Like Seraphina, Skyler had refastened his Guardian band into a new shape. He’d wanted his arms to he equal weight for combat, so his band had been reshaped into a small badge, which he wore at his throat.

His coat tore open with one tug, having already been weakened by my barrage of snow. I removed the Air gem and slipped it into my pocket to join the others.

“One more.” I turned back to Peran’s Memorial and gave it a smile. “Almost done. Then we can go.” I ran a finger over Peran’s gem in my other pocket. “Then it will just be us, my prince. Forever.”

I held my hands together and, after a moment of concentration, felt a circlet of ice form. Pulling my top hand up pulled the ice at even intervals, leaving a smooth slope between them. When I was done, I knelt and left the little crown in front of the memorial.

“Just us.” I whispered again. “A princess of ice and her loyal prince.”

I stood and turned for the door.

As I made my way back the way I’d come, I fiddled with more ice in my hands. I grew another snowflake, a shape I could muster at the slightest thought. Around it, I drew out coils of thin icicles, creating my own crown. Eight icicles. Two for my hair, six for my gems.

I affixed the four gems in my pocket to the spokes surrounding the snowflake. After a moment of hesitation, I removed Peran’s gem from his band and added it as well.

The remaining spoke gaped up at me, awaiting the Water gem. Soon. I told myself.

I reached the corner where Mizuki had stopped me, but saw nothing but lingering ice. Mizuki and Ellen had been moved.

Luna. I thought, turning down the hall. She knew I wanted the gem, and she refused to let me take it.

She wasn’t in her rooms, so I made my way to the throne room. Our father would either be in his own rooms, or in the war room with his advisors. Luna, since we were young, had a habit of going to the throne room when she was stressed, even if it would be empty.

“Luna!” I shouted, throwing open the large doors.

She looked up at me, startled. As always, she was curled up beside the throne, knees to her chest. Tears streamed down her face.

I clicked my tongue when I saw she wasn’t alone. Reiner stepped in front of her, sword drawn.

“Lucy.” Luna breathed, eyes moving to the tiara in my hand. “Please, stop.”

“You know what I want.” I reminded her.

Luna nodded. She handed the Water gem to Reiner, who tossed it to me. I put it on my tiara, then put that on my head. Immediately, I felt colder, but also stronger.

“Now what?” Reiner shouted.

I glared at him, but kept my hands by my sides. As much as I hated him, I didn’t need anything from him. “Peran and I are leaving.” I told them. “You and father can have this kingdom. I don’t need it.”

Reiner took a battle stance, eyeing me warily. “You will not leave. Not with the kingdom’s legacy.”