Page 18 of The Princess of Nothing
Cedric placed his hand on my back. “She’s nervous,” he explained, addressing Birch with an understanding, soft expression. “She has carried around immense guilt for what she did. It changed her. She didn’t know her father would attack you. She thought she was protecting Magaelor.” He glanced at me. “However misguided.”
Birch stared at him for several seconds, then flitted her eyes toward me. I could see the confliction in her expression. The corner of her lip twitched, and she held her breath. “You had no right still.”
“I know.” My heart hurt. “But how did you know?”
“Who else could have given them our location?”
I gulped. “Yes, of course...” I paused, trying to find the words to express how sorry I was. “I don’t know what to say.”
She took a minute, then exhaled deeply. “I forgive you, Winter. Your friend is right. We all must learn.”
I sighed relief. “Thank you. I truly am so sorry. I don’t deserve your forgiveness.”
She stepped backward. “However, I cannot trust you again. My people could have died. My family. My friends. I will not risk their lives again. I forgive you, and you may leave here knowing this, but I do not permit you to stay.”
I swallowed hard. A lump formed in my throat. “I understand.” I pinned my arms against my stomach. “If there’s ever anything I can do to make it right, I will.”
She looked around at the trees and up at the bright sky. “If you leave now, you may make it out of here by sunset.”
Cedric squeezed my arm, steadying me. His voice was softer than normal. “Thank you for seeing us.”
Birch turned away and joined the rest of her tribe. I looked at them, my heart panging as I remembered my last visit here. They’d shown me so much kindness. I felt safe with them in a place filled with enemies.
Cedric whispered in my ear. “Don’t dwell on it. What is done is done. Let’s leave.”
Tears prickled my eyes. “I will make it right one day.”
“For that, you’ll need power. We need to get you out of here, hmm? Send you home so they can put a crown on your pretty head.”
I know he was trying to make me feel better, something else I didn’t deserve.
I closed my eyes, finding comfort in the temporary darkness. I was so tired, but with Cedric, I didn’t feel alone. Being with him felt like home, and all the devastation, guilt, and heartache was lessened by his side.
“Do you think I still deserve it? Now that you know everything?”
He snorted. “If I didn’t believe you deserved it, I wouldn’t be here with you. Look, you’re trying to do the right thing. Besides, I’ve never met a monarch yet who hasn’t done something bad. Your “Your intentions speak for you. You didn’t know any better at the time. You had no idea your father would kill them. You trusted him, even if it was naïve to do so. I do understand. Besides, royals must sometimes make difficult decisions. Ones that can end up with others hurting as a result.”
I quirked an eyebrow. “Like you’ve met so many royals.”
“Let’s not hover,” he said, catching the elves watching us. He gestured toward the tree line at the end of the meadow.
