Page 53 of War of Her Heart

“Why hasn’t he taken a wife?” I asked.

Sebastian was well older than me, centuries older, and with him being Sovereign, I was sure he knew he needed to produce an heir for the line of succession to continue.

If he didn’t, the throne would inevitably go to Nathara—or her future children—and I knew he wouldn’t want that.

“He’s never been interested in the fae he’s met,” she said, shrugging her shoulders.

“Really? After all these years he hasn’t found someone to keep him company?” I looked down at the thread I had absentmindedly managed to pull from my dress. “That seems . . . lonely.”

Her nose scrunched. “Oh, he’s had plenty ofcompany. I have spent countless nights awake because of the things he does to keep himself . . . entertained.”

My stomach fluttered at what she insinuated. Was that why he was interested in me? A new female to keep him entertained?

I shook away my thoughts and knew I had to steer the conversation away from him. Even the thought of him felt wrong.

And I was not something for him to toy around with.

“The gardens,” I blurted out to get my mind away from him.

“What?” Bronwen was clearly confused by my outburst.

“Is it safe past the gardens? I spend a lot of time outside at home. But I like to find somewhere I can be alone. Would it be alright if I went past the gardens?”

“Oh. Well, yes. Anywhere within the castle walls is safe. It may feel and look unsafe, which is natural given we are in the Night Realm, but Sebastian keeps unwanted creatures out.”

I guess he didn’t tell her about the paramic.

Shortly after Bronwen’s visit, it was time for dinner. It was different than usual, though. Sebastian and Adar weren’t there, and Lilian and Celine took that as an opportunity to be loud and force everyone to listen to them.

They spoke of wedding plans, their home realms and how much better they were than the realms that were forced to move to, and how cute their future grandfaes will be.

I lost count of the drinks that Bronwen had. She was a giggling mess, and I knew it wouldn’t be long before she excused herself from this hell.

I kept my head down and focused on my food, counting down the minutes until dinner was over.

The next morning, I rang for Yara and asked her to bring my breakfast packed in a satchel so I could spend as much time as I could outside. I went for a walk in the gardens. I needed fresh air and to gather my thoughts.

I knelt down and studied the violets that lined the walkways between the hedges. They were so out of place here. In the Mountain Realm, we had native wildflowers, and everything else was imported from the Flower Realm. They were hard to maintain in our realm’s climate. Celine usually brought them in for her parties and events and they died shortly after.

A waste.

But these flowers were so delicate and yet they looked strong and healthy. They were thriving in a realm that they didn’t belong in.

A flower that needed sunlight and yet here it was in the Night Realm where the sun seemed more like a painting hung in the sky than a blazing star.

I continued my walk past the gardens to find the spot where I almost died. I knelt down at the spot where the paramic disappeared into nothing only a few days before. You would never have known something had happened here. There wasn’t a blade of grass out of place.

“Please tell me you aren’t paying your respects to a paramic.”

I wasn’t startled at his voice. He saw everything through his shadows, and I knew he would be watching me.

Maybe I came out here to see if he’d follow. Maybe I wanted to see him.

“It was one of your subjects. Something you are meant to protect. Just like the fae at the bar. You killed it for someone from the Mountain Realm. I’m pretty sure that breaks every oath a Sovereign is supposed to live by.”

He shouldn’t have any regard for me or my safety. I was an outsider, and yet he seemed to put me first. Every fucking time.

“Do you really think I abide by the rules? The bastardthat took the throne?” he asked as he walked around until he stood in front of me.

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