Page 82 of The Prince and the Ice King

“She deserved better too.” Liam looked away as Reardon turned fully to face him. “We married too young and fought constantly, even more after… Joslyn was born. My wife saw the old king’s death as a good excuse to leave the Sapphire Kingdom. I saw it as an excuse to leave her. I took the role of wizard when Jack asked and said Joslyn could visit whenever she wanted.”

“Then you still wanted to see your daughter—”

“I didn’t realize they’d gone until the curse struck and I found our home long abandoned. Don’t excuse being a bad husband with being a good father. I wasn’t good at either.”

“I just thought—”

“You thought I was the hero. That I was the one abandoned. If that were true, I wouldn’t be this.” He let his sparks ripple across his body. “That wasn’t my first accident.”

Reardon startled at the subject being brought up so suddenly. The events outside had shaken him and filled him with undue doubts, but as he looked at the grief somehow discernable even on an electric face, he didn’t doubt the words that left him.

“You were protecting your love. Anyone else would have done the same.”

“Oh? Or are those pretty words only meant to hide that, now, you wonder why Shayla would waste her time with me?”

“No,” Reardon said without having to consider the answer. “You’ve grown. You’ve changed. You deserve the chance she’s given you, because she knows you are better than you think.” And than Reardon had thought for a fleeting moment too.

Nigel and Zephyr had been together since nearly the beginning of the curse, Shayla and Liam only the past forty-five years. That was still a lifetime for many, and yet doubt was a recurring theme among the court members and their partners.

Reardon didn’t want to be counted among their company in that way ever again.

“You don’t have to close yourself off to protect others,” Reardon continued, “especially not her.”

“Even if I’m beneath her?”

There was weight to that question, coming from a royal wizard about a condemned thief, despite that he had so recently ended a man’s life like snuffing out a candle.

“Isn’t she the one who gets to decide that?”

The silence that followed was broken by Barclay and Caitlin’s return. Reardon smiled, not saying more, and went to help his friends stack the boxes before he took his leave.

When he was finally giving his farewells, Barclay gasped at the brush of their hands.

“Another vision?”

“I’m not… sure. I think you better take some extra cold resistance draught, though, just in case.” Barclay handed Reardon a small case with three ready potions, and Reardon didn’t protest.

“I’ve been spending a little extra time in the cold, I guess. Thank you.”

“We’ll keep on it,” Caitlin said. “Join us tomorrow?”

“Earlier this time.” Reardon looked to Liam, who stared at him silently. “I promise.”

He planned to head for the main halls but decided to take a shortcut through the hidden tunnels—and nearly slipped as soon as he stepped inside.

The entire passageway was coated in frost.

Reardon smiled to himself, fully aware of what that meant, but rather than spoil the game, he headed the opposite direction from where the frost settled.

Jack

Reardon knew. Of course he knew. Yet Jack followed like always.

He hated the allure of hope, and part of him hated Reardon for giving it to him. He’d wondered, however briefly, if seeing one of the castle’s accidents firsthand would change Reardon’s staunch dedication, but the prince had weathered that too, including their weather wizard. If Jack couldn’t bring himself to banish the hope in his heart or Reardon, then he might as well enjoy what he could have until it was gone.

And he missed Reardon every moment he was without him. He should have shunned him when the prince rose after his drunken debauchery, but even after only one night together, Jack longed for his touch, for his company. Even if Reardon knew he was watching, Jack couldn’t bear to let the prince out of his sight.

Eventually Reardon left the tunnels for the main halls. Jack couldn’t always easily see him, keeping parallel with walls between them, but he could hear Reardon’s steps, and as he tried to stay in line with wherever Reardon was headed, the collision that sounded when someone came speeding around a corner was unmistakable.

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