“Okay,” I said. “New rule. Can we agree that if one of us has to go live in the forest for an extended period of time, the others can’t make fun of their appearance when they return? I mean, it’s not like there’s a lot of facilities in order to maintain our beautiful selves at the level we’re used to.”
“That’s true,” Gary said. “And also, it’s not as if you necessarily have control of how you look. It’s like making fun of someone who is bald. Why would you do that? It’s not fair, because they can’t control their hair loss.”
“I just like all people,” Tiggy said.
“Okay, we agree we can’t make fun of the way another looks after they go into the Dark Woods for a long time and come back out with unruly eyebrows—”
“And oily-looking skin,” Gary added. “And rambunctious nose hairs. And—”
“Thank you, Gary,” I said through gritted teeth. “Those things, and we also can’t make fun of balding people, because that’s just mean. Agreed?”
“Aye,” Tiggy and Gary said.
“The ayes have it, then,” I said. “Rule number one thousand, eight hundred, and forty-seven of the Sam/Gary/Tiggy Friendship has been—”
“Everyone leave!” Ryan Foxheart barked, sending shivers through me. This was the Knight Commander I knew. “If anyone bothers Sam or myself for the next hour, there will be consequences.”
The crowd didn’t even hesitate as they dispersed, Gary and Tiggy immediately stopping their tears as they glanced between Ryan and me.
“What’s happening?” Tiggy whispered to Gary.
“Someone’s butt is gonna get reamed.”
“Good way or bad way?”
“Could be both, kitten. Could be both. Now, come on. You can help me ignore Kevin and also try and ditch my brother. We’ll pretend we have an important meeting to attend to, but in actuality, the time will be spent with you telling me how pretty I am while feeding me freshly peeled grapes. And when I say peeled, I mean peeled. A plague upon your head if there is any skin left, you understand?”
“I like my brooms.”
“Yes, yes, I know, you gigantic weirdo whom I love desperately.”
I didn’t see them leave, as I only had eyes for Ryan Foxheart, my stomach flip-flopping nervously.
“Are you sure?” Terry asked Ryan in a low voice. “I ca
n stay here with you if you think you’ll need me.”
“I won’t,” Ryan said.
“Well, then,” Terry said stiffly. “If you want to put it that way. I forgive you, though. I know the strain you’re under must be extraordinary. I’ll be here when you’re done.”
And then there were only three of us: Justin, Ryan, and me. The Prince looked between Ryan and me before he rolled his eyes. “Gods, you two are the worst. You have an hour. We have many things to discuss now that Sam has finally returned. Not a minute more. If I have to send someone to find you both, there will be trouble. This may not be a Verania I recognize anymore, but I am still the godsdamn Prince, and until we get my father back, I act in his stead.”
And that… shit. That was something I hadn’t given much thought to. Oh sure, I’d felt sick at the idea of Myrin imprisoning the King, and was planning on at least forty-seven different ways to have my revenge, but I hadn’t put myself in Justin’s shoes. I had lost much, but in my absence, the country Justin knew had changed and his father had been taken from him. And that rested upon my shoulders. If I’d stayed, things might have been different.
But Justin’s father had been taken, not just the King. I could only imagine how I’d feel if Myrin had my dad.
“I’m sorry,” I tried to tell him as he walked by, an annoyed look on his face as he dropped all of Gary’s luggage. “I didn’t mean—”
“Sam.” He stopped beside me, shoulder to shoulder. “Don’t.”
I nodded, because he was right. He didn’t want to hear an apology from me. I didn’t blame him for being angry with me.
He sighed loudly like I was an idiot. Which, to be fair, was probably true.
And then he did something I didn’t expect.
He pulled me into a hug.