphoria wash over them.


    He slowed, his hands gripping her ass so forcefully, Iona was sure they¡¯d leave bruises. She was excited to see them the next morning. Leo¡¯s breath was hot against her skin, his dreamy smell filling her senses. He released her gently and lowered her to the ground, all their kisses soft and slow as they stumbled backwards returning to the bed. So much had changed between them, yet everything felt right to Iona laying in his arms, her heart glowing from his affection. She was all too certain of what she was feeling to hide it.


    Shifting to meet Leo¡¯s eyeline, Iona whispered, ¡°I love you.¡±


    The way his face brightened was all she ever wanted, ¡°I love you, too, Iona.¡± Had she ever been as happy as she was in this moment? Had she ever felt more like herself?


    ¡°I think we should tell them. Heston and your father,¡± she replied.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Leo asked. Iona knew the question was for her own sake rather than his.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure, too.¡±


    Picturing Heston and Theron¡¯s faces when they heard the news, Iona couldn¡¯t help but get excited for the moment. She wondered if they¡¯d be surprised considering their history or maybe they¡¯d already caught on. Regardless, giddy butterflies flew around her stomach at the thought of their life once everything was out in the open.


    ¡°Leo,¡± she started, as they settled in together for the night, ¡°You said when we were stuck in the North Forest that you never wanted to be High Commander.¡±


    ¡°Mmhmm,¡± he answered, his voice vibrating through his chest under Iona¡¯s hand.


    She looked up at him, ¡°Well, what did you want to do?¡±


    Leo¡¯s face turned ponderous, as though he¡¯d never actually considered the question. ¡°I suppose I wanted to travel. But after the last ten years, I think I just really enjoy helping people. I loved returning to towns after their construction was finished to see everyone¡¯s lives returning to normal and knowing I had a part in it. You know, it never sat right with me that we left Siminy to fend for itself. I understand we had a lot of work to do here, but it wasn¡¯t the people¡¯s fault their court started a war, yet they¡¯ve suffered so much.¡±


    Iona was embarrassed to admit that she¡¯d never considered the impact of the War on Siminians, living in a land depleted of its resources and no allies to call on. ¡°Well, rebuilds are complete according to Espo, and Heston won¡¯t need either of us all that much after his coronation. At least not for a while. We should request a squadron to take across the border, convene with their council.¡±


    Leo¡¯s arms pulled her in even tighter, ¡°I can¡¯t begin to express how much I am on board with that plan.¡±


    The conversation struck up right away, planning for a new mission for the two of them, talking for hours until they¡¯d both fallen asleep. Morning came quickly, and Iona and Leo packed up their things in haste, eager to make it back to the palace to deliver their news. A few hours later, the gates of the palace came into view, and Iona¡¯s smile hadn¡¯t faded once. They got Corso and Tower settled in their stalls, when Iona saw a guard jogging to meet them. He bowed to Leo and nodded at Iona, ¡°Prince Leonon, Commander Iona. Prince Heston has called for your immediate presence in the King¡¯s chambers.¡±


    Exchanging a knowing look, Leo and Iona thanked the guard and hurried to the west wing, ready to hear Heston¡¯s announcement and follow it with their own. As they entered, Iona saw Theron seated in front of the empty fireplace, livelier in spirit than he had been in a while. Heston stood next to the hearth, and he motioned them to sit on the chairs across from the King.


    The room was silent for a few seconds before Theron chimed in, ¡°Alright, Heston, you¡¯ve called us here. Go on and tell us why.¡± Iona could tell his voice had an edge of excitement to it, the tension of the moment engrossing them all.


    Heston¡¯s face was stoic, as he cleared his throat, then ran his hand through his locks. ¡°Father, brother, Iona,¡± he nodded at them in turn, ¡°I want you to know that I have not made this decision lightly.¡± Iona snuck a glance at Leo who looked almost¡­suspicious.


    Heston carried on, puffing his chest with a deep breath and turning his gaze directly on Theron.


    ¡°I, Prince Heston of Chrysos, son of Theron, do hereby renounce my title and abdicate my claim to the throne.¡±

 Chapter Twenty One

    Buzzing filled Iona¡¯s head as confusion spilled across the room, shortly followed by denial.


    Theron responded to his son with a defensive laugh, ¡°You know Heston, jokes are meant to be funny. And I believe you brought us here to announce your engagement.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t mean that, Hes,¡± claimed Leo, waiting for his brother to recant. Iona said nothing, already understanding that not only was Heston serious, but that she¡¯d been too caught up in her own world to see the signs.


    ¡°It¡¯s not a joke, Father. I¡¯ve fallen in love. His name is Kono, and he is the best person I¡¯ve ever met; he¡¯s kind and compassionate and gallant. I intend to spend my life with him.¡± Heston¡¯s cagy behavior, the hidden notes, secretive trips, the riding cloak¡­it was never Jessa, Iona realized. How could I have been so blind?


    ¡°What does this all have to do with renouncing your title?¡± Leo asked, palpable distress in his voice.


    His brother looked his way, ¡°We can¡¯t have children. It would be selfish and irresponsible to ascend to the throne without the ability to continue our family line.¡± His voice didn¡¯t waiver, his hands remained still at his sides. The finality with which Heston spoke jumped at Iona- he had clearly given this decision considerable thought.


