The news that Prince Egan was alive didn’t seem to have the heart-warming effect Prim thought it would, given everyone now knew he was an invisible, murderous psychopath.

The Lanhami royals quickly ducked out of Kallia’s chambers without another word, Evarist and Voliner clearly distraught at discovering one of their children murdered the other and it could have been avoided had they simply waited for the twins’ birth and offered Neros as a husband like the princes requested. Nor had Torra said anything more as she trailed her parents out, though she’d given both Kallia and Prim long looks that Prim couldn’t interpret.

King Achrod and Queen Mallis, however, stayed.

“Leave us,” the queen said, looking over every single person in the room aside from her husband and daughter.

They all did, even the guards, though Prim noticed Dante circle the room first, making sure he didn’t scent an invisible threat. Once in the hall, Helena left without a word and Bristol excused herself to check on Blukke, her escorts following her. Dante remained right next to the door, his head tilted in the way that revealed he was listening in, so Prim stayed, too.

Several minutes later, Dante addressed her. “It’s late Lady Primrose. You should retire.”

Prim nodded, knowing it meant the conversation was over. She left for her chamber, Dante and another guard following. Her love cleared her room then bid her goodnight in front of the guards posted by her door for the night.

When he flew through her window a short time later, he shifted right in front of her and wrapped his arms around her, pressing her head into his chest. “It’s okay that you wanted to kill him. And it’s okay that you didn’t.”

But it wasn’t. Neither was okay. She should have been more like Dante, doing what needed to be done but not enjoying it.

She would have enjoyed sending Egan to the void after everything he did. Regret swirled around her again that she hadn’t.

Dante pulled back to look at her, though he kept his arms around her. “Did you really think you killed your parents?” he asked softly.

Prim nodded pitifully, and Dante’s mouth twitched. Then he was laughing.

Prim pushed him away. “It’s not funny! What if it had been true?”

Dante’s laughter stopped, but his amused smile remained. “But it wasn’t.” He rubbed his palms over her arms. “Helena smacked the shit out of you for even thinking it.”

Prim’s hand involuntarily rose to the spot on her head where the mentor had struck. Her lips curved up and she began shaking as she tried to reign in her own laughter. “She did.”

“I think I might like her after all,” he said, chuckling again.

Prim shook her head, her own breathy laughs spilling out. He could have her. She pushed past Dante to collapse horizontally on the bed, though he followed and laid down next to her, his knee knocking into hers as they bent over the side.

“She was apologizing,” he said.

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Prim was looking at the ceiling; out of the corner of her eye, she saw that Dante was, too. “For making a scene? Seems like exposing a visiting prince killed his own fucking brother--not to mention our men--deserved a bit of theatrics.” She wished Kallia had told her, though. Perhaps she wouldn’t have choked if she’d known beforehand. Perhaps she could have avenged Roan’s death.

“Not Kallia. The queen. She was apologizing to Kallia and to the king for not listening. She said she realized traditions that would have her marrying a man like Prince Egan for his title and his breeding potential rather than someone who would make a good ruler and would make Kallia happy needn’t be traditions they keep.”

Prim sat up, twisting her body toward Dante and placing a hand on his chest, fisting his shirt. “What?”

Dante sat up now, smiling. “She said Kallia has proven herself to be wise and a good judge of character and that she will get to choose who she wants to marry. If she wants to marry. She said there are other ways to make an heir if she were to choose a woman or mith or to rule alone.” He nudged her with his knee. “You did it. You solved the mystery and got her out of that shit betrothal.”

Prim squealed, throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him. “Kallia did it.” Looking at Dante’s sweet smile and recalling all the things he’d done to ensure her friend’s safety, all he’d done to help uncover who had targeted her, Prim’s face softened. “We did it. None of this would have happened without you and Blukke. The queen was right. Kallia is a good judge of character.” She leaned in to kiss him again, so eternally grateful.

Prim and Dante laid back down, now with their arms around one another. They said nothing for a long while.

“What about Egan and Sarasha?” Prim asked eventually.

Dante shrugged, the stiff fabric of his uniform crinkling. “I suppose they’ll get away with it. I’m sure they won’t be showing their faces around here or Lanham again. Though now that I know what scent to be on the lookout for, I’ll know if he’s ever around.”

Prim’s stomach turned to lead at the thought that the prince who’d killed her friend would never be brought to justice. She sat up. “What does he smell like?”

“The sea,” Dante said, dragging his fingertips along her back as he remained laying.

Perhaps he did have a water gift, then. The invisibility must be a second gift. “Can’t you follow his scent? Like Roan followed mine?”

Dante paused his idle tracing. “He’s gone. He won’t be troubling us anymore--he has no reason to. He’ll live the rest of his days in hiding, knowing his family hates him and living with the guilt that he murdered his own brother.”

It wasn’t enough. Prim stood and Dante sat up to better look at her. Then she dropped to her knees in front of him, clasping her hands in front of her. “Please, Dante.”

Dante grasped her hands and hauled her up and into his lap. “The men who killed my parents likely retired and are living comfortably in the country.”

Prim’s chest tightened. “We can look for them, too. There must be records somewhere; at least showing what guards might have been in Pregg on that date.”

He shook his head, keeping his eyes locked on hers. “That’s not what I’m saying, Bear,” he said softly, stroking a knuckle down her face.

She knew. She knew that for as much death as he’d seen and delivered in his life, Dante was willing to choose peace instead.

But Prim hadn’t seen nearly as much death as him. She could stand to see more. “If Blukke’s wound had been fatal, would you be letting Egan go?”

Dante’s soft stroking stopped. “No. I wouldn’t rest until I found him.”

Prim cupped Dante’s face in her hands. “Help me find him. We don’t have to kill him. We can just bring him back here for the Orlanas or the Lanhami to dole out punishment.”

Dante clenched his jaw, then tightened his arm holding her in place. “You’re right. Bristol said Blukke should only be weak for a couple days, so hopefully he’ll be good to go tomorrow. I’ll see if he’s up for it--I’d feel much better with him by my side--but if not, I’ll still follow the scent trail by myself.”

Prim grinned, kissing him. She nipped his lip as she pulled back. “Like hell you will. I’m coming, too.”