Celeste
My throat was tight.
"Wren—"
"No. Alec. No." My voice broke on it. "Do not be my father. Do not be the last twenty-five years of my life. The people in my kingdom know more of the world than I do. I am being smothered. My father will not always be there to keep me safe, and neither will you. What do I do then?"
"Wren."
"Please."
He did not answer. His face was wretched.
"I will not let anything happen to her."
Darien's voice came out very quiet. I looked up. He was watching me.
"If someone wanted her, they would have to come through me first. I would not take her anywhere I did not think was safe. The bandits do not count. I did not know." His green eyes were steady on Alec, now. "She is not alone here, Alec. You are not her only shield."
"Not to be eavesdropping, of cour