    An exasperated sigh came from Theron, ¡°Heston, I admire your¡­chivalry, but there¡¯s absolutely no need to abdicate. You can still marry a suitable wife to produce an heir, and continue your relationship with this man. Move him into the palace for all I care. You wouldn¡¯t be the first or the last king to marry for duty and love another.¡± Iona could see Leo cringe at his father¡¯s suggestion, his hands digging into the leather seat, but kept her stare straight ahead as she figured out what she could even say to all this.


    Heston turned to his father with disgust coloring his face and tone, ¡°I will not disrespect him like that. I am giving up my claim to the throne and moving to Chrysomar, as soon as my effects are in order.¡±


    ¡°Stop this foolishness right now, Heston,¡± Theron hissed, pushing himself out of his chair with any strength he could muster. Leo and Iona stood, as well, and Iona could feel his gaze begging for her to get involved. How could she encourage Heston to listen to his father, knowing he would be miserable? But she couldn¡¯t argue with the King- she was his Commander, her duty was to the crown.


    ¡°Heston,¡± she managed, ¡°Maybe there¡¯s some sort of compromise here, there¡¯s no need to leave right away.¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Leo added, stepping towards his brother, ¡°We can find a solution.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Heston replied, leaving no room for argument, ¡°I know what it¡¯s like to be raised by parents without love for each other. To be the child borne of duty. So do you, Leo. I thought that was my future, but now, I have something real. I¡¯m sorry, father, but I¡¯ve made my decision.¡±


    ¡°Get out, Heston. Get OUT!¡± Theron cried, hurt and outrage overwhelming him. Heston¡¯s eyes were glassy, but he maintained his stony facade as he turned and exited the room without another word. Leo rushed to his father¡¯s side and helped him lower into his seat. The buzzing was back, crowding out every thought in Iona¡¯s mind. She didn¡¯t want to face this reality. She wasn¡¯t ready, everything was going so right¡­


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    ¡°Commander?¡±


    Iona¡¯s attention snapped back to the King, his voice slicing through her fog. ¡°Yes, sir, sorry.¡±


    ¡°Now that Heston has chosen to abandon his duty and this family,¡± he spat through gritted teeth, ¡°Leo, we will need to start preparing you for your coronation. I fear the chances of you marrying before I pass are slim, but Commander, you can assist in finding some suitable options for my son to consider.¡±


    Leo half smiled, meeting Iona¡¯s gaze, ¡°Well, actually, Father, we have-¡±


    ¡°-Of course, your majesty,¡± Iona cut in, ¡°I¡¯ll get started right away.¡± She couldn¡¯t stand the way Leo¡¯s face shifted from heartened to crestfallen. She felt her chest constricting; there was no air left in the room for Iona to breathe. With a sharp bow, Iona spun to the door and escaped to the hall, desperate for some fresh air. Everything was crashing down at once like waves conjured by the ocean solely to drown her. Iona could hear Leo calling her name, but she couldn¡¯t stop her feet running from that room, that conversation, that reality.


    ¡°Iona!¡± Leo rasped, his hand closing around her arm and yanking her back to face him, ¡°Stop. Please, don¡¯t run away, we need to talk about this.¡±


    ¡°What is there to talk about, Leo?¡± she shot, frustrated with herself for being so harsh, but she couldn¡¯t help it.


    ¡°I was going to tell him, WE were going to tell him! Why did you stop me?¡± His anguish cut Iona with every word, small slices that would amount to her bleeding out, she was sure of it.


    ¡°Were you not in that room? Did you miss the fact that you¡¯re about to be king?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t miss that nor the fact that you agreed to find me a wife instead of telling my father we¡¯re together already!¡±


    ¡°Things have changed! Everything¡¯s changed!¡± she rejoined. Leo¡¯s shoulders slumped, as though Iona was draining the little fight he had in him. ¡°I can¡¯t be queen.¡±


    His throat bobbed, ¡°Why not?¡±


    She tried to quell the flare of offense she felt, ¡°I would have to give up my command, Leo. All I¡¯ve ever worked for.¡±


    His eyes flickered around as if he could find the right answer floating somewhere around them. ¡°That¡¯s¡­not true. I¡¯d be king. You could still be High Commander.¡±


    Iona straightened her spine, pushing Leo to understand and admit to the truth they now faced.


    ¡°And you¡¯d send me to war?¡± she asked, the question hurting herself and Leo all the same.


    ¡°The war is over!¡±


    Aggravated, pained, Iona kept arguing, ¡°There could be another! And if I¡¯m High Commander, my duty is to be out there fighting for our people. As Queen, I..I can¡¯t. Leo, I can¡¯t.¡± Tears threatened to spill from her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.


    If Leo was fighting back his own tears, he was losing. ¡°Iona,¡± he lamented, ¡°Don¡¯t do this.¡±


    ¡°Commander!¡± Iona¡¯s head turned at the call to see a guard rushing towards her. ¡°The hostile camp has been found, Sir Espelor sent word. You¡¯re needed immediately.¡±


    ¡°Prepare Tower, send word I¡¯m on my way,¡± she ordered.


    ¡°Prepare Corso, as well,¡± Leo called.


