“Magnificent, my lady.” Savi’s eyes beamed as she gestured toward the mirror in the washroom with a small bow of her head.
Astraia turned her gaze and halted. She did not recognize the woman staring back at her. This woman had glistening dark hair, a reflection of the ebony heavens, glittering with stardust in her navy strands. Savi had braided half of her hair into a crown, while the remainder of her tresses cascaded down her back.
But the dress…it stole her breath away. The base of the dress was navy-blue and flowed out around her. On top of the base was a sheer navy overlay adorned with hundreds of Starlight crystals that scattered from the bodice and faded down the skirt. The bodice was form-fitted, with no straps, forming perfectly to her waist and featured a plunging neckline, almost to her navel. It gave the appearance of the Stars falling down her body.
Astraia turned, noticing the back of the dress was also cut wickedly low, revealing her Power lumenmark plainly.
She was likely wearing the fortune of the entire province on her skin. Starlight crystals were rare, even more so than stardust. Said to be the result of lightning colliding with stardust, only the ancient families of Astradeon were gifted with Starlight crystals and passed them down through generations.
A small cough interrupted Astraia’s gawking.
“Will that be all, my lady?”
“I would hope so, Savi. Thank you.” Astraia smiled at the young woman.
With a quick curtsy, the maid quietly left the stateroom.
“Stars, what am I doing?” Astraia whispered as she stared at her own reflection. The blue of her eyes peered back into her soul. A small part of her wished amber eyes were staring at her instead.
Sighing, she left the washroom and decided waiting around in the eerie silence of the stateroom would only drive her insane. She strapped her Celestial dagger to her thigh and wrenched open the door.
Caelan stared back at her. A smile bloomed across his face. “Stars, Astraia. You look incredible.”
Astraia eyed Caelan, noticing he had traded his captain’s attire for a tailored navy suit. He was resplendent. A truly alluring smile spread across his face.
His green eyes stared at her, longing pouring from his gaze.
“You clean up pretty nice yourself.” Astraia smiled, letting her shields drop a little more around him. He made her feel wanted, at home, safe. She decided at that moment, she would not live in fear and pain tonight. She would allow a sliver of joy to permeate the darkness of her thoughts.
Caelan beamed at her, a look of pure satisfaction and elation. “I see you got my gift,” he said as he eyed her dress, lingering on her lumenmark just near her collarbone.
“Very subtle of you,” she quipped. “You do not seriously think I’m going to let you parade me around your entire court with dual lumenmarks on display just so I can be captured?”
“Maybe only a small cavalcade.”
She knew he was baiting her, but quarreling with him made her feel normal, as if she was eighteen again and her brother was not dead.
She crossed her arms, staring at him in the doorway.
Caelan chuckled. “You are simply no fun. You know I would not put you in harm's way. Which is why I brought you this,” he said as he pulled a small round wooden box from his jacket pocket. Carefully, he twisted the top of the wooden box and opened it to reveal a clear, thick paste.
“And what, exactly, is that?” Astraia wrinkled her nose.
Caelan dipped one finger into the paste, a small amount sticking to his skin. “Trust me.”
Slowly, he brushed a few loose strands away from her Sacrifice lumenmark. His hand paused as his fingertips brushed her collarbone, and Astraia had to stifle a shudser from running down her spine.
“This is called ‘metamfiesi.’ When word of the king’s decree reached Virellia over a fortnight ago, I decided to take preemptive action. I have been working with some of the healers at the university to create a way to hide lumenmarks.” He paused, his voice low. “May I?”
Astraia nodded tentatively.
Caelan brushed the paste across her lumenmark near her collarbone, gently smoothing the substance until it was spread evenly on her skin. Heat rushed to her skin at his touch, making her stomach flutter.
“I will need to apply it to your second mark,” he whispered closely to her ear, making her hair stand on end.
Without a word, Astraia turned, allowing him to see her Power lumenmark on her lower back. His movements were deliberate, familiar, calming as he massaged the metamfiesi into the marks on her spine. Astraia fought the urge to close her eyes and soak in the caress of his hand.
Warmth left her as he pulled away his hand and cleared his throat. “Finished.”
