“Amara, when I said I didn’t want to go, I didn’t mean it to sound so…cold.” His voice is low, hesitant, as if unsure of his own words.
I pry his fingers from my wrist, forcing him to meet my gaze.
“I don’t care,” I say sharply, cutting through whatever excuse he’s trying to offer. “I’m done with your sweet lies—the ones you whisper when it’s just us and the moonlight.” I pull my wrist free, straightening my spine. “I’m going to Pariseth to feel the grass beneath my feet, and to hopefully have one day—just one—where Fae aren’t trying to kill me.”
I stroll across the cold stone of the throne room, every step heavy with the weight of Daed's eyes on me. He doesn't call after me or try to stop me, but even if he did, I wouldn’t listen.
Right now, I crave something far more than his lingering glances. If Pariseth has grass, then there is soil. If there are flowers, then there is sun. It may not be The Grove, but it’s the closest thing I’ve had in far too long.
I navigate the halls with ease now, lifting the hem of my dress to quicken my pace. When I reach my chambers, I freeze, no longer greeted by Arax’s familiar, stoic form or his ever-watchful gaze. I’m glad he’s been reinstated as a Reaper—it’s where he belongs, out in the courtyard, sparring, not standing outside my door. Still, his absence stirs a sadness within me, as if Baev’kalath has grown a little lonelier.
Inside my chambers, I pull the bell to summon Solena, who arrives promptly.
“I need help,” I say as I rifle through my wardrobe.
Solena’s curious gaze follows me across the room. “Are you alright, Your Highness?”
“I’ve never been better,” I reply, tossing dresses over my shoulder. “I leave for Pariseth tonight.”
“Pariseth!” Solena gasps, her excitement feeding my own.
“Help me pack,” I instruct. “I suppose I can take a trunk on the ship.”
A giggle escapes her, stifled behind her hand. I arch an eyebrow. “Something amusing?”
She shakes her head quickly. “You can’t sail to Pariseth, Your Highness. The storm will tear a ship to pieces. You’ll have to fly. You’ll need to pack light—your Blades can carry a satchel or two on their backs.”
“There are no Blades,” I correct, turning back to my wardrobe. “It’s just Daed, Orios, and myself.”
Solena’s head snaps up. “Orios? For how long will you be gone?”
“The king didn’t say,” I reply, the uncertainty lingering in the air as I continue sorting through my things.
Solena falls silent for a moment, and I realize she’s likely dreading their time apart, even if their love is confined to fleeting moments in the shadows. Pausing my frantic rifling, I turn to face her. “I’ve been told I need to take a maid. I think it should be you.”
Her eyes widen, and a breath catches in her throat. “Me, Your Highness?”
I shrug, as if I can’t see the happiness simmering beneath her skin. “Yes, you. Who else would it be? But be warned: it’ll just be the four of us—alone—on an island that’s impossible to reach.”
Watching Solena struggle to stifle her blossoming smile amuses me.
“Thank you, Your Highness,” she breathes, her voice a mix of disbelief and joy.
“You can thank me by helping me pack,” I reply with a smirk.
“Of course!” Solena hurries to my side, burying herself alongside me in the wardrobe. She stretches to reach the very top shelf, pulling down two leather satchels. We both lean in, pinching our chins between our fingers as we survey the layers of lace and silk.
“Not even one of these dresses will fit in that bag,” I say. “I can’t just take one ball gown.”
A thought crosses Solena’s mind, and she reaches deep into the back of the wardrobe, emerging with several neatly folded items, along with something wrapped in brown paper.
“What are those?” I ask, curiosity piqued.
“Trouser and tunics,” she replies with a smile. “They’ll fit and you should wear them for the journey.”
I furrow my brow. “Are you telling me these have been here all along while you kept shoving me into those dresses?”
“You couldn’t very well wear these to banquets,” Solena defends herself. “And if you need something a little more flowy…” She pulls the string on the parcel, and the paper falls away, revealing the dress I wore when I boarded the ship to Baev’kalath.
