Page 15 of Mountains of Mist and Magic

“That's—a lot to take in.”

“Hence my moodiness. Renya chose to tell me about her intentions on our way back from the Tidal Kingdom. I think she had hoped my mood would be in a better place.”

“I'm sorry you're dealing with this.”

Grayden didn't say anything for several seconds, tracing the rim of his glass with a finger.

“So...I've come to ask you—”

“No, Grayden. Please. I can't—I've filled in for you the best I could, but I'm dying in here.” Phillippe picked up a stack of papers and then tossed them back on the desk. “This isn't me; I can't do this forever—”

“Brother, I don't know what else to do. If I don't find a solution, I'll have to live separately from my mate. From my Renya. I'll be a stranger to my own child.”

Phillippe bit his lip.He could understand his brother's situation and saw the awful predicament both he and Renya were in. But him? Rule the Snow Lands? It wasn't what he wanted for himself, not a responsibility he had ever hoped to take on. He had always assumed that Grayden would be there, handling things. It was the way it was supposed to be.

“Please, Phillippe. I wouldn't ask, but—I can't live without her. I can't not be around my own child. I can't live days away from my mate, only see her part of the time. I think—I think it would kill me.”

Phillippe looked at his younger brother, Grayden’s eyes slightly misted. It wasn't what Phillippe wanted, in fact, there was hardly anything he would detest as much. But his brother had borne far more than his fair share of the burdens of their lands, while Phillippe was off in the mountains. He couldn't deny him this.

“Yes. I'll do it.”

Grayden's face morphed into shock and then his eyes watered again, obviously touched at Phillippe's acceptance and sacrifice.

“But Grayden, what about magic? I'm not fit to be a ruler under any of the laws of our kingdom and lands.”

Grayden frowned. “I've thought about that. I'm going to get together with the leaders and rulers of our world and see if they will accept you. Explain our situation. If they accept you, everyone else will have to. Plus, Renya and I are hoping that progress has been made in finding clues on how to restore the magic.”

“Your first idea sounds better. Tumwalt and Almory just found more useless rhymes. They have Renya's aunt helping them right now, but she has hinted that she'll be leaving soon.”

“She's leaving? Where to?”

“The Shadow Realm.”

“Ah. Well, it's hers to rule. Technically, it could be Renya's too, but I think there would be too many bad memories there for her. And Renya has always favored the lighter side of her heritage. Her magic, too. Everything about Renya...glows.”

“Says her love-sick mate,” Phillippe teased.

“Speaking of love-sick...how are you faring with the beautiful Esmeralda?”

At the mention of her name, Phillippe's features softened, his eyes taking on a dreamy quality. She was becoming a real weakness for him. But their relationship wasn't without its difficulties.

“Pour some more fireale, I'm going to need it,” Phillippe said.

“That bad?”

“Grayden, I think—I'm feeling things for her I've never experienced before.”

Grayden's eyebrows shot up, his surprise evident.

“Good for you, Phillippe.”

“Is it? I'm all...off-balance. My normal behavior with women—”

“You mean sleeping with them and then dumping them?”

“Yeah, that...it's not going to work here.”

“You mean, you haven't...yet?”

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