Chapter 1

I served Kaelan, heir to the Elf King, for five full years, and I bore him a child.

But at the Elven Assembly, he announced in front of everyone that another woman was his betrothed.

That day was my son Rowan's fourth birthday.

Kaelan stood on the high platform holding the hand of the noblewoman Lysandra and received the blessings of every elf there. Rowan pushed through the crowd clutching the little deer he had woven himself and joyfully called out, "Dad!"

Kaelan's face went cold and he said, in front of them all, "Don't call me that. I'm not your father."

Afterward Rowan asked me whether it was because he had not been good enough that his father would not claim him.

That was the moment I first seriously thought that perhaps I should take my child and go.

Just before the Assembly began, Rowan had come home from school covered in mud.

His collar was pulled askew and his knee was scraped, but he held a crooked little grass deer tightly against his chest.

"Mom, I didn't cry."

He lifted his face. His eyes were still red.

I crouched to wipe the mud from his face. "Who did this to you?"

Rowan hid the deer behind his back and shook his head. Only when I saw the ink on the back of his hand did he say quietly, "They called me a fatherless brat. They said you were a pathetic woman who'd been abandoned."

"I told them I do have a dad." Rowan sniffed. "My dad is powerful. He's just busy. He's coming today, isn't he?"

I held his hand and did not answer for a while.

Three days earlier, I had sent a birthday invitation to the palace. That morning, Kaelan sent back only this: "We'll talk tonight."

For five years, there had always been something he wanted to put off until later.

Until the border was pacified. Until the nobles supported him. Until the crown was formally on his head.

He said that when the day came, he would appear before every elf holding both our hands and tell them I was his wife and Rowan was his eldest son.

And each time, I believed him.

"He'll come." I smoothed my son's collar. "It's your birthday."

Rowan smiled at once and handed me the grass deer he had been hiding. "This is for Dad. My teacher says a deer will bring someone who's lost back home."

A sharp little ache pricked my heart.

I sent him to wash and went to the window alone. Far off, the palace blazed with light as preparations began for that night's Elven Assembly.

There were two letters on the table.

One was Kaelan's short reply.

The other was an offer of a post at a school out on the border.

I had applied six months earlier. I knew herbs and could teach young elves their letters, enough to qualify me as a village teacher. They had promised me a small house and a place at the school for Rowan.

I had not signed it.

All those years of quietly preparing a way out did not mean I truly wanted to go. I was like someone who couldn't swim but kept a boat hidden onshore, using it to convince herself she could remain in deep water a little longer.

There was a quick knock at the door. A palace attendant had brought a silver case.

Rowan ran out barefoot, his eyes as bright as stars. "Is it a present from Dad?"

There was no present in the case. Only a gilt-edged invitation.

"By order of the heir Kaelan, Lady Elara is invited to attend the Elven Assembly tonight," the attendant said respectfully. "His Highness will announce a matter concerning the succession."

Rowan wrapped his arms around my leg. "Mom, we can go see Dad!"

I looked at the two names side by side on the invitation, and my fingers slowly grew cold.

Kaelan.

Lysandra.