Lucian waited. That was the first thing. He did not move closer because Asteria had said *mate*. He did not reach for my hand. He did not smile like he had been given something. He waited.

"You said I get to decide whether I want to hear it."

"Yes."

"I do."

His

The letter was three lines long. Four years of my life fit inside them. Lucian read the royal inquiry aloud in the council room.

"Female child taken from the eastern royal nursery twenty-three years prior. Possible transfer through Greyfield Orphan House

Smoke rolled down the west corridor before the first bucket reached the stairs. People ran toward the archive. I ran the other way. Lucian caught my arm with his eyes, not his hand.

"Where are you going?"

"Not into the fire."

That stopped him. I pointed towa