Chapter 382

After that terrible meeting, I needed some space to think. Nicholas, having left the room with me, was reluctant to leave me alone.

“You can’t listen to them, Piper,” he said. “They are just trying to manipulate you.”

“Maybe,” I agreed. That was a distinct possibility, especially with how kind the King was being to me. But, his words did have some merit. What if my choice did affect morale of the people, and thereby the outcome of the war? I didn’t want to be so brazen as to assume I alone could affect such a thing, but…

If there was even a chance, I had to carefully consider my choice. I couldn’t behave rashly here.

“I just need time to think this over,” I said. “I’m not making any decisions yet.”

Nicholas stared at me with embers kindling in his eyes. A spark and his gaze would turn to a wildfire.

He was holding himself back. I knew there was much that he wanted to say. I waited for him to gather his thoughts and make his own decisions on what would be best.

In the end, after a long moment, he said, “Bridget would be a terrible Queen. She would be no benefit to the war effort.”

“She’s well liked,” I said. “She could improve morale.”

“Morale is not enough,” Nicholas said.

I didn’t disagree. But… what could I offer in her stead? I knew less of politics than she did. Even if she was a terrible person, she might provide more knowledgeable assistance than I could.

Ug, I didn’t know. My head was pounding, a headache coming on strong.

“I need to think,” I told Nicholas.

Finally, he nodded. Yet before he let me take my leave, he reached out and clasped my hand in his. He squeezed my fingers in comfort.

“You would not be a terrible Queen,” he said.

With that, he released me and walked away.

I wandered the halls of the palace, lost in thought.

I couldn’t let the kingdom tear itself apart, but nor could I trust Bridget to rule fairly.

Thusly, neither decision presented to me seemed to be a good one. This was an impossible choice. No matter which way I went, the end result could have dire consequences for the entire kingdom.

I didn’t know what to do.

Eventually, my wandering led me to the library, where I found Veronica studying once more. She had a stack of books beside her, nearly as tall as she was sitting.

Realizing I had never thanked her properly for her help with the ritual to heal Elva, I approached her now. I cleared my throat as I drew near to let her know of my presence.

She glanced up at me. “Hello, Piper.” I tried to thank her for helping with Elva, but she waved me off. “In the end, I did very little.”

That wasn’t true. It was only with her studying of the merfolk text, that we knew the counter-curse was even possible. Not to mention that she paid some of her life force to help the curse be broken. She was as much a hero as any of us. More so, because she was so committed from the start.

“Veronica,” I started, ready to argue my points, when I realize she’s not really paying me much attention anymore. Her gaze seemed firmly drawn to a spot on the wall to my left. She was totally lost in thought. “Veronica?”

She shook her head as if clearing it. “Forgive me,” she said. “I heard about Joyce.”

That was enough of an explanation for me. “I’m sorry,” I said. I knew she was trying so hard to help shake him from his underground conditioning.

She shook her head again. This time, while glancing at me. “I was so certain I had almost gotten through to him. If I’d had more time…” She sighed. “I don’t regret going on the island trip. How could I? When we were able to cure Elva. But I feel such a terrible burden. If I had been here, maybe this wouldn’t have happened.”

“You don’t know that,” I said. “It’s as possible that Hawk kidnapped him as it is that Joyce wanted to go. We don’t know all the facts.”

Veronica received no comfort from my words. Her shoulders slumped slightly. “I wish I could have been in two places at once.”

I didn’t know what to say to that. It wasn’t her fault, but she didn’t seem inclined to listen to reason. I stayed quiet instead, offering her comfort by my presence more than my words. Whatever she was feeling, I could help her carry it. We were friends. Her burdens were mine as well.

“So many long faces,” Julian said from the doorway. He grinned at us as we came close. We both looked at him. I noticed Veronica’s eyes brighten slightly, though gloom still hung over her like a dark cloud. “Good thing I come bearing gifts.”

Julian had his hand behind his back. As he approached Veronica, he pulled a small box from behind his back and placed it in front of her, right on top of the book she had been reading.

Veronica lifted a brow at him, then at the gift.

“Go on,” Julian said.

Veronica opened the box. Inside were a few seeds. I didn’t understand the significance, but Veronica’s mood immediately shifted, lightening.

“Where did you find these? These flowers are so rare…” She was in awe.

Julian’s grin widened. “I’m a prince, remember? Rare or no, I can deliver.”

I didn’t understand. Julian noticed as he glanced at me.

“Veronica mentioned that she regularly uses the pollen of a certain flower in many of her potions and spells. I thought it might be nice if she could just grow her own, instead of constantly sinking money into the pollen.”

“A most thoughtful gift,” Veronica said. The corner of her mouth shifted slightly, lifting in an almost smile.

I smiled now too, in relief. If I couldn’t lift Veronica’s spirits, I was pleased that someone else could.

Julian’s grin softened, looking at Veronica, and for a brief moment, I felt as if I was intruding on something that was not meant for me.

Soon, the moment passed, however, and we chatted like friends. The distraction was nice while it lasted. But in the back of my mind, I still agonized over the choice I would soon be required to make.

Leaving my friends to each other’s company, I went in search of Elva. I found her in the gardens, again with the wolves Night and Silver, though this time Nicholas was with her as well.

I approached quietly. The wolves looked at me but Elva was deep in conversation with Nicholas.

“What does your wolf look like, Nick-lass?” she asked.

She was teasing. “I’ve shown you before,” Nicholas replied with a gentle smile.

“I forgot,” she said. A fib.

Nicholas laughed lightly. “Very well.”

He stood and stepped back a few steps. In a flash, he fully shifted from human to wolf. As an Alpha, his wolf was massive. To anyone else, he would have been intimidating. But Elva wasn’t afraid in the slightest. Instead, she laughed.

“When will I be able to do that?” she asked.

My chest tightened.

My little girl, already to strong and so smart. She was on track to manifesting her wolf sooner rather than later.

I was both proud and worried.

With a war on the way and the underground hiding in the shadows, who knew what kind of future waited for her?

Was there anything I could do to make it brighter?