Page 189 of The Kingdom of Eternal Ice
“Itiscold,” I chuckle.
We walk by the huge riding hall where Alana is currently training with our new queen, Azadeh. Kiyan halts in his steps, watching his sister, and for a moment I can see gentleness and vulnerability in his eyes. “You were all very kind to my sister,” he says.
“She was kind to us,” I tell him. “She arrived, was open to change, and ready to let all prejudice go.
She is an incredibly intelligent and kind person.”
Kiyan’s expression darkens. “I know,” he says. “I can’t believe Father got rid of her like that,” he spits. “She could have been sold into slavery.”
“You had no idea, did you?” I ask.
“None. I was on a long and draining mission, and when I returned, she was gone months already.” The tone of his voice is bitter and full of hatred and guilt. It makes my heart ache, realizing how he must feel. I don’t know how he grew up, I don’t know of his relationship to his siblings aside from Azadeh. But I don’t think his life is all that great.
“So, Kiyan,” I say. I dropped the formalities on the first day, much to Kiyan’s annoyance, but he’s stopped correcting me by now. I call this my first win. “My brother, the king, will soon approach you with this offer, but he told me to tell you about it in advance.” I pause. “To further strengthen the peace treaty, we thought we should establish an exchange program. To learn more from each other.”
“An exchange program?”
“Yes, we are connected now, through my brother’s and your sister’s marriage.” I smile brightly. “We are an extended family now.”
I’m more than aware that this thought never struck Kiyan. To my amusement, he stares at me through wide eyes, obviously completely flabbergasted by my words.
“I knew you would agree,” I say, smiling brightly.
“And how is that exchange program supposed to work?” he asks.
“Oh, we start with sending someone from our kingdom to yours, and we, of course, extend the invitation to have one of the members of your royal family or higher ranks come here,” I say. It’s a bluff. King Naseem is known to not have any relations with anyone. But I also know that, while being an utter asshole, he isn’t stupid. He won’t be able to say no to one of us visiting.
“And, who would be the person to visit us?” Kiyan asks.
I put up my most charming smile. “Yours truly, Prince Flinn!”
sixty
*ROYAN*
Iwatch how Simin runs around in front of me, her nerves clearly showing. She always gets nervous when close to horses, but I can see her improve daily. My body still doesn’t listen to me as it should, so I don’t mount a horse yet, but Aylin and former Queen Sine, said it would benefit my health and healing to spend time outside and to walk. So, I walk.
I help Simin onto her horse. It’s huge, a cold-blooded horse breed, but, as is usual for these types of horses, he has a gentle soul and would never toss a rider off his back. We are doing some light, lungeing training regularly, to help her get accustomed more to the horses.
I clench my fingers slightly while taking the reins in my hand and leading the horse to the middle of the ring. They still hurt like fuck. Penelope broke me in a way I never expected to be broken. It’s like nothing in my body is functioning properly, anymore.
My body is one thing, but my mind is another. Donovan is still not there. Sometimes I feel like there is a presence, but he was weakened and killed twice. Aylin said it’s going to take a while for him to recover.
Ifhe recovers.
I know that’s what she intended to say. If the worst outcome happens, then Donovan will remain in this state, and I will never regain my full strength again. I’m not even half the warrior I was before. Queen Azadeh keeps firm on her words that I’m to return to my duties once my wounds healed. This promise is the one that keeps me going. Even without my wolf fully back, I still have my duties.
Beta Shayan has offered to train me. He is like the older brother I never had, and a true inspiration to me ever since we went to the witch’s lair. I thought strength was all I had, but there was so much I lacked. He told me we will start with very slow training next week, where he will show me some tricks.
The other motivation I have is sitting on top of the horse right now, clinging to its neck. “Why did I say yes to this?” Simin squeals.
“Because you are a little warrior,” I say.
“You think I’m a warrior?” she beams.
“You are fierce, strong and determined,” I say.
Her cheeks flush at my words, and she smiles shyly. By now she has become a full member of the pack, but she is still having difficulties with mind linking, so we default to talking normally.
