The Wicked House of Caroline

Why was death’s preferred method for her falling into the sea?

First, the assassination attempt where her carriage was pushed off a cliff into turbulent, whirlpool-infested waters, and then now, she was swept off deck of her mother’s ship and into the even more turbulent and violent waters of Stromwal.

It’s all right, at least the rope will stop me.

The taut feeling of being caught by the rope that reached its limit and a sharp tug around her waist preventing her from falling never came. Instead, water rushed around her as her back broke the surface of the churning waves with a flash of pain, plunging her into foamy darkness.

...Well, the rope did nothing.

She moved her arms around, mimicking the movements she remembered for swimmers, but wasn’t sure if she was going up or down, or left or right. She wasn’t sure if she was moving because of her efforts or because the ocean carried her. Her arms went limp. Trying to swim was useless in her situation.

Beks was strangely calm, as if she’d prepared herself for this inevitable moment when she’d fall into the sea. Her chest began to burn as the breath she was holding was running out. Her hands reached to her waist for the rope that was supposed to secure her on to the ship.

Her fingertips didn’t brush against the rough material of the rope and her eyes widened. Her heart shot to her throat as both hands patted around her waist, her hips, and her chest trying to find the rope.

Dread filled her as she realized she wasn’t tied to anything.

She was floating in the ocean in the middle of an eternal storm. It was already difficult to see from the surface with the biting wind and the rain and sea spray getting in one’s eye. What more, when she was beneath the surface and the water was moving so violently, one couldn’t tell where one wave started and where another began.

How would her mother find her in the chaos?

Her lungs were burning.

She lifted her head, trying to assess where the water was lightest, as that was likely where the surface was, but all she could see through stinging eyes was darkness.

Her heart beat in her ears as the roar of the water seemed to be drowned out.

If her mother didn’t find her and used water biha to bring her back, then this really was how she’d die.

Beks felt a surge of regret.

Brother Laurence hadn’t retaken the throne. Her death would surely be a burden to him, as well as her family.

Her family never got to take that family trip around Kadmus her father wanted to do. He’d be so disappointed.

She was just getting closer to her younger siblings. Losing her so soon could give them some trauma.

And then there were those back on the island. She’d never hug Snowflake again or ride on his back lazily. She hadn’t finished translating the tablets with Jonas or made sure Gerard reunited with Sandra.

She’d never eat Laz’s cooking again or go to sleep against Lucian’s chest. She wouldn’t hear their worried concerns about her health when she secluded herself in a study to memorize tablets for hours at a time.

She’d never get to marry them.

Her eyes burned. Strange how she’d been engaged for twenty years, and she’d always seen marriage as a contractual obligation with Luther, but before she could even mention the topic of engagement to the twins to Laurence, she’d feel heartache about missing it.

Beks was so confident about returning to them, too.

Had she been too arrogant? Was this the result of her hubris?

She tilted her head up, unsure if that was towards the sky or not, but asked the gods to keep her loved ones safe in her place.

Bubbles burst from her mouth as her lungs almost burst and expelled the breath, she was holding in. Her body arched forward and despite her best attempts, she swallowed sea water and began to choke. The water was cold, but suddenly, she felt warm all over.

The familiar feeling of heating up before a flare up returned, but it had been months. She was also rather calm this time; did something else trigger it? The water she swallowed was expelled, but there was no air for her to breathe in. Her skin grew hotter and hotter.

This was a flare up.

As she twisted in the water, she saw a flash of red in the murky darkness. A chill swept over her as her body writhed. What could be red and glowing in the water?

Then she heard it. The low, almost clicking creaking sound that vibrated around her.

The red sphere glowing grew larger and against a darker blur that seemed to come towards her. It was large, blocking out the lighter parts of the water.

The clicking creaking sound grew louder and Beks felt something wrap around her waist. It wasn’t a rope; it moved on its own, likely made of pure muscle. Was it a tentacle? But Octavius the Kraken had stayed behind with their Great Aunt.

Before she could place her hands on it to see what it was, she saw teeth. Sharp, pale, and multiple rows of teeth appearing from the darkness.

That was the last thing she saw before she lost consciousness.

╔═════════════════ ∘◦ ♔ ◦∘ ═════════════════╗

“Are you all right?” His breath was warm against her skin, and she rolled over to drape herself against him and bury her face in his firm, hot chest. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

She shook her head. “This isn’t my first time.”

