A Princess Torn (Alys Book #2)

Chapter 50

Much to her embarrassment, Endolynn ran into Zaiden on her way back to her chambers.
He was walking with Sir Willem and Rohesia, deep in discussion. They all looked shocked when they turned a corner and spotted the princess.
"I will catch up with you both later," Zaiden said in a distracted tone when he saw that his sister was in bare feet and a simple robe. He had not expected her to be out of her chambers at all, let alone in this kind of shape. It made him concerned that the injury to her head was worse than they had thought.
Both commanders nodded respectfully to Endolynn and made haste to leave.
"What in the skies are you doing out here dressed like that?" Zaiden asked her once the others were gone. His tone held more concern than disapproval.

Endolynn felt heat rising on her neck as a blush set in. It was clear from the direction she had come where she had been. Zaiden almost smiled when he connected the dots, a small grin tugging at the side of his mouth.
"I thought you had ended things."
"We have," Endolynn said firmly with a touch of regret in her voice, switching her weight back and forth as her toes protested the contact with the freezing tiles of the floor beneath her.

A slight look of disappointment appeared on Zaiden's face, but he turned and offered his arm as he moved to walk with her back to her chambers.
Endolynn took his arm, appreciative for the small amount of warmth coming from it.
"Are you okay?" Zaiden asked carefully after a minute of silence.

As much as Endolynn did not feel like talking, she was grateful that her brother cared about her.
"Not at all."
Zaiden frowned sympathetically, patting her hand with his bigger one, "We will get through it."

"What were you talking to them about?" Endolynn asked, intentionally changing the subject. She did not feel up to talking about the young king who had such a tight grip on her heart.
"Oh!" Zaiden almost stopped but seemed to remember that Endolynn was barely dressed and needed some layers before they could stand around chatting, "Willem found Elspeth and Atheena. Rohesia wanted to know what to do with them."
At the mention of their twin cousins, Endolynn instantly felt sick to her stomach.
"I had completely forgotten about them..." She said, her voice tired, "What am I going to tell them about Royce and Ancel?"
"The truth?" Zaiden offered as they arrive at Endolynn's chamber door, "I think the better question is what we should do with them."

Endolynn nodded, her chest feeling tight. She needed time to think.

"Come find me when you are in better shape," Zaiden said as he opened the door for her.

Endolynn agreed as she moved past him.

Krea was making her bed when Endolynn reached her bedchambers.

"Your Highness!" Krea gasped when she saw Endolynn's poorly clothed self and disheveled hair, "You were out in the halls like that? You must be frozen solid!"

Endolynn laughed weakly at herself, feeling foolish for not thinking to put on more layers before she had left during the middle of the night.
"Yes, I feel close to that," she replied, "I think I would like to have a bath."
Krea dropped what she was doing and spun to head to the bathing chamber. Her ginger hair twirled out around her as she moved, and Endolynn smiled to herself.
At least one thing was back to normal. She had missed Krea a lot while she had been away, and she was all too happy to have the girl back to take care of her.

Dastrehan was wrong; Endolynn would not be alone.

After their last conversation in his chambers, Dastrehan did not bother her again. She knew he would want to leave as soon as possible, but he likely did not want to appear rude to Zaiden or the advisers that Endolynn would be appointing.
Zaiden obviously had spoken with him right after he had left her in her chambers, because when she joined him in their father's study, Zaiden informed her right away that Dastrehan would be leaving the next day.
A pang of disappointment went through her, but she refused to dwell on it.