Part of me had held onto hope that Arthur was still alive, that he couldn't really be dead. But seeing him now, alive in the flesh, a small, shameful part of me wished he was dead. I pushed that thought away quickly, horrified at myself for even thinking it.

It took me a moment to realize I was holding Thomas's hand. I disentangled my fingers from his, and I saw Arthur's eyes clench at the gesture, pain flashing across his features.

"I have been looking for you, Aurora," he said, dismounting ...