behind and gave a small nod to the prince before quietly adding, “Not for anything.”
“Of course.” Vhalla glanced away. She felt the weight of Aldrik’s stare remain on her.
“Why don’t you take a breather?” Jax patted her shoulder, and she winced. “Are you all right?”
“Fine, fine.” Vhalla brushed by him, barely remembering to thank her opponent before she walked out of the ring. She didn’t know where she was heading, but she knew staying anywhere close to Aldrik was not a sound idea. There were too many things unsaid right now, and this was not the forum to say them.
Familiar footsteps crunched the ground behind her, and Vhalla didn’t even have to turn to know the prince was there. Aldrik strolled by, his future wife in silent company. He didn’t look back at her once.
Vhalla retreated to the tall table underneath the sunshade. Erion no longer occupied the space behind it. Now Baldair was managing the guard and working on schedules.
“I heard you were here.” Baldair assessed her thoughtfully.
“With how often people speak of me, I sometimes think I can exist in multiple places at once.” Vhalla massaged her shoulder.
“My brother heard as well.”
That explained it.
“What’s going on with you and him?” Baldair’s voice was thoughtful, but it carried an unusual weight.
“Nothing is going on.” Vhalla frowned. “Everything is over between us.”
“Really? And, does he know that?” Vhalla narrowed her eyes at Baldair’s remark. It didn’t dissuade the prince from continuing. “We all know what happened the last time you both tried this path. But that will be nothing compared to what will happen if you try to get in the way of his engagement.”
“Good thing I’m not trying then.” Vhalla pursed her lips, barely refraining from remarking how, despite her general hatred for the Emperor, she had never tried or suggested his assassination—unlike Aldrik’s current betrothed.
Daniel appeared shortly thereafter, putting a blissful stop to the conversation. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“And what’s this?” Baldair glanced between his companions with a tiny smirk.
“Two friends catching up,” Daniel responded easily.
“Sure, sure.” The prince held the word for emphasis. But the tease was empty. It lacked the weight of any real suspicion for things going on between them.
Daniel led her away from the prince, and Vhalla found herself breathing easier the farther they got from the Tower and the training grounds—the farther she got from the princes and the axe. They walked out of a side entrance into the common area of town. Daniel immediately turned to the right, and they strolled up a small street to the section where nobles and dignitaries lived. In the distance, Vhalla could see the high walls surrounding the water gardens around the golden ballroom. Vhalla smiled faintly.
That was a different time. The dance she had shared with Aldrik was the last night he had just been a prince and she had just been a girl. She’d yet to learn of the depth of their Bond, and she’d yet to be known as the Windwalker.
“Have you ever been to the mirror ballroom?” Daniel asked, seeing where her attentions were.
“I have, once,” she sighed wistfully.
“It’s quite the spectacle.” Vhalla hummed in agreement as Daniel continued. “I hear that’s where they’re holding a gala following the wedding.”
“The wedding?” Vhalla repeated, her voice revealing no emotion.
“Yes.” Daniel’s voice was soft as he spoke. He knew what he was saying to her, what she was hearing. His words were the nails in the coffin of a love she’d once coveted above all else. Her hand went to the watch around her neck. “It should be sometime just after the new year; all the Court will be invited. They want to make it a wintertime ball.”
“It’ll be lovely, I’m sure.” Vhalla forced a smile.
“But you don’t think you’ll see it with your own eyes.” Daniel gave sound to the words between her words.
“I doubt I’ll attend,” she agreed.
“I’m not surprised.” He brought his eyes away from the towering walls of the water gardens. “I wouldn’t want to go, if I were you.”
Vhalla regarded him cautiously. She didn’t know how to respond to the sentiment, so she kept her mouth shut and waited for him to give it more color. Daniel obliged.
“You know, I was engaged.” Vhalla nodded, prompting him to continue. “She still lives in Paca. And, I still haven’t had the courage to go back there yet. Not even when I went East looking for you. I had thought, if I’d found someone new. . . If I could show