“Hmm....” The nub at the end of a forearm stroked the top of her head. His hand was missing, but it didn’t seem to bother him too much. “Then, are you tired?”

“Yes, but it’s mainly from the wedding,” she replied. She tilted her head up to look at the handsome man with the long, straight black hair falling over his face. “I didn’t think Brother Laurence would have me go through another ceremony for my second marriage.”

“It’s your second marriage, but it’s my first.” The man smiled at her, a bit teasing. “How could he deny his younger brother a proper wedding ceremony?”

Beks cracked a small smile. For her, another royal wedding was far from a necessity, but for Laz, it was important to show that he was marrying her. Her divorce from Luther had just been finalized and as soon as it was, Laurence asked her to consider marrying the Second Prince.

She thought she’d have to return to Sagittate after the divorce, but the king wanted her to remain in Kadmium to continue to give him counsel. She wasn’t surprised, but to find out that he wanted her to marry his other brother to secure her status was. What was more surprising was that the Second and Third Princes agreed to it.

She must remain a Princess of Kadmus.

And Luther? Stripped of his royal title and all but exiled with his mistress and illegitimate son for breaching the marriage agreement between them. She didn’t know what he was thinking when he had an affair. He knew the terms of the marriage and if he fathered a child outside of wedlock, it would be grounds for divorce, regardless of his reason.

Perhaps that was what he wanted. In order to give his child legitimacy, he was the one who proposed divorce so he could marry his mistress before his brother, the King, could bring it up. That spectacularly backfired for him. Now, not only did his child not have legitimacy, but he was no longer a prince.

Another arm wrapped around her waist, and she was pulled back against another heated body. Soft, thin lips kissed her bare shoulder. “You are ours now and we are yours. Don’t think about Luther anymore.”

“How did you know I was thinking about him?”

“You look angry and irritated.”

Laz laughed at his twin’s assessment and Beks made a face. “Don’t think about him anymore. In time, we’ll have our own child and fulfill Brother’s wish.”

Beks’ eyes were closed, and she tilted her head to the side. Brother’s wish? Brother Laurence’s wish? What wish did he have?

She wracked her mind to try to remember, as it wasn’t like her to forget the King’s wishes, but a sharp flash of pain pierced her skull. Her hands flew up and grasped the side of her head as she curled up, grimacing with pain as it felt as if her skull were being cleaved in two.

The heated flush coursed through her body and her mind protested. A flare up. Now was not the time for a flare up. How could she have a flare up now, of all times? It was her wedding night! She hadn’t had a flare up for months despite everything that happened to her; how could she get one now?

Beks felt her body freeze. Despite everything that happened to her?

What had happened to her? Luther’s betrayal and sudden arrival with his mistress and child? The divorce?

Beks twitched and shook her head. No, that wasn’t it.

Luther betrayed her, but he didn’t have a child. Yet.

And there was no need for a divorce when they weren’t married. All she did was break off their engagement.

The piercing pain in her head began to subside and her mind cleared. Her eyes flew open, but despite her wanting them to, they remained closed. They felt tired and heavy, and it was difficult to open them. All she saw was a tiny sliver of light from the narrow gap.

“She’s been groaning and twitching since this morning,” a familiar woman’s low, concerned voice said. “Do you think this means she’ll wake up soon?”

“She’s been unconscious since we took her from the water.” That was Mommy’s voice and the anxiety in Beks’ chest subsided. If her mother was there, then she was safe. “She muttered in her sleep, but we can’t make out the words.”

“Her body is still cold.” Lady Eleanor. Beks identified the other woman’s voice. “She’s alive, but her skin is cold to the touch. Shouldn’t it be hot if she was feverish?”

“I don’t think she has a fever,” Sybil replied. “Inky was frantic when he brought Beks up; Beks might have released a lot of biha into the water when she fell.”

“A biha explosion again?” Lady Eleanor asked. Beks felt a warm hand stroke her hair back as she lay in a bed. “I thought her biha was clear, so it wouldn’t accumulate to dangerous levels at this point.”

“Her panic after falling into the sea may have triggered it, similar to irregular heartbeats and shallow breathing would instigate her flare ups.” Her mother let out a heavy sigh. “Unfortunately, none of our biha masters here are familiar with this and we can’t get in touch with the Third Prince, who found Beks when her biha exploded on the island.”

