Anwen
A scream splits the air. If I wasn't already watching Estrella like a hawk, I would still look over just in time to see King Isai touch one finger to the arrow through the center of his chest, then slump. Estrella tries to catch him, but she's not strong enough to support his bulk, so they go to the floor together. Other nobles scatter back, ducking like such a perfectly placed arrow could be anything but an assassination.
'Who fired?' Kieran barks over mind-link. 'Find the shooter! Quickly!'
I don't know if he's talking directly to me, but I know he relies on me for details like that. Still, I can't force my head to turn. My chest-my heart screams with pain like I was the one shot. Tears bead in the corners of my eyes, and I actually stagger. The mark pain, I could handle. It was nothing compared to what I've endured. But this? I have never hurt like this before, and I have no idea why it's happening.
Dun's Crossing soldiers slice through the parting crowd like knives. Handfuls of them trace the edges of the room, looking to the upper balcony I saw Estrella from only a few days ago. Others swarm around me, waiting for instructions.
I say the only thing I can manage. "To her."
They rush forward, and I let the wave of them carry me along. Every step I take closer, the pain lessens slightly. Just slightly.
I kneel across her father's body from Estrella. Her shoulders shake with sobs. Instincts pull me in a thousand directions. Touch her, take her hands, find the killer, protect her from another attack.
"This is too open." The words choke in my throat. "We need to move. Take King Isai, bring him to Fleming's room."
"No." Estrella's voice is ragged.
I blink. "What?"
"I said no." She looks up at me, the pain in my chest echoed in her gray eyes. "Find Mother. Find Castor. We're not going anywhere without them."
That goes against every inch of my training. Her mother and Castor are adults who can handle themselves. But I find myself saying, "You heard the woman. Locate the rest of the Sollabellas."
A few of the soldiers split off to search. The rest remain in a tight circle around us. A shield, in case the archer decides he didn't quite finish the job.
Looking at King Isai-which sends a fresh wave of pain tearing through my chest, though I barely knew the man-I can't imagine anyone thinking that. At least six inches of the arrow's shaft protrude from the front of his shirt, slick with blood. But even the blood can't disguise the distinctive shine of the tip. I can't know without touching it, but if I had to guess, I'd say it was pure silver. Overkill for an archer with this kind of aim. The silver wouldn't poison him like wolfsbane, but it would weaken his ability to defend himself, his natural healing. Father said silver weapons were for people who couldn't land a killing blow on their own, and that is obviously not true here. The king's face is ashen, and his eyelids flutter as he struggles to focus. Every movement sends more blood spreading across his chest.
"I'm sorry," I whisper. But I have no idea who I'm talking to.
The soldiers part, and Queen Suniva plunges to her knees next to her husband with a cry. Suddenly, I am in the way. I stand and back nearly into the circle of soldiers.
"Isai, please," the queen begs. "Hold on a moment longer. We can get you to a healer."
"Not until Castor's here," Estrella says savagely.
"Estrella-"
"I'm not arguing, Mother." She takes her father's hand and holds it so hard her knuckles turn ashen.
My chest aches with an echoing hurt. When Father died, everything moved so quickly. We had to run for the castle before news or escaping soldiers reached Mother. I sent everyone ahead and lingered for a single moment. If I buried him, I would never catch up, and in that moment, I thought I might have to save Mother's life. Maybe even Candace's, Finn's, or Ingrid's. But under an empty sky, an uncaring moon, I whispered a single prayer to the Goddess to keep him until we could bury him properly. I wanted one last moment with my family all together.
His body was gone by the time I went back for it. I understand Estrella's desperation all the same.
The soldiers part again, and Castor, looking alive for the first time, stumbles in and falls next to Estrella.
"I was in the hall," he whispers. "I didn't-"
"We have to move him," I say. "Now or never."
Queen Suniva smiles softly down at her husband. "I'm afraid, Prince Anwen, that we have already arrived at never. There's nothing your healer could do for him now."
Estrella closes her eyes, and fresh pain tears through me like the news devastates me. I stare at her. Am I... feeling her pain? But how?
Castor makes a choking sound like he's trying not to cry. "I'm sorry."
"You didn't know," Queen Suniva says. "We all wish we'd done something different."
She's not talking to me, but the words resound. Estrella is my mate. I should've been with her, protecting her and her loved ones, not flirting my way through a party to keep up appearances. Maybe I'll never be the man she deserves. Maybe it's too late for me. But I owe it to her to try.
"Father," Estrella says. Despite the terror and sadness of this moment, despite the screaming nobles around us and the sinking feeling I'm intruding, she looks golden. "We're all here. We love you."
"I-" King Isai coughs and spits up a mouthful of blood.
I wince. Queen Suniva is right. It's over.
"We love you," Estrella repeats.
She is beautiful even in her despair, like a single ray of sunlight has found her. Then, the ray of sunlight collects around her hands. I'm not imagining it or seeing something I want to see. Castor jerks his head up to stare at his sister. Queen Suniva's mouth falls slightly open. The golden glow increases, brighter and brighter, until it's like standing next to a tiny sun cupped in Estrella's hands.
"We love you," she says a final time, and the glow fades out. She opens her eyes.
King Isai coughs again, and his eyes flutter open. Pain pinches his brow, but his gaze looks mostly clear. What?
"Wh-" He glances around at his loved ones, then back at the arrow in his chest. "Ah. It seems the Goddess is calling me home."
"Don't say that, Isai," Queen Suniva murmurs. "If we have another moment, we can-"
"-say our goodbyes properly, my heart." His gaze is soft on her, but certain. Like Estrella, he is not to be argued with now. "I will love you until you join me in the stars, and for eternity after that. To be allowed to spend as many years as I have in your presence is my greatest blessing."
Queen Suniva lets silent tears fall down her cheeks. "And if I do not find you waiting, I will chase you through the sky."
"I would expect nothing less." He smiles and looks at Castor, near his feet. "My boy. I know this world stage has been unkind to you so far, but do not let them delude you into thinking you have no role to play in our future. You may not lead the pack, but you have a warrior's heart and an advisor's instincts. Help your sister, and never forget that you come from the same noble blood."
Castor makes that choking noise again and stares at his father's ankles. "Yes, Father. Of course."
"Estrella." King Isai says her name like that alone is a treasure, and I've never agreed with another man more. "The greatest pain of a parent, especially a royal one, is knowing that they are raising their children in preparation for their own death. I have spent your whole life training you for this moment, and my dear, I have never been less afraid for our future. You inherited your mother's heart. Love our people. I like to think you inherited my stubbornness." He smiles. "Stand beside them, no matter what comes. The rest, you will figure out along the way."
Estrella crumples in on herself with a sob. I feel like I've been stabbed through the gut. Even Father's death didn't hurt like this.
King Isai hacks up another splatter of blood. "I will see you in the stars."
He slumps like a puppet with his strings cut, and I know it's over. Queen Suniva wraps her hands over Estrella's. Castor slams a fist into the ground. It's like nothing exists outside the bubble of safety the soldiers carved out for them. My body burns, but I keep looking at Estrella.
The king was dead already. I knew it, and so did Queen Suniva. So what the hell did Estrella do with that light?