    ¡°No!¡± Iona snapped before the guard disappeared, ¡°Tower only.¡± She turned back to face her love, the dam she held up against her tears breaking. ¡°As sole heir to the throne, you are no longer allowed on the front lines.¡± Everything in Leo seemed to plead for her to change her mind, but there was no room for argument anymore. ¡°I will send word as soon as I can¡­Prince Leonon.¡± Her tone twisted the knife she¡¯d driven into his chest; as she turned to leave the palace, she wished she could pull it out and plunge into her own, too.

 Chapter Twenty Three

    The carriage pulled up to the palace gates, and Iona awoke from a fitful sleep to see Leo and Heston waiting at the front. The coachman opened the door, and Desmond hopped out, turning to assist Iona down from her seat. She saw Leo hurry forward from the window, and all but shove Dez out of the way, who shrugged his shoulders and walked to greet Heston.


    In spite of his anger, Leo cared to make sure she was okay- but that would fade, she reminded herself. Taking his hand, Iona labored down the steps of the carriage, but a sharp pain came from her side at the movement, followed by a grunt of distress. Leo swept her up right away, his arms hooked under her legs and back, gentle enough to prevent further pains.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to carry me,¡± Iona insisted, though she was much more comfortable this way. Leo was unresponsive, not even sparing a glance at her. The familiar dampness of the stone halls and dim lanterns were both welcoming and cheerless, the sweet smell of Leo making her chest flutter and stomach turn. In silence, they reached her bedroom, which had clearly been prepared for her return with fresh linens, another bouquet of moon drops on the nightstand, and her desk tidied. Why must he be so thoughtful?


    Leo laid Iona on the bed, and turned to leave, stopping just short of the door. ¡°Rest as long as you need, I¡¯ll have Poppy send up food. My father is ready for your visit when you are.¡± With that, he pulled the door close behind him, and Iona was alone once more. She tried closing her eyes, but tossed and turned, her thoughts bouncing from Leo to the King¡¯s passing to her future at the palace in circles. Finally, she gave up hope of sleeping and slowly readied herself to say goodbye to Theron. Poppy had indeed left a tray at the door, piled with bread, cheese, and meat. Iona nibbled on a bit of everything before heading to Theron¡¯s chambers.


    She breathed a sad sigh at the door, preparing for what awaited her on the other side. Iona hadn¡¯t been able to say goodbye to Elia or to her father, so she was grateful for the chance to see Theron one last time. It would be difficult in a different way- the knowledge that she would never speak to him again, hear his thunderous laugh, see him atop the throne. The King¡¯s time had come, and though he had accepted it with grace, she wasn¡¯t ready. Not really.


    Iona entered the room and passed through the seating area to his bed. Heston and Leo sat on either side of him, but arose as she walked up. ¡°He¡¯s not very responsive,¡± Heston explained, ¡°But the doctor said he can still hear us. We¡¯ll give you some time.¡± She looked to Leo with tears already building, but he kept his eyes to the floor. Heston squeezed her arm as he left with his brother. The room was bright, and a soothing draft flowed in from the window. Only a week had passed since she last sat in this chair by Theron¡¯s side, since he read her old letters and shared his readiness for the next life.


    The Commander took her King¡¯s hand, slack but still warm, and broke into tears. ¡°I¡¯m not quite sure what to say, your majesty. I don¡¯t know what this place will be like without you,¡± she began. For all the wear on his skin and the exhaustion with which he¡¯d contended for so long, he looked like he was finally at peace.


    Iona pressed her lips together, sobs filling her throat. With a deep breath, her thoughts spilled forth, ¡°I just want to say thank you. For seeing something in me, for giving me a chance. For trusting me. And I am so angry with myself for not telling you this sooner, so I really hope that doctor knows what she was talking about and you can hear me. But I need you to know that I love your son. I love him so much. And I heard you that night, when you told him about my offer to switch places. You said we had a lot to learn from each other, and you were so right. He¡¯s taught me about strength and love and kindness in ways I never imagined. And I swear to you that even if we can¡¯t be together, I will always take care of him. Just like you asked.¡±


    Maybe she imagined it, but Theron¡¯s hand seemed to tighten around hers. ¡°I will miss you,¡± she whispered. Iona sat with him for another few minutes, appreciative of their final moments together. She stood and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead, ¡°Goodbye, your majesty.¡±


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    A guard notified Iona in the evening that King Theron passed with his sons by his side. She nodded at the news, and solemnly changed into her formal uniform for the burial. The palace was quiet as she pulled together a group of guards directed to send out word to the King¡¯s advisors and allies. Thousands of lanterns would be sent up in Theron¡¯s honor tonight, all over Chrysos. She led another set of guards to the throne room where Theron¡¯s body had been laid, and gave the orders for him to be moved out to the burial ground.


    Only the sounds of muted weeping broke through the somber quiet as Leo and Heston walked on either side of their father, Iona following behind. Speckles of lantern light had already become visible from the capital city, adding warm stars to the night sky. Heston gave the traditional parting speech as Theron was buried, and Leo and Iona each took a turn offering personal prayers to the North Forest on his behalf. They stood in silence until the ground had been filled and the King¡¯s headstone had been lifted. Though Iona mourned, she imagined Theron greeting Elia somewhere deep in the Forest, father and daughter reunited once more, and the thought filled her with comfort.