“We’ll just have to wait for her to wake up.” There was disappointment in Lady Eleanor’s voice.

Beks remained with her eyes closed as she tried to figure out what had happened. First, her mother mentioned Inky, her leviathan. Inky was the one who brought her back to the ship, meaning the thing that wrapped around her waist was Inky?

But what about the glowing red sphere and the teeth of that massive beast in the water?

Was that sea monster Inky? Their entire time sailing with their mother, Beks hadn’t seen the leviathan. Several times, Wrath had tried talking to the beast and lure it to break the surface so that it could meet Beks, but the creature never appeared. Beks hadn’t even seen a shadow of it in the water.

There were multiple types of sea creatures that were called leviathans and the one Wrath pointed out in her book on legendary beasts that looked most similar to Inky appeared as a giant shark with rows of fins and tentacles unlike those of an octopus. The skin was supposed to be covered with thick scales that formed a sort of armor over it and its eyes were used to the depths, where leviathans lived.

What wrapped around her waist was Inky’s tentacle, but why did Inky bare its teeth at her? Right before she lost consciousness, she was sure she was going to be eaten by a sea monster.

Instead, the creature brought her back to her mother’s ship. How it found her, Beks wasn’t sure, but perhaps Inky wasn’t far from the ship to begin with.

Next, she’d been asleep for what was likely days. Passing through Stromwal took at least a day, then it was another day or two to get to the southernmost coasts of Sagittate. It was then almost another day inland to the Sacred Valley, where Beks was sure they currently were.

That would mean she’d been asleep for, at the very least, three days. This matched up with the last time she had a biha explosion.

Lastly, did she miss Laz and Lucian so much that she dreamt she was in bed with them? Not only in bed, but that she had married at least one of them. She couldn’t help the sudden embarrassment. She was getting far ahead of herself. She was a grown woman and there she was, having naughty dreams about two men. They were so vivid. She could feel the heat coming from their skin, the moisture in Lucian’s lips, and the vibration of Laz’s chest when he laughed.

It’s as if she were really there, resting between them, warm and comfortable at the Gilded Palace.

For a moment, her brows furrowed. Why’d she dream of the Gilded Palace? Why didn’t the dream take place on the island? Everything was so familiar and real in that dream, why would it take place in the Gilded Palace?

Furthermore, what did the Laz of her dream mean regarding Laurence’s wish. It seemed that in her dream, she didn’t know, either.

“Her hand is moving!”

“Call for the doctor!”

It seemed she couldn’t pretend to sleep any longer. Beks forced her eyes to open, and this time, she won out against the heaviness. Her sight was hazy, and she wasn’t sure what she was looking at.

“Beks? Beks, can you hear me?”

“La....” Beks winced at once the moment she heard her voice. Her throat was dry, and she sounded as if she were speaking with her last breath. Lady Eleanor rushed to pour some water into a cup for her.

For a moment, Beks wanted to let out a heavy sigh. Lady Eleanor was going to be the future queen; it wasn’t necessary for her to nurse her.

“Drink first.” Lady Eleanor gave the cup to Sybil, who had sat down beside Beks and leaned over, helping pull Beks into a seated position so she could drink. She then carefully brought the cup to her mouth.

Beks smacked her lips a few times as the warm water coursed down her throat. “How long was I unconscious?”

“Three days,” her mother said. “We just arrived this morning.”

Beks squinted. “Are we home?”

Her mother’s face softened, and she nodded. “Yes, we’re home.”

Lady Eleanor craned her head so she could smile at Beks. “Welcome to the Sacred Valley, Beks.”

Beks’ lips pulled into a tired smile. “I’m home.”

Her mother leaned forward and pressed her forehead against hers. “We’re home, but you need to rest. Your body is still cold.”

“Did I have a biha explosion?”

“We think so,” her mother replied. She squinted and reached out to touch the familiar strands of hair beside Beks’ face. “It may have affected your disguise.”

Beks squinted her eyes. “My disguise?” She reached up and felt around for her hair. She pinched a small clump and brought it up to where she could see it. Her brows shot up as the familiar shade of orange stood out against some black strands. “My hair returned to normal.”

