Page 7 of To Steal the Sun

She wanted to jump up and do something, but what could she possibly do? Her best hope to help Henry’s kingdom was the same thing she had been aiming for from the beginning—rescue him from the mountain queen.

“So that’s it.” The count paced the width of the basement, only managing a few strides given his enormous size. “She hasn’t been able to move forward with plans of conquest all these years since the enchantment has tied us to the mountains. No wonder she’s getting desperate to break it.”

Gwen sighed. “Sit down. Please. You’re making me dizzy.”

To Charlotte’s surprise, the count complied. Maybe he really saw Gwen as an authority in the kingdom, and not just as a figurehead. The possibility must be even more overwhelming to Gwen than it was to Charlotte, but there was no question Gwen would make a better queen than her mother.

At least, that fact seemed obvious to Charlotte. But weren’t the courtiers supposed to be loyal to the queen?

“Why are you all so desperate to break the enchantment?” Charlotte asked the count. “If you’re not interested in conquest yourself, is it so bad to be stuck here or to be a bear if it’s only at night?”

Natalie snorted, and Charlotte winced. “I understand why the people of the city must want it to end,” she hurried to add, “but is it so terrible for the court? You seem to be fully in control of yourselves still, and you’re only bears at night which is much better than it used to be for poor Henry. And isn’t your bear form the only reason you’re able to get through the mountain passes? What’s the reason for the court being so desperate to free themselves?”

“It’s me,” Emmett said softly, inserting himself into the conversation for the first time. “I’m the reason.” He looked down at his right leg where the trouser was pinned up just below his knee.

“You are not the reason,” the count said firmly. “You are the miracle.” He sighed, looking across at Charlotte with eyes that conveyed the sorrow of years. “Changing nightly appears to have no ill effect on our bodies—even the children who are caught in the enchantment have been able to grow in a normal way. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the unborn. We didn’t realize initially, but as time passed it became increasingly clear that it was extremely difficult for an enchanted woman to become pregnant. And those babies that did manage to cling to life were harmed somehow in the process of the daily transformations. The effect has been different for each one, but…” He sighed again, glancing at his grandson’s missing leg.

“I always wanted a brother or sister.” Emmett shrunk in on himself, his food uneaten in his hand.

The count gave a rough growl in the back of his throat. “My son and his wife are desperate for more children but have been unsuccessful all these years. It grieves them greatly, although my daughters consider them fortunate to have even one. Neither of them has managed as much. I expected to have a bevy of grandchildren at my knee by now, but so far Emmett is the only one. And the years keep passing. We have to find a way to break the enchantment before it’s too late for them to think of future children. But we cannot allow it to lead to war. I want to save my future grandchildren, but I have no desire to see my children pointlessly slaughtered in the process.”

Gwen’s mouth fell open, and Charlotte could tell this information was as new to her as it was to Charlotte.

“I understand why you don’t want war,” Gwen said. “I’m guessing your son would be expected to lead our forces. But the court not being able to have children of their own…How did I not…Is that why I saw so few children at court? I always thought the courtiers were just keeping them away. I never saw Emmett at court, after all.”

The count nodded. “We do keep them away. Anyone fortunate enough to have a child tends to be protective of them. And no one wants to risk one of them saying the wrong thing and—” He broke off and looked at Easton.

“You don’t want them to end up like me,” Easton said grimly. “And my parents.”

“I think your parents might be the fortunate ones,” Charlotte muttered. “Didn’t the queen exile them from court? Sounds like a reward from where I’m sitting.”

“A reward for some, punishment for others,” Natalie muttered.

“I think they’re nice,” Emmett said and then immediately looked mortified, the tips of his ears going red.

Easton looked between them. “Huh?”

Natalie glanced back at him and gave an exaggerated sigh. “They live with us now.”

Easton straightened, his eyes widening. “My parents live with your family? Wha—how—?”

“That’s a coincidence,” Charlotte said lightly, looking between them.

“Not really,” the count said. “I’m not denying Natalie did well for a girl her age, but there’s a reason she went to the palace in the first place, and why she was able to find and connect with me. She knows a lot more about the palace and court than most fourteen-year-olds in the city.”

“My parents are at your house right now?” Easton looked like he wanted to bolt straight out of the door.

Natalie rolled her eyes. “Relax. They’ll still be there in the morning.”

“But how did they end up—” Easton clearly couldn’t relax.

“It used to be the other way around,” Natalie said, sounding softer. “When I was very little, my parents both worked in your family’s city mansion. Your parents treated them well, and when my mother first got sick they supported her, helped her get early treatment—although the doctors here didn’t know how to treat it properly. So when your parents lost everything, my parents took them in without question.” Her eyes narrowed. “That’s why I’ve always had to share a room with my younger sister, you know. Our house isn’t a mansion like your old one.”

“Thank you.” Easton held her eyes, his face and voice sincere. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I always hoped they were all right, but I feared…” He drew a deep breath. “Thank you. Will you take me to see them?”

Natalie softened even further, giving him a small smile. “I suppose I could manage that. It will be fun actually to see the lost son return.” She brightened immediately, bouncing on her seat. “They’re going to be so pleased with me for bringing you home. The count kept insisting the princess would return, and of course my parents believed it because they’ve always put their hope in her, and they wouldn’t believe me when I said—” She cut herself off and glanced at Gwen. “Well, never mind that. The point is that no one was expecting you to return. They’re going to be so surprised.” Her grin spread across her face. “I bet our mothers will cook up a feast.”

“You can take Easton to see his parents once it’s daytime,” the count said. “Just make sure he isn’t seen by anyone outside the household.” He looked across at Gwen. “Easton’s parents have been a big part of gathering the rebellion in the city—such as it is. Natalie’s home is a central location for our network. No one there will betray us.”

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