The bells of the citadel struck twelve, their deep bronze chimes echoing through the stone corridors. It was noon on the third day, and the heavy, stagnant silence that had settled over the royal wing during Valex’s absence was suddenly shattered. From the balcony of the small solar, Odesse heard it first—the sharp, rhythmic clatter of hooves on the cobblestone courtyard below and the distant barked orders of the captain of the guard. Servants scurried through the galleries, their arms laden with fresh linens and steaming pitchers of water. The scent of roasted rosemary and heavy meats began to drift up from the kitchens, replacing the faint smell of old parchment.

Odesse stood by the window, her heart doing a nervous dance against her ribs. She had spent the last two days being molded into a queen by Azure’s cold hands, and now, for the first time, she would see if Valex noticed the change. She smoothed the front of her gown, her fingers grazing the spot where she had hidden his last letter. She didn’t have to wait long. The heavy double doors at the end of the hall groaned open, and the sound of tired, heavy boots signaled that the King had finally come home.

As soon as the sound of his boots echoed against the stone, the composed queen-in-training vanished, and Odesse was simply a girl who had missed her husband. She didn’t wait for him to reach the solar; instead, she pulled open the door and sprinted down the vaulted gallery. Valex looked exhausted. His dark hair was disheveled, the circles under his eyes spoke of sleepless nights, and his heavy royal mantle looked like a burden he was desperate to shed.

He was surrounded by a few lingering elders and guards, but as soon as the flash of Odesse’s gown appeared at the end of the hall, he stopped mid-sentence. The elders barely had time to bow before she collided with him. Valex caught her with a low grunt of surprise, his arms instantly locking around her waist to lift her off her feet. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, breathing her in as if she were the first breath of fresh air he’d had in three days. The cold, rigid tension he’d carried from the War Room seemed to melt out of his shoulders the moment he touched her.

Kael, who was at the back of Valex, let out a slow smile while the elders exchanged shocked glances. Valex kept his hand gripped on Odesse’s waist, reluctant to let go. Odesse, her eyes now open, looked around and noticed the gazes of those around them. She chuckled nervously and whispered, "Your Highness."

Valex’s voice was low and raspy, sending a shivering vibration up Odesse’s spine. "Just for a few seconds more, please, my love." Odesse felt her body melting at the sound of his voice, almost giving in, until a voice came from behind her.

"Greetings, Your Highness." Valex’s jaw tightened as his gaze shifted from Odesse to the tall, imposing figure of Azure. The romantic haze in the hallway evaporated, replaced by the weight of his crown.

"Azure," Odesse acknowledged, her voice mild but bubbly. Valex didn’t let go of her hand; instead, he laced his fingers through hers as if anchoring himself. With a slight smile, he said, "I see you’ve begun. Walk with us to the morning room. I am too hungry for the council chamber, but too curious to wait for a report on my queen’s progress."

They moved away from the gawking elders, with Kael following closely behind, studying Azure intently. They walked into the sun-drenched Morning Room, where the scent of blooming jasmine drifted through the open tall windows. As they entered, Odesse felt the weight of Azure’s analytical gaze trailing behind them. She tried to step forward to bridge the gap and perform a proper introduction but only made it half a pace before she felt Valex’s arm tighten around her waist. He didn’t let go; instead, he pulled her back against his side, his hand splayed firmly over her hip.

Odesse felt heat rush to her cheeks, a deep blush blooming as she looked up at him. "My King," she murmured, half-protesting, but he didn’t move. He stood there, his eyes narrowed slightly as he surveyed the tall, curly-haired woman in the center of the room.

Valex sank into a deep, velvet armchair, pulling Odesse down to sit on the wide cushioned arm beside him. Kael stood behind Valex while Azure remained standing, her silhouette sharp and disciplined. She didn’t sit, but her presence turned the cozy room into a classroom once more.

