I didn’t tell Raijin that Caelynn was my mate, but he must have read between the lines and figured it out during our heart-to-heart a few weeks ago.
“I will support you, you know. Support your union.” His hard eyes find mine again. “Just don’t destroy my court,” he says, voice suddenly low and fierce. Then, his lips tick up into a smile.
I shake my head. “I appreciate that, but it won’t be necessary.”
He frowns, golden eyebrows furrowing.
“Caelynn will never sit beside me on the High Court throne for several reasons.”
He crosses his arms. The wind picks up its pace, rushing and whipping our tunics back. “And what reasons are those?”
“For one, she vowed not to marry me while I am king. The queen forced her into that bargain.”
Rai lets out a sharp breath. “Cruel, conniving...”
I wave him off. “It’s not the only reason. Caelynn does not wish to be my queen. She wishes to be her own.”
Rai purses his lips. “So, your plan to put Caelynn on the Shadow Court throne is not a temporary solution. She plans to be a true ruler.”
“And she will. I will ensure it.”
Rai is quiet for a time, and we stand there, side by side at the bow of his small fishing vessel, watching the smooth waters of Black Lake. Soon, we cannot see land on either side.
“It will be tricky. To be High King while your mate rules another kingdom. But I will support that too.” He nods to himself, as if he just made a solid decision. “If any of the other kingdoms find out that you are mated while you both rule separate thrones, they won’t be pleased. They’ll assume you can’t be impartial—which of course is true but irrelevant. No High Ruler is ever truly impartial. Regardless, you will have an ally in me. I promise.”
“Thank you,” I whisper. “Kari also knows. And my father... well, my mother knows. It’s likely she’s told him.”
Raijin nods. “I doubt the Luminescent King will be eager to share that news. And you trust Kari?”
I nod. “Kari is a close ally.”
“Well, I’d try to keep the list of those in the know to only these three. I—” He frowns and pauses. “I do wonder if it’s a mistake. Being separated from a mate after you’ve bonded.” He shakes his head. “I cannot imagine the agony.”
I force a smile, even as an ache shudders through my heart. “I know. But I’m not going to take this from her, no matter the sacrifice I must make.”
Caelynn