    They all said goodnight to one another, but something felt wrong about returning to her room. Iona perched on the edge of her bed, torn between climbing in for the night or checking on Leo. She knew he would be struggling, but what if her presence only made things worse? Iona pressed her hands to her temple, back and forth, until it was clear she wouldn¡¯t be able to rest without knowing if Leo was okay. Changing out of her uniform, she splashed her face with some cold water, pulled on a sleep shirt and her green robe, and crept two doors down the hall. Should she knock? Or just walk in, like she normally did? But things were different now¡­Stop stalling, just do it.


    Iona turned the knob and slowly poked her head into the room, greeted by pitch black. ¡°Leo?¡± she whispered, hearing some sniffling coming from his bed. She pattered over to her usual side, and slid under the sheets. Leo rolled towards her, and she wrapped him up in her arms, laying her head on his. They laid together, wordless in the dark, as Iona felt Leo¡¯s body relax and his cries fade until they¡¯d both found sleep.


    In the morning, Iona glanced around the room to see it was empty. She was relieved knowing she had some time to gather her thoughts before she spoke with Leo again. Assuming he was in his father¡¯s office, she grabbed some coffee for the both of them and made her way down to the east wing. All the while she replayed her argument in her head. I must do my duty as commander and begin the search for your wife, as your father requested. I must do my duty¡­as much as it pains me¡­as much as I hate it. She shook her head, No that¡¯s not it, c¡¯mon Iona.


    His door was open, so Iona strutted right in and set his mug down as casually as possible. His head was buried in piles of parchment.  ¡°Brought you coffee,¡± she announced.


    ¡°Oh,¡± he sputtered, ¡°Iona, hi, thanks. I needed this.¡± He took a swig, and she noticed his cheeks had flushed slightly. ¡°Congratulations, by the way. On the encampment raid. Are you healing well?¡±


    Even in his clipped conversation, there was a distinct longing to his voice, and Iona wanted so badly to tell him she longed for him, too. But that¡¯s not why she was there. She was there to do her job. ¡°Very well, thank you,¡± she replied. ¡°I know that this wasn¡¯t what either of us had in mind, but I must do my duty as your commander-¡±


    ¡°-Iona,¡± he cut in, with a raised hand, but she forged ahead. If she stopped talking, she feared she¡¯d never be able to get the words out again.


    ¡°As your commander, I will begin compiling options for you-¡±


    ¡°Iona, stop.¡±


    ¡°-For you to consider-¡±


    ¡°Stop!¡±


    ¡°-For your wife!¡±


    Leo¡¯s nostrils flared, ¡°I don¡¯t WANT options, Iona!¡± Their shouts had grown to fill the room, radiating hurt.


    Iona swallowed, meek in this argument she didn¡¯t want to have. ¡°I promised your father-¡±


    ¡°-My father is gone. And like you said, you are my commander, now,¡± he grimaced, ¡°And I do not want to speak of this again. If you have no other business, then you¡¯re dismissed.¡± The glare between the two of them could have burst into flames. Iona ran her tongue over her teeth, suppressing the urge to continue fighting. Instead, she responded with an excessively deep bow and marched out of the room.

 Chapter Twenty Four

    ¡°Knock, knock,¡± a voice came from Iona¡¯s doorway. She¡¯d been stewing for the last hour, scribbling out speeches about how her and Leo would need to find a way to work together, and he wasn¡¯t seeing her side, and he needn¡¯t be such an ass just like he always used to be. Before they were finished, she¡¯d crumple them up and start on a new piece of parchment.


    ¡°Yes?¡± she hissed, whipping to see Heston leaning in the frame. ¡°Oh, Heston. What¡¯s up?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve come to see if you¡¯d be so kind as to escort me to Chrysomar. I¡¯m heading out in a few minutes.¡±


    Iona pouted, ¡°I can¡¯t ride.¡±


    Heston shoved off the doorway and walked to her desk, resting on its edge. ¡°I have a lot of things to take with me, we¡¯ll be going in a carriage. I figured you could bring it back for me.¡±


    ¡°No thanks,¡± she grumbled, turning back to her illegible scrawlings. Iona felt Heston¡¯s hand on her shoulder and looked up to see him looking down at her, pity all over his face.


    ¡°I think maybe you could use a break.¡± She sighed. He was right. It probably wasn¡¯t very productive or healthy of her to keep wasting good parchment, anyways.


    ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll get changed,¡± Iona answered. Heston smiled and sauntered out, and five minutes later, they were loaded up in a carriage headed to the port city. She took the opportunity to ask all about Heston¡¯s visits so far, how he ended up pursuing Kono to begin with, and what they had planned for their future. He explained everything, and confirmed that he was able to make some amends with his father. Iona was truly thrilled for him, despite the fact he¡¯d inadvertently set her current heartache in motion.


    The hours passed with ease, and they arrived at a manor nearly on the sea¡¯s edge, three stories high and surrounded by a white sand beach. Before she could even step out from the carriage, Kono rushed out of the house to greet Heston. His inky black hair caught the breeze, a stark contrast against the light, powdery blue linen tunic he wore. Behind him, a familiar face appeared on the porch.