"Your Majesty," Odesse said, turning her attention to Azure, "this is Lady Azure." Valex tilted his head, his expression unreadable. "You’re the one who has been assigned to teach my queen." Azure didn’t flinch. She offered a bow that was perfectly measured—not a centimeter too deep, not a second too short.

"A queen requires an imposing education, Sire. My reputation for strictness is precisely why I was suggested."

Valex let out a low, dry chuckle that vibrated through Odesse’s back. "Strictness, is it? I hope you haven’t been too hard on her." Odesse looked at him, slightly annoyed, and replied, "Why are you acting like I’m a child, my king?" Valex smiled and, in a low voice, said, "I know you’re not my queen, but I wouldn’t like it if I found out she’s been too strict."

Odesse glanced at Azure, who stood there looking neglected, and turned back to Valex, caressing his face. "She’s not your highness." Valex bent down and whispered to Odesse, "It would be better if you do not touch me my love; I don’t have much self-control at the moment." Odesse’s face turned red as she faced Azure again. Valex smirked and said, "Seat down, I see no reason for you to stand." Azure sat down delicately and firmly as Valex continued, "Alright, now tell me about my queen’s performance so I can know how well my smart wife has done."

...

The steam in the private chamber was thick enough to swallow the light from the flickering wall sconces. Valex sat submerged to his chest, his head tilted back against the cold marble rim, eyes closed. The water was hot—hot enough to turn his skin a faint crimson—but he appeared frozen beneath the invisible weight of the day.

Odesse knelt behind him on a silk cushion, her hands slick with oils scented with cedar and crushed mint. Her thumbs worked in slow, rhythmic circles at the base of his neck, easing the knots that had formed during hours of arguing with the High Council.

"They want a war, Odesse," Valex rasped, his voice sounding like it had been dragged over gravel. "Lord Haren stands in the chamber, shouting about ’sovereign dignity’ and the price of southern iron, while my scouts are picked off one by one like sitting ducks. He wants me to send the heavy cavalry into a marshland. He’s an idiot, and the others are cowards."

Odesse didn’t interrupt. She simply pressed more deeply into the tension of his shoulder, her touch a silent anchor.

"If I move now, I look like an aggressor," he continued, his breathing hitching as she found a particularly sharp knot. "If I wait, I look like a king who can’t hold his own fences. It’s a trap, and they’re all just waiting for me to trip."

Odesse leaned closer, her breath warm against his ear. "Then don’t be a king tonight," she whispered. "The South isn’t going to move in the next hour, and the Council is likely already asleep, dreaming of their gold. Let the world stay outside these doors."

Valex let out a long, shuddering breath. The mention of the world outside seemed to finally break the tension of the war room. He reached up, his large, wet hand gripping hers on his shoulder. He didn’t pull her hand away; he simply held it there for a moment, feeling the steady beat of her pulse against his palm.

"I spent three days thinking about this silence," he murmured, his eyes opening to find her face illuminated by the golden candlelight. "Thinking about you."

The political talk faded as Valex turned in the water, his gaze intensifying. The "clinging" need from earlier that day returned, but here, in the privacy of their chambers, it was devoid of royal posturing.

"Enough," he said softly. "I told you I have no self-control when you’re this close."

He didn’t wait for her to move. His hand shifted to the back of her neck, pulling her gently toward the water’s edge. "Come here," he commanded, though it sounded more like a plea.

Odesse felt the heat of the steam and the warmth of his gaze. As she discarded the weight of her robe and stepped into the sunken marble tub, the transformation was complete. Valex immediately pulled her back against his chest, his arms locking around her waist as if he were afraid she might vanish if he loosened his grip. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, letting out a deep, contented sigh that reverberated through her entire body.

"This," he whispered against her skin, his voice finally losing its edge, "this is the only peace I have." Odesse looked down and said quietly, "My king, I was thinking... how about we mate tonight?" Valex’s eyes opened wide as he heard those words, and he exclaimed in shock, "What!"