“Your eyes are gray again, as well,” her mother said. “Perhaps the disguise wore off.”

Beks played with the hair between her fingers. Lucian had told her that the disguise would ‘fade’ with time, meaning her disguised hair would get progressively lighter until it returned to its natural color. When she fell into the ocean, all her hair was still black.

“When did it return to normal?” she asked in a low voice.

“When Inky raised you out of the water, your hair had returned to orange.”

Beks pursed her lips. It definitely had something to do with her biha explosion.

A knock came from the door and Sybil turned towards it to let people in. Two doctors arrived at once and began to check on Beks. As they hovered around her, Beks could see several heads peeking from the other side of the door.

“Her ladyship requires rest,” one of the doctors said. “She has no physical injuries and the water from her lungs has been cleared.”

“What about her biha?” Sybil asked.

“Lady Rebecca’s biha is full.”

“Still full even after an explosion....” Sybil muttered as she rubbed her chin. She looked at the doctors and nodded before standing up. “Thank you. Is there anything we should do to facilitate my daughter’s recovery.”

She walked the doctors to the door and Beks looked back out at it. She smiled as she saw her younger siblings peeking in.

“You can come inside.”

Thad hesitated, but Wrath took a step forward. She put her hands behind her waist. “Mommy said not to come and bother you.”

“You’re not bothering me,” Beks told her. She patted the side of her bed and Wrath dashed over. She skidded to a stop before she rammed into the bed and then carefully climbed in, as if trying to avoid shaking the bed and disturbing Beks. Wrath rolled to the side and sat up, her feet hanging over the edge.

“Are you feeling okay?” Wrath asked.

Beks smiled. “Were you worried?”

Wrath tensed and turned her head away, her cheeks flushed. “Only a little!”

“I’m sorry to have worried you only a little,” Beks said with a slight chuckle. She touched Wrath’s head gently and Wrath leaned her head into her sister’s hand like a cat. “I’m fine. No injuries.”

“Inky says he’s sorry,” Wrath said in a quiet voice as she lowered her head.

Beks cocked her head to the side and gave her sister a curious look. “You spoke to Inky?”

“I kept hearing him,” Wrath said as she lifted her head with a concerned expression across her small brow. “He said he was too slow and didn’t get to you fast enough, and that he’s sorry for scaring you.” Beks squinted. “Then, it really was Inky who saved me.”

Wrath nodded. “Sister,” she said as she tentatively poked Beks’ hand. “If I heard Inky, does that mean I am a beast talker?”

“You’re supposed to be asking about our sister’s health! Not about your spirit core!” Thad stomped in and glared at the youngest.

Wrath bristled and pouted. “Sister is the only one who knows! She’s smart!”

“You haven’t heard any animal talk except for Inky. How can you be sure that it’s beast talking and not just affinity, like Mommy?” Thad asked, his arms crossing over his chest.

Wrath opened her mouth, but shut it when she realized she didn’t have a good answer. Instead, her face reddened, and she scowled, her little fists clenched at her sides.

“I’m afraid I don’t know the details of this,” Beks told her. Wrath deflated at once. “But I have a small book I got from the monk at the Quartz Lake Shrine. I’ve been translating it to Jasper when I can, but it’s not fully translated. Can you read Jasper?”

Wrath’s head bobbed up and down. “I can read!”

“When I can stand and walk, I’ll dig out my translations,” Beks said. “They are in Esuser, so they need to be translated.”

“I will take it!” Wrath said with excitement all over her face.

“Is it really possible that she’s a beast talker?” Thad asked, his arms falling to his sides with surprise. Beks nodded.

“As she’s learning, she will gradually start to hear them, but if Inky was projecting his thoughts in a desperate attempt for anyone to hear, then Wrath may have been more receptive to it,” Beks replied. “And so, she would be the one to understand what he said. If a creature is not projecting, it is unlikely that a beast talker would hear them.”

Wrath puffed up her little chest and looked at her older brother. “See? I told you Sister is smart!”

Thad flushed. “I didn’t say she wasn’t!”

“Beks is very smart,” a man’s voice said from the doorway. Beks turned her head towards the door and saw a man of average height and a slightly slim build standing there with a thoughtful smile on his face. His brown hair had grown out a bit, but his eyes were still kind and smiling at her, as they always had been.

