She waved a hand. “Nothing exceptional. But I'd like you there nonetheless—the old bats always like to see the younger generation.” Razor eyes slid over Elysia. “Wear something flattering.”
Elysia stiffened, but merely took a small pull of her drink. “I imagine that Remy and Daphne will be welcome, then?”
Her mother snapped her fingers. “Good thinking. The three of you are such a striking set all together.”
Georgia’s eyes were focused, scheming even as she rested back like she hadn’t a care in the world. The sight put Elysia on edge. Her mother was always making moves, forever thinking of politics, and Elysia was under the growing impression that she herself was on the docket today.
“Have you given any thought to the Raven Ball?”
Her discomfort increased. Her father didn’t like to involve her mother in hererrandsfor him, but perhaps he had looped her in for an event as important as the Raven Ball. She tiptoed around the question. “What do you mean? Food, décor, guest list?”
Georgia smiled like a cat with a mouse, and it was all Elysia could do to keep her eyes from narrowing suspiciously. She had not heard any rumblings about the Raven Ball yet. It was nearly three months away. But her mother was looking far too satisfied. Georgia lifted a strong shoulder, leaning in conspiratorially.
“Some might say it would be the most perfect evening for a royal proposal.”
Elysia froze. Fire and alcohol raced through her veins and yet she froze down to her very bones.
Georgia’s smile was not fake as she laughed deeply at her daughter’s shock and dropped a sly wink. “Oh, you had no idea! But us girls must keep on top of these things. It will be the best Raven Ball Relaclave has ever seen.”
The gleam in her mother’s eye did not lie. It would be an extravagant and audacious affair. But it was not shock plastered upon Elysia’s face.
It was terror.
Rollie’s words resounded in the confines of her skull.
He would have you killed.
He will always choose the Crown.
Because he is the Crown.
Elysia swallowed her panic and painted herself elated. The prince was to propose in two months' time.
Two months, she had two months.
It had already been so tricky. Always disappearing for hours at a time to train with Gage. Scavenging secrets from both the fair and deprived of her city for her father. And then pulling back from the prince ever so slightly once this nightmare began.
She thought of his parting shot in the library. That he wanted totalksoon. She chewed on her lip. Topp was smart, but usually he was so preoccupied with his own business that any strange behaviors on her part went unnoticed. But that had been before her curse had changed. Maybe hehadnoticed something after all.
No, she decided, Topp would not pry or ask questions. They laughed, they played, and the sex was phenomenal, but it was a rare moment they delved into the sorts of things that made themtick. What went on below the surface stayed where it belonged. If she was honest, it was one of the many reasons she loved him.
It would be fine, she had to be fine.
Elysia strodeout of the castle that evening with another of Lynd’s baskets secure beneath her cloak. The woman would not be deterred, and Elysia really didn’t have the heart nor belly to stop her.
She made it all of two blocks when a floppy-haired young boy sped around the corner, collided against her legs, and fell back with a humph. Elysia paused, her irritation quickly melting into amusement at the sight of him shocked and sprawled on the ground.
She held out a gloved hand, and the boy took it with a grin. “Sorry, miss. I’ve got a letter for ya.”
Elysia scanned him and did not find a sash or any other insignia to mark the boy as Crown. She took the letter curiously and went to grab a coin in payment, but he had already charged away, reckless in his pursuit of his next delivery victim.
Stepping out of the crowds, Elysia leaned against an old closed-down eatery’s walls and tore the note open.
See you tonight, dollface. BP
She had not seen Beatriz in nearly four months. Elysia pressed her lips together. No doubt, Beatriz needed dirt on some pretty rich boy that she’d pissed off or stolen drugs from.
Her heels struck the streets angrily. Frankly, it was shocking that her sister even bothered with a note. Last time she’d justsnuck through a window at three in the morning, and Elysia had stuck a knife to her throat before her feet had even hit the floor.
