Everything that followed was a whirl of chaos. The King offered another rousing speech of battle, sacrifice, innovation, and triumph. The Rangers were ushered away by the Healers and Alchemists.

Steph squeezed Callum in a tight hug, refusing to release him until the Ranger promised he would eat, rest, and follow the Healers’ every instruction. Callum gave Penelope a quick embrace and a shaky grin, his arms still trembling from the trauma of battle and injury, before a Healer helped him make his way out with the others.

The ballroom floor was swept clear of sand and the runes were extinguished. By the time the orchestra was reseated and striking the first notes of a new dance, the ballroom was once again filled with eager ball-goers, flushed and chattering with the thrill of spectacle.

Desperate for a moment of quiet, Penelope and Steph slipped through the crowd towards a shadowed arch, beyond which lay a terrace arcade. Ornate, open archways lined the long stone corridor, offering an expansive view over tiered gardens blooming with night flowers.

Set between each arch were delicate chimeneas shining with silver flame, bathing the polished stone with the illusion of moonlight. Dragon fire, Penelope realised with an uncomfortable twist to her stomach.

Their footsteps were lost to the din of music and chatter spilling from the ballroom as they wandered the arcade, coming to rest by an arch wreathed in floral vines.

Penelope felt Steph’s arms circle her waist from behind. She spun to face him as he buried his face against her neck.

“You saved his life, Penelope,” he whispered, voice rough with spent emotion. “You saved him.”

Penelope traced her fingers through Steph’s hair, grounding herself in the soft texture of his curls.

“None of this feels real…” Steph sniffed. “I grew up hearing the story of that night, of course, but in the context of… of history lessons. I never heard anyone truly speak about their experiences living through that night. How terrifying it must have been. As a boy, I always thought it a fine story about brave heroes fighting monsters. Just another battle, another story, in Grimwood’s ancient legacy…

“I’ve even explored charred ruins beneath our town, but… it always just felt like a great adventure… As though everything happened in some distant untouchable past. I’ve been so naive, Penelope.” Steph frowned, his mouth pinched with shame.

“I never realised just how much Ethan, my father, everyone, has been keeping from me… Callum’s been one of my closest friends my whole life, and he never told me a thing about… about any of this. I don’t understand why everyone kept me in the dark about these realities…”

Penelope drew back to peer up into Steph’s face, his eyes wounded.

“I just feel so… betrayed.”

“I’m so sorry, Steph,” Penelope sighed, smoothing her thumbs along his cheeks. “For what it’s worth, I understand the feeling.”

Steph winced. “Am I being a massive hypocrite?”

Penelope frowned. “What? Oh! No, Steph… I understand your reasons for guarding your own secrets. No, I was speaking about my parents. How they’ve kept me in the dark my whole life… How they’ve always withheld the truth of their intentions from me. I understand what it is to feel… manipulated by those who should be the most honest with you.”

Steph pressed his lips together, frowning at the garden vista. “I’m not sure what to do… Perhaps it’s my fault. After all, I’ve never really followed the rules… except as a lark.” Steph scoffed at himself. “I’ve never truly taken anything seriously… Perhaps they never trusted me to join the cause, so to speak…” Steph grimaced into the distance as he ruffled his hair.

“Is that what you want to do now? Has…” Penelope worried at her lip before steeling herself to ask her question. “Has what we’ve seen tonight changed your mind? Do you wish to join your brother, join Callum, in their efforts..?”

Steph looked up, startled. “No! No? I…” Steph huffed. “I’d be lying if I said tonight didn’t radically upset my perspectives…”

Penelope nodded slowly. She too felt conflicted. It was difficult now for her to view Grimwood’s Rangers, even Ethan, as the simple villains she had perceived them to be. Hearing of the terror and incomprehensible loss Grimwood had suffered, Penelope could not begrudge them their desire to protect their home, their realm, and the people they loved.

Yet, she could also not tolerate their violence against the Darkwood.

“I want to understand more of what is happening,” Steph continued. “I feel there is so much I don’t know. I still don’t condone the… brutality… I’ve never really had the heart for it.” Steph offered a shy smile. “I’ve always been the gentlest of my brothers… Ethan was the only one who never really teased me for it.” Steph’s smile turned sad.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

“Perhaps… Perhaps he simply wanted to keep you gentle? Allow that for you?” Penelope offered.

“Perhaps…” Steph conceded. “Perhaps there is also a gentler way to achieve his aims? What you did tonight, Penelope… You made a miracle happen. You showed us all something impossible. I’m scared, and confused, and… and angry, at my family, at Callum, at myself, even… but I have so much hope as well.”

Steph drew Penelope closer, pressing his brow to hers. “I have hope in you… I am yours.”

Despite her own fear and distress at the course the night had taken, Penelope smiled as Steph pressed their lips together in a meltingly tender kiss. The night fell away until the whole world felt still, quiet at last. Penelope wished she could freeze the starlight shining on this moment, suspend it, everlasting, within a night, a season, an unchanging lifetime of winter bliss.

She sighed as they drew apart, as the world beyond them interrupted with the sound of approaching footsteps and a gleeful squeal.

Penelope gasped as she turned, looking up into the face of her mother. Her father and sister stood further behind, broad smiles on their faces.