Beks’ eyes began to water at once as she pushed herself up and tried to figure out the best way to bow. The man gripped a cane and walked in with only a little bit of awkwardness when he took a step with his right foot. Upon seeing her attempt to move, he quickened his speed and held his arms out.

“Beks, don’t get up.” Lady Eleanor’s hand clamped on her shoulder to keep her from moving.

“No need to bow. What are you doing? You just woke up!” Laurence scolded her gently as he reached her side. Thad pulled his younger sister down the side of the bed as Lady Eleanor brought the seat she was sitting on closer so Laurence could sit.

“Brother,” Beks said in a wheezed voice as her eyes turned red. “I am glad to see you well.”

“Likewise, though you gave me a scare when they brought you in,” he said with worry across his brows. “Have you any idea how terrifying it is when we see you unconscious?”

Beks lowered her eyes. “You should be used to it by now. I had many flare ups as a child.”

Laurence frowned at her attempt at a joke. “I’m serious, Beks.”

“I am, too.” She lifted her head to meet his and he let out a tired sigh.

“As long as you’re awake,” he said. “I won’t stay long. You may become sleepy again after this, so don’t rush yourself. There is still much to do before we take the throne from Luther.”

Beks sat up straight. “What have you heard?”

“The duchy’s people on the mainland have reported some dissatisfaction with Luther’s rule thus far,” Laurence replied as he leaned back against his chair and frowned. “I don’t know what he’s thinking with some of the policies he’s approved. And if he thinks I’m dead, why isn’t he postponing his wedding out of respect?”

The last bit seemed to irritate him and Beks chuckled. She supposed it was one thing if Luther, the most ignorant of governing of the brothers, was faltering as king, but it was another when he’d ignored decorum that he should’ve been well aware of. Even if Luther wasn’t aware of it, his father, the Third Consort, certainly wasn’t.

“Is there really someone buried in the royal catacombs in place of Laurence?” Lady Eleanor asked with some disgust and disbelief across her face.

Beks took a deep breath and gave her a reluctant nod. “They used a bloated drowned body and passed it off as Brother Laurence. When I voiced my denial, they claimed I was consumed with grief and couldn’t think straight.”

Laurence let out a small click of his tongue. “I didn’t have many expectations of Luther. I didn’t see him doing this.”

“Not of his own planning, at least,” Beks said. “You know he always did what the Third Consort told him.”

“Even so,” Lady Eleanor frowned. “I didn’t expect him to have relations with another woman while engaged.”

“I did, but I expected him to keep it quiet out of respect for my position and the engagement.” Beks frowned. “He had one job, and he couldn’t do it.”

Laurence shook his head. “The people aren’t pleased with Luther, but that doesn’t mean it will stay that way for long. What I’m more concerned about is his noble support base. The Hessings were one of the families that benefited during the period before Mother took control. No doubt they’ve maintained ties with other families in similar positions who wish to return to their glory days.”

“The people suffered much during those days. They won’t want to go back,” Lady Eleanor said.

“They may not realize it until it is too late,” Beks replied. “The decline of the kingdom before the late Queen didn’t happen in a year or two. It took multiple generations to bring the state of the kingdom down to such a level.”

“While I’m alive, I refuse to let it happen again,” Laurence said.

“Have you considered how you want to go about retaking the throne?” Beks asked. “Luther may be coaxed into giving it to you, but if his father and their supporters are there, it won’t happen.”

“Agreed. The Third Consort won’t give up without a fight.”

“In addition, the Temple is supporting the new oracle that Luther is marrying. A support program for commoners I created and was put in place years ago is facing budget cuts and will be replaced with support from the Temple through an agreement with the royal family.”

“Charity?” Lady Eleanor asked with a raised brow.

Beks shook her head. “It seems like more than just charity, my lady. Charity from the Temple doesn’t involve working with the government, but in this case, they want to create a program in Kadmus to replace the program I created.”

“Such a thing isn’t necessary if the program I’m thinking of is already working, which it is,” Lady Eleanor said with a frown. “Why would they want to get involved?”

“The Temple is wealthy,” Laurence added. “It has no need of money from countries, as they receive much in donations to begin with.”

“The Temple wants something,” Beks said as she fumbled with her hands. “But I don’t know what they want.”

“Believers?”

“They are the dominant religion on the continent,” Beks replied. “They have significant influence despite claiming to have no political power.”

