Aster found his fiancé in the throne room. Despite his missing nights of slumber weighing him down, he tried his best to carry himself with poise and grace as he approached the throne. He pulled the sleeve of his robe down over the bandages on his arm, hoping to downplay what he’d been through.

Darreth was only just stripping off his riding gear and handing it off to a squire. He looked just as frazzled and tired as Aster felt, and when the king turned to approach his ...