Left alone in the ballroom and keenly aware of the few glances still sent my way despite the majority of attention on the crown prince and my sister, I made sure my serene smile was still in place. My father dragged his gaze away from Kat, and I bit my lip against the shiver of dread that crawled down my spine as his eyes focused on me.

“I know this isn’t what you wanted,” he said, the gentle tone of his voice taking me by surprise. There was a sympathetic regret in his slight frown as he stepped closer to me, his voice so quiet I nearly couldn’t hear it over the music as Tristain led my sister to the center of the dance floor. I could feel her gaze burning into me, and I had to look away as she was swept into a dance she had only just learned.

Forcing my smile to grow brighter, I said with a hint of bitterness, “It’s not what any of us wanted.”

Wincing, my father gave a slight nod. “Believe me, Markus, I wanted nothing more than to announce you as the next family head tonight. But you know this family must bow to tradition enforced by Nuzyn.”

“I know that!” I snapped, aggravation coloring my voice before I sucked in a breath.

There was shock behind my father’s stern expression; I had never spoken back to him, always focused on being the perfect son, a noble lord he could be proud of. I had no such burden anymore, and I allowed my frustration to break through for that brief moment.

“You taught me everything, Lord Eliseo, I’m well aware of your duties and my failure. I will follow tradition and depart as soon as my sister is settled into her new role so I don’t threaten her authority.”

“Markus…” He gave a deep sigh, fingers clenching at his side as if containing the urge to rub at his forehead again. “I’m sorry, my boy. I truly thought you would find a pair. I never imagined…” Jaw tight, my father was silent for a moment before he said, “When you leave, perhaps you should journey to Nuzyn. Bonded or not, you are still a child of Eliseo, and you’ll be allowed safe passage. Your sister was right. It must mean something that the dragons all took flight for you. Perhaps you’ll find your answers if you visit Lohsil.”

I was stunned into silence, heat welling in my eyes as my throat burned from the pressure of trying to keep a straight face. The mention of the elven capital was taboo outside of Nuzyn’s borders, so for my father to suggest I head there myself seemed surreal.

My breath hitched, and I let my head fall forward to hide my expression for a moment; despite my best efforts, tears spilled, and I struggled to maintain some semblance of control in front of my father. “I thought you didn’t believe in me,” I whispered, knowing the words would barely reach his ears.

I heard the heavy thump of his footsteps against the marble floor before his hand rested on my shoulder; heavy and warm, the touch was comforting and familiar from the days when my father would check in on my studies.

“No matter what the dragons think, I know you are more than worthy to lead this family… and I pray you find others who will see the same when you leave here.”

It was too much. I couldn’t breathe, too overcome by emotion and all too aware that we were in the gazes of the noble families of Elais. I drew back, giving a sharp nod and muttering, “I need a moment to myself,” before quickly turning away from my father.

I couldn’t raise my head, knowing the track of tears down my face would be painfully obvious. My hands trembled at my side while I tried to keep my pace even as I hurried to the doors that led out of the ballroom; it was a miracle I didn’t run over any of the gawking nobles, and I was grateful they were all too focused on the novelty of my sister to try to stop me.

My hands slammed against a heavy metal door, shoving it open. The cool air was like a miracle as I walked out of the brightly lit ballroom; the door closing behind me sealed away the sound of whispering nobles, though the sound of the music drifted through the windows high along the walls.

Away from their gazes, I could breathe freely for the first time in weeks. I leaned back against the door, allowing my head to fall against the metal as I turned my gaze up to the night sky. It was beautiful, deep velvet darkness scattered with the crystalline gleam of stars.

Occasionally, the wings of dragons would shadow the light, sweeping over the beaming beacon of the moon.

I had spent sleepless nights on the roofs of the stronghold, climbing out windows with my sister; it was calming to see the sky had never changed, the stars overhead one steady thing left in my life.

My breath shuddered out, nearly a sob, as I replayed my father’s words in my mind. He still believed in me, and if he thought there was a chance for answers in Lohsil, I would leave for Nuzyn as soon as I thought Katrina could handle her new duties.

A softly cleared throat made me jolt, my gaze flashing down from the stars to take in the courtyard I had entered. The paving stones under my feet made a path between flowers allowed to grow abundant and untamed, vines creeping across the stone; they flowed into the large circular center of the small space between the stronghold’s halls.

A fountain burbled in the middle of the stone, black marble reflecting the stars in spots of glistening light where it was dampened by the spray of water. This was a familiar place, one my sister and I had escaped to when she convinced me in giggling whispers to escape a lesson—and the stranger sitting at the edge of the fountain was eerily out of place.

I had no room to step back, quickly brushing away the traces of my tears in an attempt to save face as I avoided the soft gaze of the man watching me. “My apologies,” his voice was quiet and smooth, the deep, rich tones seeming to fill the courtyard, “I didn’t mean to startle you. I just… it seemed like you were seeking a private moment, and I didn't want you to think I was taking advantage.”

I blinked at him, a faint smirk on my face as I started to pull myself together. “How noble of you,” I murmured, straightening my shoulders and straining to catch my breath.

With the shock fading away, I was able to take in the man before me, and my eyes widened slightly with shock before I could restrain myself.

Full lips pressed into a thin line, blue eyes shifting away as the man winced slightly. He pushed a hand back through his hair, the silky strands a color somewhere between blonde and brown, a dusky shade that made the fawn-freckled, white feathers hidden among his hair look delicate between his fingers.

“Sorry,” he murmured, his voice strained as he got to his feet. There was an anguish behind his slight smile, his gaze unwilling to meet mine, as he made to skirt past me.

I shifted, holding an arm out to stop him, a curiosity edging at my mind, giving me a convenient excuse to avoid returning to the banquet.

“You don’t have to apologize,” I said. I had heard rumors about this man: Keyne Saville, the captain of the royal guard and a man with elven blood.

I knew he was probably worried I was no better than the nobles of Elais, prepared to condemn him for the magic in his veins. It made my heart ache as I looked up at him.

Keyne was several inches taller than me but far less imposing than the dragon knights I was used to, though I knew what kind of strength would lie behind an elf’s willowy build.

There was only so much human bloodline could do to dilute that power, and I could see it in his tense muscles as I lightly gripped his forearm to hold him from pushing past me.

He blinked at me, pale lashes fluttering over the breathtaking depth of his dark blue eyes, lips parted slightly in surprise. Keyne’s arm trembled under my fingers, and with a pang of bitter resentment toward the selfish nobles who despised the elves, I wondered how rarely he was touched to have such a reaction.

I cleared my throat, echoing his earlier gesture to attract my attention. “Neither of us wants to go back in there and brush elbows with the nobles,” I said, seeing a flicker of amused understanding in his gaze as he relaxed slightly. It allowed me to ease my grip on him, my hand resting lightly against his arm as I smiled at him. “I thought so. That said, why don’t you keep me company for a while?”

He gave me a thoughtful look, his gaze drifting for a moment to my fingers on his sleeve before giving a slight nod.

When Keyne’s eyes met mine again, it was as if I’d taken a weight off his shoulders. He had a light, earnest smile on his lips as he murmured, “It would be my pleasure.”