“If they don’t want wealth and they don’t want fame, what do they want?” Lady Eleanor frowned.

Beks shook her head. “I don’t know, but whatever it is has something to do with the new oracle.”

She needed an update to the status of the mainland, as she’d been on a ship for weeks and couldn’t use her urapearl.

“But why did they try to kill you?” Wrath’s small voice asked and Beks realized her two younger siblings hadn’t left, but rather remained at the foot of her bed, listening intently.

Laurence seemed at a loss as to how to respond, but Beks gave them a weak smile. “I thought it was because the new oracle was jealous and didn’t want me to go back to Luther, but now I think she finds our family a threat.”

Wrath’s brows shot up. “Are we dangerous?”

Beks smiled gently and nodded. “We are very dangerous.”

╔═════════════════ ∘◦ ♔ ◦∘ ═════════════════╗

The old stone fortress that was her family’s ancestral home hadn’t changed much, if any, during the time she’d been gone. That much was expected, but she was glad. The halls were familiar, and the decor was nostalgic.

Beks’ skin was still colder than normal and while she felt fine, her mother was worried that she’d get ill, so she walked around the castle with a heavy fur cloak wrapped around her. Her legs were steady, but she still walked with a cane just in case. Two maids and four guards followed her around at all times, even as she was doing some exercise just wandering up and down the halls.

The room Beks had woken up in was her old bedroom, and while it was clean, it hadn’t seemed to be touched much while she was gone. Her childhood toys were still in a toy bin and the books she’d been reading before Lord Anders came to take her were still on the desk. Her wardrobe that had once been piled with layers of children’s clothing had its contents replaced with women’s clothing.

“My lady, would you like to have a snack?” one of the maids asked.

“No, I’ll get something more substantial to eat after my walk.” Beks gave her a nod and continued to walk around the castle, floor by floor, wing by wing, and memorizing the layout as she went along.

Her siblings’ rooms were near hers, but Lady Eleanor and Brother Laurence’s rooms were two floors down, in an adjacent wing for guests. There were also doctors stationed next to Laurence’s room. Every day, he was checked and made to do walks to regain his balance and strength.

Beks had only been asleep for three days, but she’d had bouts of sleepiness in the middle of the day, causing her to sway. However, this didn’t deter her from exploring her childhood home.

“Would you like to see your brother, my lady?” one of the maids asked. “Young Lord Thaddeus is in the practice yard.”

The last time she’d been there, she’d watched her older brother practice fire biha. Deo was younger than Thad then. “Take me there.”

Her little entourage led her around to one of the large courtyards within the surrounding area of the castle complex. It was just like she remembered it. From the upper floor’s portico’s, she could look down into the practice yard to watch those training. Beks stopped to one side and peered over the edge.

Thad working on lifting himself off the ground and moving, but not by much. Master Zilar was with him, as the Gorgon, and the other two escort ships, were docked on the coast to escort the Leviathan’s Throne back when they were ready to go. Thad appeared to be progressing smoothly.

Further down the yard, a flame spiraled into the air. Beks followed it with her eyes and caught sight of her older brother frowning as he took a step back.

Beks walked closer to his side and heard him talking. “The suppression marking is becoming less and less limiting, but who knows when it’ll stop working.”

“At the very least, my lord, you are able to use fire biha to this extent. His Grace is still limited in his use,” one of the older men told him.

Deo continued to frown. Beks’ hand moved over her forearm and squeezed the area where her exile marking had been. It was removed during her first biha explosion and this time, the second biha explosion removed the disguise Lucian had placed on her. Both times, water had also been involved.

Lucian and Laz also noticed that the biha she exerted could be felt when it was released into the water.

She drew her lips inward and bit them. She wanted to test her theory to see if she could remove her brother and father’s markings similarly, though she wasn’t sure if she’d succeed. At worst, she’d be drained and tired for a few hours. At best, she’d remove the markings entirely, increasing their strength before Laurence re-took the kingdom.

If she needed water, Sagittate had no shortage. In addition, the water in Sagittate was bihar-rich, like the pool at the rotunda on the island. The effect could theoretically be better if the bihar-rich water was used. Her head perked up. The Mouth of the Valley was the water source for the river that cut through.