Penelope gaped at her mother for a long moment before her sense of etiquette returned. Penelope felt like a puppet with cut strings as she curtsied to the Queen of Starwood.

“Mother… Father…” Penelope’s voice wavered as she struggled to contain her emotion. “May I present Prince Stephan Graham Seth of Royal House Grimwood… Prince Steph, may I present my mother, Queen Theia, my father, King Obi, and my sister, Princess Clarity, of Royal House Starwood.”

The thud of her heart rushed through her ears as Steph bowed low to her family, exchanging formalities.

“Penelope,” her mother breathed. “You cannot imagine how much joy it brings us to see you again, at long last.”

Penelope froze as Steph stiffened by her side. Before she could reply, Clarity bounded forward.

“Sister!” the girl cried, flinging her arms around Penelope’s waist. “Oh, I’ve so looked forward to meeting you!”

Penelope’s breath hitched as she wrapped her arms around Clarity’s shoulders, embracing her younger sister for the first time. She smelled warm and sugary, like vanilla and honeyed hazelnuts. Overcome with a surge of affection, Penelope lifted Clarity off her feet and spun her in a wide circle until the younger girl squealed with laughter.

“I’ve looked forward to meeting you, too,” Penelope said as she set Clarity back down on the smooth stone. Penelope drew back to look down into her sister’s teary amethyst eyes before pulling her into another tight hug. “I can’t believe you’re truly here! I feel like I’m dreaming…”

“I’ve seen this moment, you know,” Clarity whispered. “A dozen, hundred times… this is better than any dream.”

Penelope swallowed back her sobs as tears fell into Clarity’s braids. “I’ve missed you so much. So, so much…”

They stood like that for long moments, until a small shuffle of feet reminded Penelope of her parents’ presence.

“Oh…” Penelope looked up as her father stepped closer, an uncertain smile on his face. In a slow and familiar gesture, he opened his arms towards her, and Penelope’s heart shattered.

“Father…” Penelope released Clarity with a kiss to her brow, before stepping into the waiting circle of his arms.

“Hey there, little star…”

He smelled exactly like her memories, the scent of sage and mint overwhelming her senses. His voice rumbled just the same, deep and rich and safe. Suddenly, she could have been four years old, being held tight after falling asleep beneath the banquet table of her first dance. Through a haze of tears and choking sobs, Penelope realised he was talking, low and soothing, his own voice tight with tears.

“…missed you so much, my star… so proud of you… love you, our little north light…”

Years of grief and crushing loneliness threatened to consume her; the strength of her father’s arms were the only thing keeping Penelope upright as she fought to breathe.

She revelled in the relief, the searing joy, she felt at being wrapped in her father’s warmth again, hearing her sister’s laughter, feeling her mother’s fingers carding through her hair…

“Perhaps we might find someplace private to speak more freely?” her mother murmured with a glance at Steph.

“Oh!” Penelope stepped back, looking around to find Steph had retreated several paces to give them privacy, yet was fixing a keen eye on her parents’ movements.

The dismissal of Steph rankled Penelope, cutting through the tide of her emotions. “Mother, Father…” she said with an edge of defiance. “Steph is my intended. There will be no secrets between us.”

At her glance, Steph strode forward without hesitation and placed a protective hand on the small of her back.

Her mother smiled, gaze warm, as she regarded Steph’s stony expression and stiff-backed posture. “I am… we are… most glad to hear that…”

Beside Queen Theia, King Obi nodded and Clarity looked up at Steph with a bright grin.

“I’m marrying Prince Caspen. When we’re old enough, of course… Well met, future brother!” the young princess said with such enthusiasm, Steph’s hardened expression melted to a bemused sort of delight.

“Well met, future sister…”

Despite herself, Penelope’s heart rose at her family’s approval; though her decision had been made, a deep and uncertain part of her had expected to fight for her choice, and her family’s ready acceptance unburdened a weight in her chest. It left her feeling unsteady.

“I believe it would be best,” Queen Theia interjected, turning to Penelope, “to speak first alone, so we might offer answers to your questions. We expect it may be a… difficult conversation—”

“You’re going to shout at them,” Clarity said with a forlorn smile.

“Will she…” Steph muttered with a vicious gleam in his eye.

“Quite a lot, yes.”

“A difficult conversation,” Queen Theia reiterated, “best conducted in private.”

Penelope deliberated, her already agitated temper flaring higher. She glanced up at Steph, who raised his eyebrows in question, expression open and sincere, and she understood he would support her decision.

With a sigh, Penelope squeezed Steph’s hands and turned to her parents. “I will go with you to speak privately.”

Queen Theia nodded. “Well met, Prince Stephan, it was truly a pleasure to meet you.” With parting pleasantries, and a boisterous hug around Steph’s middle from Clarity, her family stepped towards a staircase leading down into the gardens.

“Are you sure?” Steph asked quietly, searching Penelope’s face. “I could follow at a distance—I’m very stealthy you know—or I could send along a guard?”

Penelope smiled, touched by the offer. “Thank you… But I think I’ll be alright… I’ll come find you later?”

“Of course… you’ll have to tell me all about the shouting.”

Penelope scrunched her nose and reached up to kiss the corner of Steph’s mouth.

“It’s a promise.” With that, Penelope turned to follow her family.