Chapter 123

The eastern delegation’s wagons had been loading since dawn.

Seren stood at the palace gates, watching crates of supplies and furniture being lashed to carts. Elowen’s household was moving—not permanently, but for months at a time. The eastern provinces needed their ruler, and Elowen intended to rule. Servants bustled past, carrying chests of clothes, bundles of documents, and the small iron chest that held Elowen’s personal treasury.

“Three months,” Elowen said, appearing at Seren’s elbow. “That’s how long I’ll be gone. Possibly four p>

Seren turned to face her. The princess wore traveling clothes—leather breeches, a thick wool coat, boots made for riding. Her hair was braided back from her face, and a travel-worn cloak hung from her shoulders. She looked less like a court schemer and more like a warrior. A sword hung at her hip—not decorative, but functional.

“The east is lucky to have you,” Seren said.

“The east doesn’t know what to do with me. Half of them still remember when I was just the king’s overlooked daughter.” Elowen’s smile was thin. “They’ll learn p>

“Threats p>

“Promises.” Elowen’s eyes glittered. “I don’t threaten, Seren. I act. The eastern provinces have been neglected for decades. Their roads are crumbling. Their trade routes are controlled by bandits. Their wolves have forgotten that the crown even exists. I intend to remind them p>

“That sounds like a campaign p>

“It sounds like *governance*. Something my brothers are only beginning to understand.” Elowen glanced back at the palace. “They’re good at war. Good at politics. But ruling? Real ruling—the kind that happens in villages and farms, not council chambers? That takes time on the road. Time with the people p>

Seren studied her. “You’ve changed p>

“I’ve adapted.” Elowen’s voice was softer now. “Magnus’s war taught me that power isn’t just about bloodlines or schemes. It’s about who shows up. Who fights. Who bleeds.” She touched the scar on her arm—a memento from the border. “I bled for the east. Now I’ll rule it p>

They stood in silence for a moment. Snow dusted the cobblestones. Servants hurried past, carrying chests and bundles.

“I never thought I’d say this,” Seren said, “but I’ll miss you p>

Elowen raised an eyebrow. “Sentiment? From the queen p>

“Not sentiment. Honesty.” Seren met her eyes. “You’re not my enemy anymore. You haven’t been for a while. You’re complicated and difficult and you scheme in your sleep, but you’re also… family. In a strange way p>

Elowen was quiet for a long moment. Her mask of cold composure cracked, just slightly.

“You’ve changed me,” she said finally. “I don’t know if that’s a compliment or an accusation p>

“Both. Probably p>

Elowen laughed—a real laugh, surprised out of her. The sound echoed across the courtyard, startling a flock of pigeons. “The others would never say that. Aeron still watches me like I might poison his wine. Kael still flinches when I enter a room. Theron still has spies following my household p>

“They trust you more than they admit p>

“Trust is for fools. I prefer *understanding*.” Elowen turned to face Seren fully. The humor faded from her expression. “Before you go, I have advice. About surviving as a woman in power p>

Seren waited.

“Never apologize for your ambition,” Elowen said. “Men don’t. They scheme and conquer and call it politics. Women apologize for wanting a seat at the table. Don’t. Your ambition kept you alive when you were a servant. It made you queen. Never be ashamed of it p>

She held up a second finger.

“Second: never show fear. You can *feel* fear. Everyone does. But you cannot show it. Wolves smell weakness. They devour it. If you tremble, they will tear you apart. I learned that lesson when I was twelve, standing before our father’s court, knowing that every wolf there would have gladly seen me disappear p>

A third finger.

“Third: always have a dagger hidden somewhere.” Elowen’s smile sharpened. “Not for your enemies. For yourself. If you’re ever captured, if you’re ever cornered, you want the choice of how you die. Never let them take that from you p>

Seren’s hand moved to the locket at her throat. “Do you have a dagger hidden now p>

Elowen’s smile widened.

She did not answer.

Instead, she stepped forward and embraced Seren—a brief, fierce hug that lasted barely a heartbeat. Then she pulled back and walked toward her horse. Her boots crunched on the frozen snow.

“Take care of my brothers,” she called over her shoulder. “They’re idiots, but they’re *my* idiots p>

“I will p>

“And watch Vesper. He’s not done p>

“I know p>

Elowen mounted her horse with practiced ease. Behind her, the wagons began to roll. Her household followed—guards, servants, advisors, all the machinery of power moving east. The column stretched for nearly a quarter mile.

“One more thing,” Elowen said, reining her horse around. Her eyes were bright, sharp. “The traitor. The one who warned Thorne p>

Seren’s breath caught. “Do you know who it is p>

“I have suspicions. Strong ones.” Elowen leaned down from the saddle, her voice dropping. “When I return, we’ll talk. Until then, keep your dagger close. And watch the ones who smile too much p>

She kicked her horse into motion.

The eastern column moved out, winding through the palace gates and onto the road toward the rising sun. Seren watched until the last wagon disappeared over the hill.

*Never apologize for ambition. Never show fear. Always have a dagger p>

She turned and walked back into the palace.

That night, she told the triplets about Elowen’s advice.

Kael snorted. “She gave you a dagger speech? I gave you a dagger. An actual dagger. With a blade. You still have it p>

“Under my pillow p>

“Good.” He crossed his arms. “Metaphorical daggers don’t stop assassins p>

Theron stretched. “Elowen is trying to be helpful. In her own twisted way. The advice about ambition is solid. The part about fear is practical. The dagger He shrugged. “That’s just Elowen being Elowen p>

Aeron was quiet, his fingers steepled. “She’s also warning us. The traitor is still here. Still active. And she knows more than she’s telling p>

“Should we send someone after her?” Seren asked.

“No. She’ll contact us when she’s ready.” Aeron took her hand. “Until then, we prepare. The coronation is in two weeks. The charter is being implemented. The school is growing. We have enough to manage without chasing Elowen’s suspicions p>

“You’re not curious p>

“I’m terrified. There’s a difference.” Aeron’s grip tightened. “Elowen doesn’t share suspicions lightly. If she has names, they’re credible. But she’s also playing her own game. She always is p>

Seren squeezed his hand. “She said to watch Vesper p>

“Vesper is a nuisance. He’s not the traitor p>

“How do you know p>

Aeron was silent for a moment. “Because the traitor is someone we trust. Someone close. Someone who has access to our plans, our movements, our weaknesses. Vesper has never been that. He’s an enemy we can see. The real danger is invisible p>

The bond hummed with shared unease.

Somewhere in the palace, the traitor was sleeping. Or plotting. Or both.

In two weeks, the coronation would unite the kingdom.

Or give the traitor the perfect moment to strike.