Page 19 of Once the Skies Fade

“Honestly? No, I don’t. We have nothing to support it, but…”

Connor dropped his chin to his chest. “We also have nothing to refute it either.”

“Exactly. How do we expect the Assembly in Arenysen to handle this? Do you think they’ll pursue her as a suspect?”

“I don’t know. It may depend on whether Calla has their loyalty or not.”

“We should be ready to investigate on our own if needed. If she really is his killer…”

“Let’s hope it’s not her,” Connor said. Lifting his face, his eyes blazed with an unnervingly calm anger. “Family or not, whoever killed my brother will suffer. I’ll make sure of that.”

Chapter 9

Calla

The Olanders killed Brennan. Which, I couldn’t be sure, but one of the Wrenwick royals had stolen my husband from me. Why? Were they angry that I’d allied with Emeryn? No doubt, but why wait two years to strike? Why now? Why him?

Perhaps I was crazy to not want the details of Minerva’s curse, but with my battered mess of a heart drowning in a sea of brutal sorrow and bitter spite, I couldn’t bring myself to carehowthey suffered just as long as I knew theydidsuffer.

I should have known the human kingdoms couldn’t be trusted. Lief Olander was little more than a scorned lover turned warmonger, and now his cousin, Nils, seemed bent on following in his footsteps.

Blinded by anger, I saw none of my surroundings the entire ride home despite the full moon shining overhead as I raced toward home, taking few breaks to rest. The sun—and Isa, along with two of our guards—greeted me as I approached the massive stone and iron gates.

No one smiled.

No one spoke.

I simply stared at my general, ignoring the screaming ache in my backside, as I brought my horse to a halt and dismounted. She gestured to one of the guards to take the reins from me and ushered them toward the stables. As the guard led the horse away, I waited for Isa’s chiding words, but when she opened her mouth, no reprimand came. Only concern.

“Where have you been, Your Majesty?”

I should have been thankful for her worrying, but it grated on me like a rough stone dragged across my nerves. I had wallowed long enough, and as grateful as I was to her and Graham for caring so much, I had a kingdom to rule. I couldn’t hide in my grief forever. I couldn’t leave my kingdom to falter from my weakness.

Rubbing my weary hands along the sides of my neck, I strode past her without a word. She murmured something to the remaining guard before coming alongside me and matching my pace.

“Back to not talking, then?” she asked, sounding far more understanding than I honestly deserved.

My chest caved inward, as if my grief and my rage together wielded a massive vise around my heart. It pressed in from all sides as I walked up the cobbled stones that led to my home.

Our home.

Except there was noouranything any longer.

Only mine.

Tighter, my sorrow squeezed. How could I face the room I’d shared with him, and the balcony where I’d found his body? My shadows prickled in my palms as my mind flooded with the horrible memories—his hand reaching limply for me; the light fading from his hazel eyes; my name choked out on his last blood-soaked breath; my worthless screams that could not save him. My knees buckled, and my shadows slipped out of my palms to help me, but I recovered before I could collapsecompletely, pulling my magic back and waving aside Isa’s outstretched arms as I kept walking.

“I’m fine,” I whispered hoarsely, thankful she didn’t make some snide remark about my broken silence.

“Louisa should have a hot bath ready for you in the guest room, and I’ll let Chef know to send up a breakfast tray,” she said, but I shook my head.

“I’ll be moving back to our…myroom,” I said, silently telling myself this was what I needed to do. “Arenysen has waited long enough for me, and I can’t move on if I keep running from the pain.”

“It hasn’t even been a month—stars—halfa month,” Isa said, patiently. “You don’t have to move on so quickly, Calla.”

I halted at the castle entrance and rounded on my friend, my jaw clenched so hard my temples ached. Balling the fabric of my skirt in my fists, I tried to calm my anger, but it continued its rampage through my veins. “And if I don’t, who else is going to run this kingdom? You?”

Isa started to reach for my shoulder, but I angled away from her. She dropped her hand back to the pommel of her sword. “Grieving your husband doesn’t prevent you from ruling. You learn to keep living even as you heal, because life continues on––whether you’re ready or not. That doesn’t mean you have to rush to feel better or to ignore your loss.”

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