Silence hung between us after Kaelen finished his story. His eyes were rimmed with red, vulnerability etched across features that usually betrayed nothing. I'd never seen him like this—raw and exposed—and the trust he'd shown by sharing his deepest wound made my heart ache with love for him.
"It wasn't arson by accident," he said suddenly, breaking the quiet. "My father believes it was political."
I shifted slightly to face him better. "Political? You mean—"
"Someone trying to eliminate my father as a rival," Kaelen explained, his voice steadier now. "He was gaining support for the kingship back then, just like I am now."
The implications settled heavily between us. "Do they know who?" I asked.
Kaelen's jaw tightened. "Nothing was ever proven, but there were rumors that High King Theron was behind it."
