I shrugged one shoulder, tying the cloak at the base of my throat. “In alver lands, I am encouraged to voice my thoughts.”
“Yes, well, I understand they might be a little wilder of folk?—”
“My favorite quality in them.”
Cara pinched her lips. “I have worries for you, is all. So many turns you were in my care to guide and shape into an honorable lady, and I do not know what to think of this boldness. You were always such a meek girl.”
Inside, I knew Cara’s condescension wasn’t truly a distaste for me. She, too, was raised to believe a royal elven lady ought to behave a certain way. But she did not understand the lands of the fae, nor the alver clans. Somewhere in her remarks was a fear that if I did not watch myself, they might turn me out, harm me, or worse.
I let my hand fall to her arm. “Cara, I wore many masks to comply here. Jonas has simply asked me to remove them. From the first nights in Klockglas, I was asked to speak freely, to be honest with him. Hewould prefer to know me, not the etiquette of me, so that is what I am doing. It hasn’t made him indifferent to me, I assure you it has brought us closer.”
Cara blinked, her hands wringing together. “You know from my missive that I don’t . . . I don’t want you to be returned to the Ljosalfar, Skadinia.”
My face softened. The woman rarely spoke fears of her heart. “I won’t. I am vowed to Jonas, and plan to remain vowed to him well into the Otherworld.”
“I realize it is treasonous of me to speak poorly of Prince Arion, but after what he did here, after how he allowed that numbness to take you, well, I do not wish to see such a thing again.”
Arion watched me fall into my affinity, shouted at me to not let the coldness take me, yet kept forcing my hand to do cruel acts on his behalf, all to keep my bespelled grandfather safe.
“It’s not treasonous,” I said softly. “I think much the same about the Ljosalfar prince.” I offered Cara a small smile. “The alver folk do not fear my affinity. They’ve been teaching me a great deal how to control it so it does not overtake me.”
She blew out a breath, the last of her hidden affection for me breaking through. “Good. That is good, My Lady. Oh, I nearly forgot.” The woman reached into the pocket of the smock she kept over her dress and removed a parchment tied in a ribbon. “The king wanted you to have this. An heirloom of the royal house of the Dokkalfar clans.”
Warmth bloomed in my chest as I unwrapped the silver chain. In the center was a circular charm with golden sparking stones. The stones were rare and difficult to mine. When they knocked together vibrant sparks glimmered like starlight.
Cara helped fasten the chain. “Fit for a future queen. This marks your ascension, My Lady.”
I touched the charm, watching the gentle flashes of light shine. It was the first move that I was Eldirard’s heir.
Cara cleared her throat and brushed the hem of my skirt. “Now, you’ll be certain to keep your manners in the market, yes? Show your prince the same.”
And like that, the old Cara returned.
I hid the few eye rolls, assured her we wouldn’t become the downfall of Natthaven, and was finally allowed to abandon the bedchamber.
Grandfather insisted he was embroiled in negotiations in a new trade with King Gerard, so he would not join us to the market. It was familiar. Rarely did my grandfather and I spend leisure time together but for reading or a few meals.
The doors to the palace were open, letting in the pale sunlight and heat of the morning.
Before I stepped into the front drive, a broad figure filled the frame of the entrance. My heart dropped into the pit of my belly.
“Cian.”
His eyes gleamed with unsettling malice, like he won a battle I didn’t realize we’d been fighting. Cian had his hair tied behind his neck, and a new bronze medal pinned to his guard’s cloak.
“Princess.” He drew closer, a curl to his lip. “I hoped I might see you at some point during your return.”
“Strange, I hoped for the opposite.”
For a moment he looked taken back, a little stunned, but arrogance bled through soon enough. “You’ve grown some claws in these few weeks.”
“They’ve always been there, my husband merely encourages me to use them. Stand aside, he is waiting for me.”
The forgotten fear throttled my lungs like a vice, freezing breath, when Cian curled his grip around my arm. “Does he know about you? What you’ve done? Tell me, Princess, does he know about us?”
Apprehension prickled over my scalp. Simple words and the peace I managed to claim with Jonas Eriksson teetered on the edge of destruction.
“Does he not realize what a risk it is to sleep next to you?” Cian chuckled and traced the point of my ear. “I could offer your husband the same thing I offered Prince Arion. Don’t you miss our lessons?”
