Page 106 of A Shattered Kingdom of Steel

“Lymseia,” Mother calls. “A moment, please.”

My hands clench into fists at my sides.

Flashing me a small smile, Vestella touches my shoulder. “I’ll tell Father you’ll be coming to see him.”

“Thank you.”

I wait for the door to close behind her, and then force myself to relax my hands. “Yes?”

Mother just looks at me for a moment, the corners of her mouth curved downward. “I am happy for you, you know. Having a mate is a wonderful gift.”

My expression softens, and I don’t need to see myself to know the hard lines at my jaw fade. I’d expected her to say something about my bond with Asheros providing us an opportunity to establish diplomatic ties with Silver, or something along those lines.

But she didn’t.

Moving a few steps closer to me, she cups my cheek with one hand, pressing her lips together in what can only be described as an attempt to smile.

Tenderness gathers in the back of my throat and fills my chest, prickling at my eyes.

She approves.

I take a deep breath, no doubt mirroring her expression. “It truly is.”

Chapter Thirty

Iexit the great hall and take a left.

Emotions I’d once buried run wild through me, dragging memories up with them. Memories of running through these halls as a child, of dining in the great hall, of seeing the hurt and shock on my mother’s face in that very room when I’d told her I was leaving for Keuron.

Gods-damn it.

I thought I was past this. I thought I’d be strong enough to leave the past where it belongs—out of sight, out of mind. To relinquish its control over me. In the time I’ve been away, I’ve trained my body, I’ve honed my mind, and I’ve even conquered my impulses. I’m not the female I was when I left, and yet… I am.

The female I was and the female I am are one and the same. Only, I’m stronger now.

Braver. More confident in myself and my abilities, both on the battlefield and amongst the nobles.

The old Lymseia is still here, within me.

She is me. And I’m her reforged.

It would also appear I’m too wrapped up in my emotions to pay much attention to my surroundings. I’m barely able to look up in time before I trample the male heading toward me.

“Gods,” I stammer, blinking away my surprise. “My apologies—”

“That is quite all right,” a calm, soft-spoken voice says. “I should not be so aloof when traversing the halls.”

My head snaps up to a face.

Amicable crimson eyes stare back at me from a fair face framed by rich brown hair. The older, more experienced version of Myrdin’s.

“Lord Tarrantree,” I say, my mouth suddenly dry. “Truth be told, I wasn’t expecting to see you.” My eyes narrow. There’s something strange, lingering in the air.

Something wrong.

“What’s brought you all this way from Redbourne?” I ask, placing a hand on my hip. “Surely, it must be important.”

Tanyl gives me a small smile. “Nothing you need worry about. Merely Court politics, appearances, and the like. It is good to maintain relationships with the other Heads of House, especially during uncertain times like these.”

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