Page 66 of The Heir's Bargain

"Among other things," Menides said.

I swept my gaze across the table of advisors. "Then let us use them. Send a group out. See if we can gather insight into the current climate. We sit here on our island, waiting for information to come to us. Waiting for Yelsania to have a vision. For once, perhaps we should go searching for the truth instead."

"But that's not—" Lord Cunningway began but stopped when my mother held up a hand.

"My son is right. We have hid inside the safety of our kingdom's walls for too long. This is not Yelsania's first vision of war. As Graeson noted, Lysanthia also had visions of darkness sweeping our kingdom. It is time for the tides to change," my mother said. "Menides, arrange for a squad to go south. Have them follow the standard protocol, for the treaty is still in effect. We cannot afford to make any mistakes. We will send a message to one of our contacts to arrange a meeting."

Chairs scratched against the pine floor as the advisors stood.

The letter to one of the spies had been written and sealed, sent off by way of messenger. It would take time to get things moving, but at least it was a start.

Graeson and Terin stood, the goblets on the table rattling in their wake. As I pushed myself up to follow them, my mother's cool hand landed atop mine.

"Stay a minute."

I hesitated, staring after Graeson as he headed for the doors without a second glance back. His eyes may have always been forward, but his mind was always stuck in the past.

I swallowed. "I really should?—"

"I got him," my brother interrupted.

"I am fine," Graeson growled as he exited the room.

"Have fun with the beast," I whispered, sitting back down.

"Always do." Terin nodded. Then, after squeezing our mother's hand, my brother left, too.

"Airos, would you mind waiting outside?" my mother asked, turning to the man beside the door.

"Of course, Your Highness," Airos said, bowing to my mother. Although Airos had been the captain of my mother's guards for over two decades, he never dropped the formalities. But sometimes, when he didn't know others were watching, he looked at my mother with something other than formality lingering in his blue-grey eyes.

Airos hadlost his wife twenty or so years ago. When we lost my father, he helped my mother navigate the pain of losing a soul bond. I was glad they found solace and comfort in each other's company.

Once the door shut behind Airos, my mother said, "One day, Graeson will work through his past." She sighed, the first sign of exhaustion flashing across her face. She shook her head. "Just as soon as he is honest with not only everyone around him but himself as well."

She stared at the closed door, her brows knitting together and concern covering her soft features. She cleared her throat and straightened. The previous emotion cleared from her countenance as if it had never been there in the first place. "You and Danisinia have been spending a lot of time together lately," she said.

I blinked. "I wouldn't say once a week is a lot, Mother."

Her eyes narrowed, the sun streaming in from the window, making her blue eyes even more piercing. "It seems she finally spoke up."

"What do you mean?"

"For years, she followed after you boys—you in particular, as if you held the world in your palms."

My brows drew together. "I—I'm not following."

My mother sat back in her chair, her fingers tapping the armrests. "You don't mean to tell me that you never noticed?"

"Noticed what?" I asked.

"That Danisinia has had a crush on you since you were children."

I snorted, leaning back in my chair. "Impossible."

My mother cocked her head to the side, and the laughter died in my throat.

Tap. Tap. Tap. Her nails clicked against the twisted oak.

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