Page 119 of The Kingdom of Eternal Ice
Are we all thinking the same?Caelan wants to verify.I remember she touched the ground.
I furrow my brows, before hurrying towards the door. “I need to verify something,” I call to the others. They exchange a few curious glances before following me. I don’t pay them any attention though and instead walk right to the lake behind the castle. The one where Azadeh and I bonded for the first time. We met there with Flinn and Caelan later, and we showed her the park, the lake… and the Blessed Tree.
I hurry straight to the Blessed Tree, the one Flinn tends to make fun of. I can’t spot anything from afar, but once close up, I see it instantly.
“It’s… there are buds,” I confirm.
“No way,” my father calls out, pushing past me. His eyes widen in shock as he sees the small green buds. There are only a few of them, but they are here, clearly.
“What’s happening?” Flinn enquires into the silence.
“I have no idea,” I say. “But our world is changing.”
thirty-nine
Losses
*AZADEH*
The following hours pass in a blur. I’m incredibly worried for Alana. Her family is too, but… it’s not just her condition I am worried about. I just always had the feeling that there was more between her and Ita. Her death has to be truly crushing for Alana, and I’m terrified to see how she is coping with it.
I went to Aylin first, filling her in on everything. She wore a constant expression of worry on her face, especially when we talked about the mythical creature that was spotted around the pack Alana, Tynan and Ita visited.
But Alana, and the other hurt warriors are the more pressing issue now, so Aylin promised she would focus on preparing the healers.
Meanwhile, Simin and I make sure to prepare Alana’s room. “I’m so sorry, Simin. We didn’t even have time to catch up.”
Simin shakes the pillows to make them puffier, before dashing towards me and hugging me. “I just need to get it off my chest,” she says. “I didn’t want to show my excitement ever since the news about Gamma Ita broke, but I need to…” She pauses. “I’m so happy for you, my princess. You deserve this so much. After everything…” Tears fill her eyes suddenly. “You deserve it so much.”
I hug her back, feeling touched by her genuine joy for me. “Thank you for always being there for me,” I say. “In my darkest times, you and Shayan were the only ones at my side. How lonely would my life have been without you?”
“Now, you never will be lonely again,” Simin says with a smile.
“None of us will,” I assure her. “Who knows… you might just find your happiness here, too.”
“I hope so,” she smiles. “I never thought I had a thing for werewolves… but aren’t they handsome?”
“They certainly have a lot going for them,” I say.
“You need to tell me everything later,” Simin Says. “I want to know details.”
“I will,” I promise. “So, while I was away, what were you up to?”
“I mostly hung out with Kilah,” she says. “And I’m learning more about sewing and design. The king said I can learn it on a professional level if I want to. He would come up with the expenses. But I am not sure yet where my passion lies. He said I should take my time with my decision.” She smiles. “He is such a good person. So different from…” Her voice trails off. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”
“You said nothing wrong,” I say. I do remember a time when I was little when my father showed his kinder side more, but I haven’t interacted with him in so many years. He is like a stranger to me now. He would have never done what King Gillean did for Simin and I.
“Kilah is actually really nice,” Simin interrupts the silence. “Some of the girls in town don’t like her. They say she is arrogant and stuck-up, but she is nice to me.”
Kilah is starting to feel the isolation. She felt less than her siblings and, to make up for her own shortcomings, she put on this mask. Now it comes back to haunt her. It’s sad actually. She just wants a fresh start, but you can’t have one when everyone knows you. She is trying so hard now, though, so I’m sure the others will eventually see who she truly is.
“I like her too,” I tell Simin.
“Do you consider her a friend?” Simin asks.
“Yes, I do.”
Simin smiles. “She will be happy to hear that,” she says. She pauses to look at the room. “I want to put flowers on Alana’s desk, something nice, you know.”
