The Raven and the Dove (The Raven and the Dove #1) - Kaitlyn Davis Page 0,21

rules. Helen never held her tongue. She didn’t worry about hurting his feelings. Her focus was on the house. On keeping it safe. On keeping it strong. And it was the thing he appreciated most about her—it was the reason he’d appointed her as captain of the guards and unofficial advisor to the crown prince when his mother had told him to step in and start taking charge of the kingdom he would one day rule. They were of like minds and not afraid of making tough decisions.

But in this instance, Xander used the oldest technique in the book to save Helen from the unnecessary wrath of the queen. He changed the subject. “Are the patrols back yet? Did they find anything?”

“There’s no sign of your brother, aside from what we found at the bridge,” Helen said matter-of-factly, not even attempting to lessen the blow. “No more bloodstains, no more feathers, no body. Nothing. The teams came back completely empty-handed.”

“What’s our next move?”

She lifted the apple to her lips and sank her teeth into it, ripping out a bite. Xander narrowed his eyes as she chewed.

She’s delaying.

Why is she delaying?

Before he had a chance to ask, Helen swallowed and sat up. “I think in this instance your mother might be right. You need to prepare for the trials.”

Xander’s invisible fist clenched so tightly, his right arm started trembling. “I refuse to believe that’s the case.”

And Helen refused to back down. “We searched the area—”

“Search it again. Someone was there. I saw the print in the blood. You did too.”

Her eyes softened the slightest bit.

Xander hated to see it, hated the concession, because he saw it for what it really was—pity.

“Even if someone was there, even if someone recovered his body,” Helen continued, voice forceful despite the subtle shift in her expression, “Rafe will be in no shape to compete in the courtship trials, which are being delayed only a single day. You saw the blood, same as I did. If he’s alive somewhere, he’s hanging on by a thread. He’ll have no time to recover. I’ll keep sending search parties day and night until you order me to stop, but that doesn’t change the fact that you, my prince, will be representing the House of Whispers in the courtship trials, whether you want to or not.”

Xander opened his mouth but shut it quickly, swallowing his counterargument. Revealing the truth would be even more dangerous than letting them believe his brother was dead. In fact, it would most likely kill him. And Xander knew in his heart that Rafe was alive somewhere out there on that frozen tundra, waiting for him.

“I’m going to join the search party tomorrow.”

“You’ll do no such thing,” Helen said. “You have one day to prepare for tests we never thought you’d face. Leave your brother to me.”

Holding his captain’s gaze, Xander didn't blink or back down. “You were right. I am the Crown Prince of the House of Whispers. And I will be joining the search party tomorrow.”

Helen folded her lips into a thin line but kept them shut.

Xander glanced to his mother. There was a mix of pride and frustration on her face, but mostly of love. She dipped her head, granting him permission to do what he would have done with or without the royal seal of approval.

I’m coming, Rafe, he thought, returning to the glistening city on the other side of the crystal wall. Hold on. I’m coming.

9

Lyana

Lyana was stuck with her family and the royal advisors for what felt like an eternity, but it made the hours after the meeting fly. Between gathering supplies with Cassi, avoiding another lecture from her brother, and straining to catch a glimpse of the remaining houses as they arrived, Lyana was caught by surprise when she glanced outside to find the burning glow of dusk upon them.

A thrill ran up her spine.

“We should go,” she chirped, spinning toward Cassi, who was on the floor of her room, stuffing two packs with the odds and ends they’d managed to gather earlier that afternoon. Some food. A fire starter. Logs. Oil lanterns. A change of clothes, complete with warm boots and furs meant for this tundra the raven wasn’t used to. “It’s going to get really cold out there without the sun.”

“He’s in a cave,” her friend drawled.

Lyana eyed her pointedly.

Cassi sighed. “Well, if you’re going to be like that, let’s just get this over with already.”

Jumping from the edge of the bed, Lyana flew to her friend,