Page 68 of The Court of Truth

“You were perfect, Princess,” Kryll murmurs as the gates shut behind us. I smile up at him, basking in his praise.

“Apparently lunch at Pearl’s needs to happen more often,” Raiden adds, a grin on his lips, and I beam.

“That’s a firm plan if you ask me. Speaking of, does anyone know where my father is? Now that the media is out of the way, I want to have a chat with him.”

“That sounds ominous,” Kryll says, raising his brow, and I shrug.

“It feels it too, but I’ve spent every day feeling like I’m drowning, and I’m quickly realizing that’s because I’ve been trying to fit myself into a mold that’s not mine. I’ve been trying to act and behave as a queen is expected to behave, and quite frankly, that’s not me.” We reach the doors and they both turn to face me head on, knowing smiles gracing their lips. “What?”

“We’ve missed you, Princess. Glad to have you back,” Kryll states, pressing a kiss to my head before stepping inside.

“I agree with the dragon. It’s been a hot minute, but it’s good to see you glowing again, Adrianna,” Raiden adds, and I can feel the heat dusting over my cheeks. “To answer the question about your father, I believe he’s out in the meadow with Nora. Care for me to escort you?”

The meadow?

The strength that coiled through me a moment ago falters. Of all the places on the castle grounds, that’s the only one I haven’t ventured to, and for good reason. My ears tingle as if they’re preparing to be wounded once more, but I shake it off, take a deep breath, and smile.

“I think this is something I have to do alone,” I admit, reaching for Raiden’s hand. He squeezes his fingers around mine in a silent show of support before releasing me, and I take off down the hallway.

The closer I get to the meadow, the slower my steps seem to become. Or is it because they’re shorter? I don’t know. All that’s certain is with every step I take, my strength begins to waver.

I hear them before I see them, my wolf senses rearing to life, and my footsteps falter.

“Why are you so sad, Dad?” Nora asks, my gut clenching at the uncertainty in her tone. But it’s the sigh that heaves from my father’s lungs that threatens to bring me to my knees.

“I’m not sad, Nora, I’m just…” He pauses and I imagine him running a thumb over her cheek as he gathers his thoughts. “Our family endured a lot of pain out here, in a place that was once our favorite spot to visit every day.”

“It’s so pretty out here, how could that ever change?”

My pulse thunders in my ears as I follow the sound of their voices, and they come into view a few steps later, in the very spot that has haunted my nightmares for more than a decade.

“I forget that you were so young, that you wouldn’t remember what happened here like Addi does,” my father murmurs with an even heavier sigh.

I can picture my sister’s face pinching together in confusion at my father’s words, but before anything else is said, my father spots me.

A tight, sad smile spreads across his face as my name falls from his lips. Nora’s head whips round in surprise, hope and something else I can’t quite put my finger on crinkling the corner of her eyes.

“Hey,” I breathe, settling on the grass with them, listening to the trees rustle in the breeze.

“Did your speech go well?” my father asks, and I nod.

“As well as it could. What has you guys out here?” I can’t tiptoe around the small talk when my heart is racing wildly in my chest.

Nora frowns at me as my father gazes off into the distance. “Dad thinks I don’t remember what happened here,” my sister states, her voice soft and twisted.

My gaze snaps to hers, along with my father’s, as we both gape at her.

“You remember?” The question comes from my father, but it shines bright in my eyes too.

“I remember the smell of the damp air, the glowing eyes of wolves, and a bright light,” she admits, making my eyes widen. “I’m not entirely sure how they all piece together, but I don’t really understand the sadness it seems to bring you both. It’s like I have the puzzle pieces but no reference picture to tell me how they fit together.”

I nod in understanding, trying to calm the storm brewing inside of me at the memories that were formed here. Memories we didn’t want, didn’t need, but memories we survived all the same.

“This is where I hurt you.” The words burn past my lips, but I have to be honest with her. She has to see why it pains us to be out here.

Her eyes widen, but anger doesn’t flood her vision as I expect. If anything, she relaxes. “That makes sense.”

I wait a moment, then another, and another, until I’m sure she’s not going to say anything else. Clearing my throat, I place my hand on top of hers. “It makes sense, but how does it make you feel?”

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