32

We have no coups here, no messy lineages decided by foolish competitions for seats at the royal table. The Shiangan army could crush the wolves of Frasia like bugs. And I will, Elias, if you refuse to give me what I desire.”

Elias said nothing. Hatred and rage rolled off him in tangible waves. I could feel his wolf surging closer to the surface, and I knew he was moments from shifting and ripping Draunar’s throat out with his teeth. If there was one way to ensure we were at war, instead of just listening to royal threats, that was how to do it.

“Consider what I’ve said,” Draunar said. He took a step back. “I’ll give you until the ball at the end of the week to make your decision.” He smiled at me again. “I look forward to it, Reyna.”

I growled in response, but that only made Draunar laugh. “Feisty thing.” Then, he shifted back into his dragon, extended his immense wings, and took to the skies. The impact from his flight sent gusts of wind through my pelt, and made me shiver like it was an unwanted touch.

Once the dragon had disappeared from view, Elias growled low, then shifted back into his wolf without saying a word. He trotted to the stream and dunked his face into the cold water, then waded in. Some of the tenseness in his muscles faded as he shook in the icy water.

I lay down on the soft moss, nose closer to the dirt as I soothed my own nerves with the sweet, earthy smell. I watched him paw around in the stream. My heart was sinking slowly the longer I watched him.

War.

Not just war—an invasion.

The threat seemed to linger in the air like a bad stench. Was it real? Or was it just Draunar peacocking? Elias would have a better sense of that, but from how rapidly he’d shifted, it was clear he didn’t want to talk about the details right now.

He loved me. He’d made that clear.

And yet I knew he loved Frasia more.

The side comment Draunar had made itched at me again. How Elias had taken the throne. Was there more to the story of Nightfall’s grab for power? That was the pit in my stomach. That was the truth I couldn’t ignore. If it was a real threat, and there was a chance that Draunar would turn this entire treaty process against us to have an excuse to invade Frasia, was Elias the type of king who would use me as a tribute? Had he done something similar to obtain the Nightfall throne? Was I being naive again?

He would have to. He couldn’t sacrifice the safety of our country for something as minor as our marriage. We hadn’t been together long at all, and it’d be just as easy for him to marry Adora and get on with leading Frasia.

He’d said I wasn’t a pawn, but that wasn’t really true, was it? I’d been a pawn in my father’s schemes, a pawn to Griffin in his bid for power, a pawn in the Choice and now I was just a pawn that would move from Frasia to Shianga to ensure the safety of both nations. What was the alternative? Would I let war descend on the two nations because Elias loved me?

Because I loved him?

I’d never admitted it to myself, but it was true. I did love him. I loved his seriousness, his wisdom, his loyalty; I loved his laugh, his teases, the secret looks he could give me from across the room. I loved his touch, his kiss; I loved running with his wolf; I loved leading by his side.

But love wasn’t enough to save a nation.

I exhaled hard. I wished I could sink into the soft earth and disappear. I’d let myself get too caught up in the fantasy here in Shianga. I was so naive—how could I let myself think that it would be this easy? That it would be as simple as that—a partnership, leading, vacations, ease?

It would never be so easy. Our relationship would never come first. Not when Elias had a country to lead. Not when I had a country to lead beside him.

He climbed out of the stream and shook out his dark pelt. He trotted over to me, ears back and tail low, and nudged his nose against my neck. Let’s go, his voice murmured in my head.

I wasn’t going to get any answers from him tonight. I knew him well enough to know that. We made our way back to the gazebo, where we shifted back into our human forms and pulled our clothes back on. Elias’ expression was dark and distant. He turned to lead the way back toward the palace, and I caught his wrist in mine.

“Hey,” I said. “Are you…”

“It’s fine,” Elias said. He tugged me close to him and kissed me briefly, but something about it felt perfunctory. When he pulled away, his gaze met mine, and there was something in his eyes I couldn’t quite read. “I’m going to fix this, all right?”

“I know,” I said. “I know you will.”

I just wished I knew what fixing it meant.

We made our way in silence back through the garden to the palace. It was mid-afternoon—we’d been in the forest most of the day. At the doors, Elias sighed and pushed one hand through his hair, still damp from the romp in the stream. “I’ve got to go find Kodan,” he said. “Straighten this all out.”

“Right,” I said. “What’s the plan?”

He shook his head. “Don’t worry about it.”

I swallowed and tried to push down the frustration building in my chest. “Well, considering he wants me—”

“Please, Reyna,” he said. He pressed his forefingers to his temples. “Go have lunch. I’ll handle this.”

“Right,” I said quietly, but Elias didn’t seem to hear me as he hurried inside.