    ¡°Iona! You made it!¡± Jessa called, hurrying past Heston and Kono who were rapt by each other¡¯s presence. She looked as beautiful as she did at the ball, her dark locks in a loose braid and a wide, beaming smile. She offered her hand to Iona, ¡°I heard about your injury during your last battle, and I was worried you wouldn¡¯t be fit to visit for a while.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not allowed to ride, but I will be all healed up soon enough. I¡¯m so glad to see you again, I didn¡¯t realize you¡¯d be here.¡± Heston was right, Iona definitely needed this. Jessa led her into the astonishing home, every other wall covered in its own floor to ceiling mural; she¡¯d never seen another place like it. ¡°These paintings are incredible,¡± she uttered.


    ¡°Thank you, thank you. Kono did them all, actually, he¡¯s quite the talent. I always thought it was a disservice for our father to push him into working for the guard instead of pursuing art, but he¡¯s so brawny, I suppose that was always going to be his fate.¡±


    ¡°Your father?¡± Iona inquired, as they got settled on the deck overlooking the ocean.


    Jessa laughed and handed her a goblet of wine. ¡°I forgot, you don¡¯t know. Kono is my brother! He hates when I mention it when he¡¯s on duty, so I didn¡¯t say anything at the ball. Which means any time you come visit Heston, you¡¯ll have to see me, too.¡±


    ¡°That makes me want to come visit more than just seeing Heston,¡± Iona grinned. ¡°I¡¯ll have to come back soon, I can¡¯t stay long this time, unfortunately.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense!¡± Jessa chastised, ¡°Whatever it is can wait. I insist you stay for dinner. And after dinner, I will insist you spend the night. I never have friends in town from the capital, and certainly none I can talk politics with.¡±


    Hearing those words did wonders for Iona¡¯s lingering sour mood. ¡°That sounds lovely,¡± she resigned, excited for the evening ahead- as long as she could avoid any talk of Leo. Heston and Kono unloaded the carriage, and joined them on the deck where they spent the next several hours chatting and drinking the best wine Chrysomar had to offer. Dinner was a spectacular spread of fresh seafood followed by extra strong coffee and tiny glasses of citrus liqueur.


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    Lounging around in one of the manor¡¯s multiple sitting rooms, Iona sipped on her drink and soaked in the salty air. ¡°So,¡± Jessa started, ¡°Iona. I noticed at the ball, you danced almost all night with Prince Leonon. Is there anything¡­happening between the two of you?¡±


    Iona cleared her throat, thanking the gods that she¡¯d had plenty of wine and liqueur before the subject arose. ¡°We were just dancing, that¡¯s all.¡±


    Jessa¡¯s smile turned mischievous, ¡°Is that so? Because Kono told me he saw you kiss.¡± Iona¡¯s eyes went wide as she shot a look at Heston, who quickly averted his gaze.


    ¡°I, uh,¡± she stumbled, ¡°Well, we did. But it was nothing.¡±


    ¡°Nothing?¡± Jessa pushed on, ¡°Heston made it seem as though you both were sneaking off together as much as he and Kono were!¡±


    ¡°Oh, boy,¡± Heston gulped.


    ¡°You knew?!¡± Iona sneered at the former prince, ¡°And you still abdicated? And you didn¡¯t warn me!¡± She was going to kill him right there in that ocean themed palace.


    Heston shoved behind Kono on the couch they shared, taking cover from her wrath, ¡°I didn¡¯t think it mattered! I thought you¡¯d be excited to be queen!¡±


    ¡°I never would have agreed to keep your two¡¯s secret if I¡¯d known Iona would be this upset!¡± Jessa piped up, slurring her speech a tad.


    Through gritted teeth, Iona snarled, ¡°Why would I want to be queen? I would have to step down as High Commander.¡±


    ¡°Iona, I mean this in the nicest way,¡± Heston answered from his hiding spot, ¡°But are you stupid?¡±


    Kono choked on his coffee, and spun to face his boyfriend, ¡°Don¡¯t say that to her!¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Kono!¡± she shouted, happy to have him on her side.


    ¡°She¡¯s not stupid, she¡¯s just scared.¡±


    ¡°Whoa,¡± Iona scoffed, taken aback.


    Kono turned to her, ¡°Apologies, Commander, I don¡¯t mean to offend. I just know that change is scary. Even someone as brave as yourself isn¡¯t immune to its effects.¡± Jessa had inched over to Iona, and gave her a scratch on the back in a show of support.


    She let out a huff, trying to calm herself. ¡°I¡¯m not scared. I¡¯m just¡­look it¡¯s true, I admit. I am in love with Leo.¡± A synchronous cooing came from her company, to which she could only roll her eyes. ¡°But I can¡¯t give up my command. Because¡­because Leo and I bicker. We get on each other¡¯s nerves. And it didn¡¯t matter much before, but what about in another ten years? He¡¯ll get tired of me disagreeing with him. He¡¯ll stop inviting me to meetings. He won¡¯t listen to my opinion on matters of the court. I¡¯ll be relegated to attending mind numbing parties and standing on the sidelines knowing I gave up everything I worked for just to be some pointless figurehead. And I guess¡­I guess that does scare me.¡± All the concerns that had been jumbled in her mind, the worry she tried to turn into words and write out in rantings on parchment were now exposed for them all to hear.