It was the most bihar-rich water in the land and was suitable for bathing. Laurence had been taken there for healing when he first arrived.

“Brother Deo!” Beks leaned over the side of the portico and called out to her brother. Deo looked up and smiled before giving her a wave.

“Don’t overwork yourself,” he said. “Or stay out too long.”

She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “Can you come with me somewhere?”

Deo cocked his head to the side and raised a brow. “Where do you want to go?”

“The Mouth of the Valley!”

It was not surprising that he refused her. The Mouth of the Valley was outside the castle grounds, and it was winter. She didn’t blame him for rejecting her immediately, but Beks didn’t give up.

At dinner, she brought it up to her parents and explained her theory. Her father refused, citing the weather would make travel there uncomfortable. Sybil snorted and shot him a glare. She blamed him for bringing Beks on deck in the first place. Robert had blamed himself, as well, and apologized to Beks once Laurence and Lady Eleanor had finished speaking to her.

She didn’t blame her father. As part of the family, she had a duty to fulfill. She just didn’t know what happened to the rope. Deo took the blame for not having tied it well enough. The knot had loosened when she was stumbling around and when she fell in the water, it unraveled. He’d spend the rest of the trip learning sailor’s knots.

“I’m not afraid of discomfort,” Beks assured them. “Besides, it’s in a cave and the cave will be warm and humid due to the springs within.”

“How sure are you that this will remove the exile markings?” Laurence asked.

“I’m not very sure, but I’d at least like to try. Laz and Lucian both said that they could feel my biha in water,” Beks said. “And the pool was very bihar-rich, and it eased Laz’s pain from his wounds.”

“Beks’ hair and eyes also returned to normal after the biha explosion when she fell off the ship,” Deo added. “It may be that when her biha is released, it also negates her disguise.”

“I didn’t have any of the small wounds and bruises I had when I woke up on the island, either,” Beks said.

Her parents were quiet. She looked to Laurence, but he shook his head, as if signaling that this was a decision her family must make and he’d have to remain out of it. Beks looked back at her parents.

Robert tapped a finger on the table and took a deep breath.

“I’ll go first.”

“What?” Deo sat up straight and their father lifted a hand to silence him.

“We don’t know if it will be successful or if it will cause any pain,” Robert said. “I’ll test it out first.”

Their mother nodded. “It is right that your father should be used as a test in case it harms you,” Sybil said. “He is your father. He should do this much.” She sent him a small glare and Robert sighed.

“We’ll leave in the morning. I’ll have the carriage prepared.”

“Can we come?” Thad and Wrath chorused.

“No, you two stay here. You still have lessons,” their mother told them. She looked back at Beks. “What else will we need?”

“Towels and a change of clothing. The body has to be immersed in water while I release biha into it,” Beks replied. Her mother nodded.

“And will this have any backlash on you?”

Beks furrowed her brows. She didn’t know if it would, but if she took into consideration the size of her biha well, she didn’t think she would have any negative side effects.

“As far as I know, it shouldn’t.”

Both her parents frowned. “Beks, if it starts to cause any discomfort, you are to stop immediately,” her father told her. “You can only do what you can within your limitations. If you push yourself further and get hurt, it’ll only make it more difficult for you.”

“I understand,” Beks nodded. “Thank you.”

Her parents exchanged looks, but ate the rest of the dinner without question.

The next morning, Deo met Beks outside her room and took her outside. Dawn had just broken, but two carriages were waiting for them with both her parents and a slew of Thirnir and attendants. Beks handed her bag with spare clothes and towels to one of the attendants before being ushered into the carriage.

Laurence was already seated inside and Beks raised her brow.

“Brother, why did you come? You’re still recovering, as well.”

“I have recovered enough to go. The journey isn’t far. Besides, this isn’t my first time at the Mouth of the Valley. It’s good for me to take a dip in there every once and a while for my health,” he said.

Beks thought it over and nodded. Since he was going, she might as well try to infuse more biha into the water to help his injuries like she did Laz.

“Do you have any discomfort that is particularly troubling?” she asked. “The doctor said that you just need to build up your stamina otherwise.”

Laurence furrowed his brows and was quiet for a moment. He opened his mouth just as Deo was about to climb in with them. Laurence held out his hand. “Deo, may I have a moment to speak to your sister alone?”

Deo tilted his head to the side, but bowed his head as if receiving an order from the king and not Laurence, their house guest.

