I blew a breath out and stared at the mess I made. Livia would be here soon to start on my makeup and I was an even bigger mess than I had been before.
Sita blinkedat me in the long mirror she had a massive man bring up for her. Once again, she’d worked magic and she couldn’t convince me otherwise that she didn’t have it in her fingers. The black dress melted to my body like water- not even like water- like a substance I’d never encountered before. It was impossible to describe. The front dipped down and crisscrossed around my chest while two massive slits showed off my legs all the way up to my thighs. Long sleeves puffed out around my arms and cinched at my wrists. I turned in the dim lighting of the bathing chamber and gasped when I saw my back.
The back of the gown dipped down to my hips to show off the barely there mark that seemed to be materializing more and more each day. I could hardly see it in the mirror but based on the way Reva acted when she saw it this morning, it was even darker than the day before.
I dabbed at the makeup under my eyes and faced my friend. “You worked magic again.”
She pulled me into a tight embrace before I could see the emotions overtaking her. “I didn’t expect this day to come so soon.”
“You act as if I’ll be leaving you,” I choked out.
“But won’t you be?” She pulled away and her eyes were glassy.
I frowned. “What do you mean? Why would I leave?”
She blinked a few times and dabbed at her own makeup. It was perfect, just as she was. “You can’t hide away in this little cavern city for the rest of your life. It’s time for you to return to the Last Fortress. I wish you could stay here forever, but the people need you.”
My frown only deepened. “I don’t understand. The magic in the castle said…”
She shook her head. “Those things will come to pass when you leave here. You will never grow if you don’t experience life and death. Everything in between.”
“I can’t leave without you,” I placed my hands on both of her shoulders. “You will have to come with me.”
Her smile was sad. “I would love nothing more, but I will need to stay to make sure others have clothes. I will not be far behind once you leave, but people will need help packing up their homes to follow you. Your kingdom will need a lot and we will be there once you are established.”
I swallowed hard and nodded once. I didn’t want to get into this emotional talk. I wasn’t ready to leave, especially not her.
She looped one of my curls around her fingers. “I will make sure you have plenty of clothes on your journey and will try my best to make it light for travel but the magic will know you. It will let you pass safely.”
Gods, I hoped so. I didn’t think I could handle another journey like the first. I knew any trip across The Wastes would be perilous but everything that happened after… I would be content if I didn’t have to go through that again.
Sita shoved her silks and ribbons into her black trunk before she grinned at me again. “You are magnificent.”
The usual trainingarena was completely transformed. I could hardly believe my eyes. Lanterns of all shapes and sizes were hung and strategically placed around the room so you could see each other’s faces and where you were going but not much else. It was romantic, it was mysterious, and I could hardly believe Alric had pulled this off. Two long tables were set up on either side of the massive constructed stage in the center of the room and a wait staff served drinks and small finger foods from wooden platters they carried around gracefully beside their shoulders. The dresses and fine attire were all over the spectrum. There were some dressed in their finest, while others wore threadbare clothes that looked to be falling apart. But it didn’t matter here. There was joy, laughter, and music. There was celebration and that meant no one cared what you wore. Children were mysteriously absent—not that there were many—and I wondered who would purposefully volunteer to stay back with them and miss all of this. It was magnificent. My feet pressed into the soft dirt ground and I reveled in the feel of the earth between my toes. I opted out of the black slippers Sita threatened me with and knew as soon as I stepped into the room it was the right decision. The hum for my magic to be used was back with each step. It knew what it needed to do to heal this room, but it was waiting for my command.
Ryven’s face was a mask as he watched me from across the room. But he couldn’t hide the emotions in his eyes, that was laid bare before me. Alric had his hand on my elbow as he escorted me into the room and everything went silent. The chatter, themusic, everything. It was like nothing else existed. I lifted my chin slightly as every gaze rested on me. People immediately stopped what they were doing to catch a glimpse. Why we were having this party and celebration hadn’t been announced but people knew. My lips curled slightly as I tried my best to not let my nerves get to me. I had many interactions with most of these people. They’d welcomed me with open arms and plenty of food. Livia wrapped her arms around her partner and raised her glass to me across the dance floor. It was strange seeing my sweet friend in another element besides fussing after me. Reva, Ash, and Grove stood off to the side. They weren’t here to celebrate, they were here to work. Though they definitely didn’t look it, they were decked out, head to toe. They looked incredible in their dresses and makeup. I hardly recognized them. Which made me incredibly sad. All I wanted was for them to enjoy themselves but I had to remind myself that this was the life they wanted to live. They loved fighting and rushing to other’s aid. I couldn’t take them away from the duty they’d instilled in themselves.
As I made my way across the room there was a collective gasp as I passed. The mark was now visible to those who were ready to accept me as their future queen. We would bring about a new age. We would take down the fraud empire and it was all there in the birthmark that magically appeared on my skin. Alric warned me I would need to show off my magic tonight and I didn’t know if I was ready but I also didn’t exactly have a choice either. I was beyond afraid I would black out again but Alric insisted that a little show wouldn’t take it out of me. A simple demonstration was all I needed to do.
A flute of champagne was placed between my fingers and Alric smiled down at me. I would put on a good show for these people, my people. Even if I wasn’t exactly ready to lead them and I had no idea how we were going to usher in a new age. Iguessed the planning for that would come when I got my footing with my magic. I couldn’t march into battle or try to take down a powerful empire when I couldn’t stay awake after displaying my magic.
Ryven’s eyes blazed into the back of my neck as I wandered about the room. It didn’t take long for people to start talking again and the excitement soared around me. Food was passed around as music played from a stage set up in the middle of the training arena. There was a small dusting of snow on the ground and I wondered just how far down we were that you couldn’t see the sky but snow still fell here. Was this another kind of magic? Surprisingly, even with the snow on the ground, the air was warm enough around us. It had been a chilly walk from Ryven’s home and I wondered the whole time how I was going to survive this night with such a thin dress on. I knew Sita could work magic, but keeping me warm in something like this seemed a little unattainable. But weirder things had happened.
Alric was a distant shadow and I wasn’t sure why he didn’t act like a friend over a bodyguard until his thoughts rang through my brain. He didn’t want it to look like we were courting. Which made sense, but I didn’t understand why one of my girlfriends didn’t get closer.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the priests. They were late to the party. Honestly, I was surprised they even made it to begin with. It didn’t seem like something they would be interested in but if what Alric said was true… they weren’t the real deal to begin with.
They collectively bowed to me and once again, the room went into a hush.
“We see you have gotten your mark and there are rumors of your magic.” Thalias, Alric’s father, was the first to speak.
I unglued my tongue from the roof of my mouth and tried my hardest to sound dignified. “Yes, both are true,”
Eryx smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “Then you wouldn’t mind putting on a demonstration, I’m sure.”
The pull to look over at Ryven was overwhelming. We knew this would happen and we knew the people would want proof but now that we were here, I didn’t know if I could actually do it. The dull tug to use my magic was a constant companion now but I didn’t know if I had the courage to unleash it. It seemed to have a mind of its own. All four priests practically leaned in to prey on my weakness. I straightened my back instead and tilted my head.
“Well, of course.”