    Heston slipped off the couch and knelt by Iona¡¯s side, resting his hand on her leg. ¡°Iona, I understand everything you¡¯re saying. But the man you¡¯re talking about, the king you¡¯ve just described- that is not my brother.¡± He reached up and wiped away a couple tears that had rolled down her cheek. ¡°He loves you. Honestly, I¡¯ve never seen him love anyone half as much as he loves you. And more importantly, he respects you. He always has, even if he was too idiotic to show it before. Leo sees you as his equal,¡± Heston smiled, ¡°If not his superior.¡±


    His appeal struck a chord in Iona, chipping away at the doubt that had taken up residence in her heart until it fell apart completely. Iona snatched Heston¡¯s face in her hands, smushing his cheeks, ¡°You¡¯re right, Heston, I was stupid.¡± She shot up from her chair, ¡°I have to go. I have to talk to him.¡±


    ¡°I would never, ever stand in the way of love,¡± Jessa lilted, ¡°But the coachman is asleep. Perhaps you could wait to leave until we¡¯ve had breakfast tomorrow?¡±


    Iona nodded, her chest pounding with excitement, and her head a little woozy as she lowered back into her seat. ¡°Probably a good idea.¡±


    +++


    The next morning, the carriage was set to go, and Jessa insisted on seeing Iona off. ¡°Write me as soon as you can about how it goes. I¡¯m rooting for you,¡± she gushed.


    The chill of the wind coming off the sea paired with her kind words quelled Iona¡¯s nerves for a moment. ¡°You know, Jessa, we¡¯ve had an advisor step down recently, and she¡¯ll need to be replaced. You are whip smart, and it¡¯s been too long since we¡¯ve had an advisor from a port city. Would you be open to taking the job?¡±


    Jessa yanked Iona into a forceful hug, almost pulling her out of the carriage completely. ¡°I would be honored, my queen!¡±


    She couldn¡¯t help but giggle, ¡°It¡¯s not mine to offer quite yet, but I will send word no matter what happens.¡±


    ¡°You better,¡± Jessa demanded, ¡°Okay, now get out of here before I climb in there with you.¡± She shut the door and waved until Iona couldn¡¯t see her friend any longer.


    The carriage jostled side to side, as she watched the ocean disappear, slowly replaced by trees and open fields. It occurred to Iona that these could be her final hours as High Commander.


    At least, she hoped they would be.

 Chapter Twenty Five

    The risk of ripping her stitches was the last thing on Iona¡¯s mind as she sprinted through the palace to find Leo. She checked his bedroom, office, the dining room, and throne room, all to no avail. Every staffer she questioned hadn''t seen him in hours. Corso was still in his stall when her carriage arrived, so he wasn¡¯t out for a ride. Where the fuck is he? she wondered, wandering the halls. Iona stopped in her tracks when she realized the one place she hadn¡¯t looked.


    ¡°There you are,¡± she called, walking towards the old training ring. Leo stood in its center, training clothes stuck to his skin from sweat, gazing out into the horizon. ¡°Hiding in the ring is my move, remember?¡± She pulled herself up onto the canvas, Leo once again hustling over to help her duck under the ropes.


    ¡°Have you been running? You shouldn¡¯t be moving around so much, you¡¯ll aggravate your wound,¡± he scolded, dropping her hand and turning back to his view. Even his criticism brought a faint smile to her face.


    Iona cleared her throat. She had envisioned looking at him face to face when she gave this speech, but if she had to talk at his back instead, she would. She wasn¡¯t here to fight, she was here to lay everything she had out on the table for the man she loved. Mustering all the strength she could, Iona began, ¡°Leo, I should have said this days ago, but...I¡¯m saying it now. I¡¯m sorry for walking away from you. As hard as it is for me to admit, I was scared. After Heston told us he was leaving, everything felt different. I thought the worst possible thing was to be forced to leave behind all my hard work, the role I¡¯d spent my life chasing. My purpose in life. I panicked.¡± She took in a deep breath, steadied the uptick in her beating chest and clenched her trembling hands.


    ¡°I was wrong,¡± Iona declared, Leo¡¯s amber eyes finally meeting hers. His mouth parted, but she had too much left to say, and started to hurry through her thoughts. ¡°What I want now, all I want, is to be with you. What good is holding onto a title if I¡¯m miserable? If I have to keep a distance from you for the rest of our lives, to love you from afar because of my pride? I am so sorry, Leo. And I understand if things have changed, I do. But I need you to know how much I love you. Even if you don¡¯t feel the same anymore.¡±


    Leo dropped his gaze to the canvas below them, shaking his head. Iona bit her tongue, trying to remain calm. She had tried to prepare herself for his rejection, but now, at the edge of that reality, the heartbreak could prove to be too much.


    Then, in a flash, Leo closed the distance between them, pressing his lips to hers, his hands gliding through her hair, across her back, and hips. Iona melted into his embrace, relief coursing through her body with every touch. She¡¯d missed him so much, like a piece of her had wandered off without knowing if she¡¯d ever get it back. But now, here he was in her grasp, and she would never let him go again.


