Page 103 of The War of Four Winters

"Perhaps because they're usually the instigator rather than the recipient," Elindir suggested. "It's different when you're the one being claimed rather than doing the claiming."

The observation struck home with unexpected relevance. I remembered how Elindir had initially resisted my possessive displays when he first came to me as a slave, and how he had fought against being treated as property. How different things were now, when touch between us represented choice rather than compulsion.

As we made our way toward the compound's main gates to await Taelyn's arrival, I allowed my hand to find his, our fingers intertwining naturally. "Are you ready to see the boys?"

"More than ready. I've thought of little else since learning they were coming. Although…" His expression fell. “I’m not looking forward to informing Taelyn about her father.”

The weight of that responsibility settled heavily on my shoulders. "Klaus died a hero. He gave his life so we could escape."

"She loved him deeply," Elindir said quietly. "Despite their political differences. This will devastate her."

"It feels selfish to be excited about a family reunion in the midst of war preparations," I admitted. "And now, to have this grief waiting for Taelyn..."

"Not selfish," he corrected. "Essential. They're why we fight in the first place. For their future. For all the children who deserve to grow up without collars or conscription. And Klaus understood that too, in the end. He died for that future."

My heart grew heavy at the prospect of confirming her father's death. There would be time for that grief later, after the joy of reunion with the boys. For now, I focused on the two small figures riding double on a pony led by one of the guards. Leif sat straight, his solemn face scanning the courtyard with careful assessment until his eyes found us. Beside him, Torsten practically bounced with excitement, his wild curls escaping the hood of his travel cloak.

"Elindir! King Ruith!" Torsten's shout carried across the courtyard as he attempted to dismount before the pony had fully stopped, nearly falling in his eagerness.

Leif's hand shot out, steadying his foster brother with the instinctive protectiveness I'd come to recognize in him. Only when the guard properly helped them down did he release his grip on Torsten's cloak.

What dignity they might have maintained dissolved instantly as both boys sprinted across the courtyard. Elindir dropped to one knee, arms opening just in time to catch Torsten's flying tackle of an embrace. Leif approached with only slightly more restraint before flinging himself forward as well.

I watched, heart full, as Elindir held them both, his copper head bent close to their darker ones, their small arms locked around his neck with desperate strength. Words passed between them, too quiet for me to hear, but the emotion was clear in every line of their bodies.

Then Leif pulled back slightly, his solemn eyes finding mine over Elindir's shoulder. My throat tightened at the naked hope in his expression.

"You came back," he said simply. "Both of you."

"As we promised," I replied, kneeling beside Elindir to bring myself to their level.

For a heartbeat, Leif studied me. Then he launched himself from Elindir's arms into mine, his thin body colliding with enough force to nearly topple me.

"We knew you would," he whispered against my neck, his voice carrying a tremor that belied his confident words. "Even when the others weren't sure, we knew."

Torsten scrambled to join us, his arms attempting to wrap around all three of us at once.

I held them both.

"We have something important to tell you," I said when I could trust my voice again. "Something Elindir and I decided together."

Both boys grew still, their eyes moving between us with expressions caught between hope and wariness.

I knelt before the boys, bringing myself to their level. "Leif, Torsten," I began, my voice softening, "while I was imprisoned, I made an important decision. I want to adopt you both formally, to make you officially my sons and princes of House Starfall."

Leif's breath caught, his eyes widening. Though we had discussed the possibility before, the formality of this moment seemed to strike him anew.

I turned to Elindir, who was watching with an expression of surprise and deep emotion. "Elindir and I have spoken, and he shares my wish. We want you to be our sons, not just our wards."

"Nothing would make me prouder than to call you our sons," Elindir said, voice thick with emotion.

Torsten's mouth fell open, his expression almost comical in its astonishment. "We'd be princes?" he asked, eyes wide. "Like, actualrealprinces?"

"More importantly," Elindir added gently, "you'd be our sons. Regardless of titles or politics, you would be ours and we would be yours. Forever."

Leif's eyes filled suddenly with tears, though his expression remained solemn. "No one could ever separate us? Not even if—" He stopped, unable to voice the fear that clearly haunted him.

"No one," I promised fiercely. "Not ever. No matter what happens in this war or any other, you would be our children by law and by choice. Nothing can break that bond."

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