“Then, I’ll be in the carriage with our parents,” he said. He glanced at Beks and gave her a nod. Beks nodded in return and Deo stepped back. The attendants closed the door and Laurence rummaged through his cloak.

He took out a leviathan’s scale and sent biha into it to activate it. Beks brows furrowed. Whatever he wanted to talk about was a private matter.

He placed the scale on the seat beside him as the carriage jerked forward.

“Brother,” Beks said as a serious expression filled her face. “What’s wrong?”

Laurence took a deep breath. His eyes were empty for a moment as he stared down at his hands. “You...you know how long I’ve been with Eleanor.”

She nodded. “A very long time,” she said. “You have a good relationship.”

Laurence’s lips pulled into a warm smile. “We do. It is rare that an arranged marriage can bear such fierce love.” He paused and winced, then glanced at Beks apologetically. She waved her hand in front of her to dismiss his worries.

“Go on.”

Laurence nodded and seemed to think about his words. “You are not a child any more. You must be aware of all the...time I’ve spent with Eleanor.”

Beks narrowed her eyes. “Aware?” Her voice almost dripped with sarcasm. “I’ve walked in on you two. My innocent eyes were tainted.”

Laurence grimace. “I’m sorry.”

As if haunted by the memory, Beks face tinged with green as she balked. “How can you be so brazen as to do it in the library-”

“All right, all right, I understand. You know!” Laurence cut her off as his face filled with color. He couldn’t seem to meet her eyes. “Beks, I’ve been with Eleanor for years and yet we’ve yet to have a child.”

Beks tilted her head to the side. “You’re not married yet, why would you try for one now?” Wasn’t it that they were taking precautions so as not to have a child before marriage?

Laurence gave her a beseeching look. “There were accidents. Moments where no precautions were taken...and yet, there had been no movement.”

“Aren’t you just lucky?” Beks asked.

“I thought so...at least, I had hoped,” Laurence said. He bit his lip for a moment. “When I came here and was being monitored, they noticed something abnormal about my...health.” Beks began to frown.

“What are you talking about?”

Laurence lowered his eyes for a moment and seemed to gather all his strength to speak to her. “It is difficult for me to have children.”

“What?” Beks drew her head back and frowned. “How are they so sure?”

“I’m not a doctor or healer. I don’t know exactly how, but it explains why after all these years, Eleanor hasn’t gotten pregnant.” Laurence admitted. “In addition, I wouldn’t be the first with this problem. Mother’s eldest brother couldn’t have children and her other brother only had one child despite a wife and countless mistresses.”

“There could have been other factors involved,” Beks said. “It isn’t necessarily due to a reproductive concern.”

“It’s still something to consider as the monarch. I’ve asked the doctor to keep this a secret for now. Aside from him and Eleanor, you’re the only other person I’ve told.”

Beks bowed her head. “Your trust in me is honored, Brother.”

“It is not only because I trust you, Beks, but I have a favor to ask.”

She had an idea of where this was going. She nodded her head, accepting his request without hesitation now that he had this concern. “You needn’t ask, Brother.”

Laurence’s face lit up. “Really? You’ll do it?”

“Of course,” Beks told him with an heir of peace around her. “It is just a matter of which one I should marry.” She didn’t catch Laurence’s brief look of confusion. “We decided to leave the decision up to you.”

Laurence tilted his head to the side and squinted. “Marry? What decision?”

“Laz or Lucian,” Beks said. “Which one should I marry?”

Laurence jerked his head back as his brows shot up. “Marry one of the twins?”

Beks froze in her seat and looked at the king. Her face slowly began to heat up. “Were you not...were you not suggesting I marry one of the twin princes for a suitable heir?”

Laurence met her horrified face with one of his own. “I wanted to ask if you’d try to heal me in the bihar-rich pool!”

If the carriage crashed and they died instantly, Beks would welcome it.

Mortified, she sat frozen across from Laurence as the man stared at her, dumbfounded. Why had she mentioned marrying the twins? The time wasn’t right. She didn’t even know if Laurence was open to the idea! Where was her death by ocean when she needed it?

Laurence narrowed his eyes a bit and readjusted himself in his seat. He clasped his hands and leaned forward. “Beks,” he began carefully. “Do you want to marry my brothers?”