    Leo pulled away, leaning his forehead on hers, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I was so angry, Iona. Angry at Heston, angry at you, angry at myself. I didn¡¯t give you any time to think or breathe or explain. You left, but I pushed you out the door.¡± His eyes welled, Iona grasping his face in her hands. ¡°And then I was so worried the damage was done, that if I tried to get you back, I would fail all over again. But of course, I love you, Iona. I¡¯ll say it over and over, and I swear, whatever comes, I want you at my side. Forever.¡±


    ¡°Forever¡­¡± she whispered back, ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    Leo¡¯s tearful smile warmed every bit of her heart, ¡°I¡¯m sure.¡±


    With another soft kiss, she answered, ¡°I¡¯m sure, too.¡± Iona kept her arms tight around Leo¡¯s shoulders as they stood together, immersed in their shared devotion.


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    ¡°You need to sit,¡± he advised, leading Iona back to the middle of the ring. He sat down and tugged her onto his lap, where she curled up and rested her head against his chest. The sun had begun to set, painting the sky with shades of dreamy pink and gold.


    Iona could feel Leo fill his lungs with a deep breath. ¡°I have to tell you something, and you may not be very happy with me,¡± he said, glancing down at her. Iona raised an eyebrow at him, curious to hear what he was about to say. ¡°I, uh, told my father about us. Before he passed away.¡±


    She shifted onto the ground to face Leo straight on, ¡°You did? What did he say?¡±


    Leo¡¯s grin was answer enough. ¡°He was completely unsurprised, said he saw it coming since we were training partners.¡±


    Iona smirked, ¡°Your father was a smart man, but I have a hard time believing that one.¡± She sighed, ¡°I wish I could have been there to see his reaction. Ask for his blessing, even.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I got his blessing,¡± Leo stated, ¡°I didn¡¯t exactly explain our¡­rough patch. But I just had this feeling that we still had a chance, and I needed to make sure my father was supportive of my plan if we did.¡±


    ¡°Your plan?¡± she asked, cocking her head to the side. Leo¡¯s arms still rested gently around her waist, clasped behind her back. He slid her closer before he explained.


    ¡°I thought a lot after you left about what you said. That you¡¯d have to give up your command to be with me, and I knew it wasn¡¯t fair of me to ask you to do that. And then it occurred to me, the problem may not be all that difficult to solve. I asked my father not only for his blessing for us to be married, but for you to be coronated alongside me. Your own throne and crown, your own advisors, your own authority. A real queen. Other kingdoms do it, why can¡¯t Chrysos?¡±


    A burst of gratitude overwhelmed Iona- how silly she felt now, having ever doubted Leo. ¡°He approved of this?¡±


    ¡°He did, without hesitation.¡±


    Iona nodded, delighted at the news. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me sooner?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t want you to think I was trying to lure you back to me or making false promises.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have thought that,¡± she replied, ¡°But I appreciate you giving me time. And I need you to know, if you¡¯re not positive about it, you can tell me. This is a huge decision, literally the first of its kind in the whole kingdom.¡±


    Leo rolled his eyes and laughed, ¡°Iona, you¡¯ve always pushed me to be better. You¡¯ve taught me how to lead and how to follow. It would be asinine to think I could rule without you or that I deserve to. We¡¯re in this together.¡± He paused before taking her hands, ¡°I don¡¯t have the ring or the flowers or the proper outfit on, so please forgive me but I just can¡¯t wait any longer. Iona, I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life proving it. Will you marry me?¡±


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll marry you,¡± Iona beamed, her ears and every other little bit of her tingling as they sealed their engagement with a fervent kiss. Many, many kisses, in fact. The future queen sat back to catch her breath.


    ¡°Wow, two marriage proposals in a week,¡± Iona teased, looking up at the sunset, ¡°I am in high demand.


    ¡°What do you mean two?!¡± Leo blurted, his mouth agape.


    ¡°Oh yeah, Desmond proposed in the carriage ride from Achrysee. I said no, don¡¯t worry,¡± she assured, giving him a playful shove.


    ¡°I hate that asshole,¡± he laughed, snatching up Iona¡¯s face for one more kiss.


    Hours passed as they chatted, the sun steadily disappearing and a bright moon taking its place. Iona filled Leo in on her visit with Jessa and Kono, and he told her all the gossip she¡¯d missed from around the palace. Soon enough, she was nodding off, so Leo picked her up and began the walk back to the palace.


    ¡°Hey Leo,¡± Iona mumbled.


    ¡°Yes, my love?¡±


    She peered up at him through her heavy eyes, ¡°I think we should hire someone to plan the wedding party this time.¡±


    Leo grinned, cheek to cheek, ¡°I couldn¡¯t agree more.¡±

 Epilogue

    Dureem darted around the room, pins sticking out between his teeth, as he put the finishing touches on Leo¡¯s suit. The soon-to-be king wondered to himself if the man had ever accidentally swallowed one. ¡°Finished!¡± the tailor declared, admiring his work. ¡°Thank you, sir, for allowing me to be part of this historic day.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Leo replied, clapping his hand on Dureem¡¯s shoulder, ¡°You¡¯ve done a wonderful job.¡± He looked as though he might cry at the compliment, but Leo was on the edge of tears himself, so he dismissed the tailor and took in a moment of solitude. Today was the most important day of his life.


    It had been four weeks since Leo and Iona¡¯s engagement was announced, as well as their coronation ceremony which would follow the wedding. The palace had been flooded with flowers, gifts, and thousands of letters expressing well wishes and excitement at both pieces of news. If Iona had doubted herself even once, Leo ensured it was swept from her mind by making her read every single note from the people about how thrilled they were for her to be made queen.


    Asa had arrived a few nights before to prepare for her role as officiant of the wedding ceremony. It wasn¡¯t very traditional, but then again, neither was Leo¡¯s ascension to the throne, nor Iona¡¯s. Heston would oversee the coronation, and the subsequent celebration was shaping up to be the largest party ever thrown in Chrysos. Iona had suggested they open the palace gates, and encourage the capital citizenry to join in the festivities, an idea Leo was all for.


    Staring in the mirror, Leo pulled his jacket taut and fought the urge to run his hand through his hair. He¡¯d wanted to pull it back, but Iona had mentioned how much she loved it down so, what else was he to do but wear it down? His suit was a bespoke creation from Dureem, white and gold, fashioned after his father¡¯s coronation attire. Iona¡¯s dress was going to be made to match, and he couldn¡¯t wait to see her walking down the aisle.


    With a sharp inhale and deep exhale, Leo walked through hidden hallways to reach the throne room for the ceremonies, in an attempt to avoid the crowds which filled the palace already. He entered in through a side door to see every single row bursting at the seams. Asa and Heston stood at the base of the platform on which his and Iona¡¯s newly constructed thrones sat atop. Leo strode in that direction to say hello. He first greeted Heston with a nod and gave Asa a kiss on the cheek. ¡°You look absolutely lovely, Asa,¡± he said, ¡°I¡¯m so glad you were willing to officiate our wedding.¡±


    Asa was smiling from ear to ear. ¡°I was honored you asked! And I must say, Leo,¡± she shared, squeezing his hands, ¡°I am so grateful to have a son. Especially one as marvelous as you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re going to make me cry, and we haven¡¯t even gotten started yet,¡± he whispered back. Turning to face the expanse of people before him, he scanned the crowd. So many familiar faces, all the men and women he and Iona served with over the years, friends, extended family, and a whole mess of strangers. Jessa and Kono waved to him from the second row, before his eyes landed on three empty seats in the front- one for Theron, one for Elia, and one for Shome. He sent up a prayer of gratitude for their protection and love from the next life, as the music began.


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    A romantic melody filled the hall as the doors swung open to reveal the most beautiful sight Leo had ever seen in his life. Iona walked down the aisle, her chocolate-colored hair flowing down her shoulders, pinned with dozens of tiny pearls and a gauzy veil. The dress she wore was the exact match of Leo¡¯s suit, bright white and shiny gold, almost armor like in its shape. The train looked as though it went on for miles behind her. Iona gave him a smile that lit the room, and it took all of Leo¡¯s might not to run into the aisle and escort her to the front.


    The music subsided as she reached the base of the stairs and stood face to face with him. Leo and Iona took each other¡¯s hands, and Asa commenced the ceremony. He didn¡¯t once dare to look away from her, refusing to miss a single moment taking in her red lips, her sultry eyes, her rosy cheeks. How did he get so lucky? Leo was so focused on Iona, he barely heard Asa¡¯s speech, which he was later told turned out quite lovely. After exchanging rings and their first kiss as husband and wife, the coronation ceremony began and Heston took his place where Asa had stood between them.


    Even more than the wedding, this was what Leo was so excited to share with Iona. He¡¯d had two matching, simple crowns made, golden vines intertwined with silver moon drops. His brother recited Chrysos¡¯ prayer for kings, while Iona placed Leo¡¯s crown atop his wavy copper hair. She bowed to him, as did every person in the hall as customary. Then, for the first time in the kingdom¡¯s history, the prayer was recited a second time- for their new queen. Leo held back tears as he lifted Iona¡¯s crown and placed it on her head, his eyes fixed on hers. His heart filled with pride and love, he returned the bow, sneaking a glance at the crowd who bowed to her, too.


    The room erupted with cheers as Iona and Leo clasped hands, and began their long walk down the aisle. The sound was deafening, pure excitement and joy at the new rulers of the kingdom, and the promise of a bright future. The king led his wife through the halls in a hurry, until they reached the balcony of their bedroom. Two goblets of wine, filled to the brim awaited them.


    ¡°You just think of everything, don¡¯t you?¡± Iona asked, clinking her glass against his. ¡°I believe my eardrums may have burst from all that noise.¡±


    ¡°I have a feeling the party is going to be even louder,¡± Leo replied, hooking his arm around Iona¡¯s waist and pulling her in close. ¡°I figured we would like a little bit of quiet to ourselves before we get back out there.¡±


    ¡°Definitely the right call. I noticed you left your hair free,¡± she said, looking up at him. ¡°I love it.¡±


    ¡°I figured you would,¡± he grinned.


    She laid her head back against his chest, and sighed, ¡°I love you, Leo.¡±


    ¡°I love you, too, Iona.¡± He leaned down and kissed the top of her head, as they looked out over the courtyard, beginning to fill with the crowds from the wedding. Leo had never been happier than in this moment, experiencing the start of a new life with Iona, his everything.


    His best friend.


    His wife.


    His queen.