Leanora.
Nora would have nodded along with their mother’s words, eager to please her.
Sephiahadto go along with the queen, or else she risked failing her mission before it had even truly started. And yet she alsohad to find a way to take at leastsomeof her luggage with her…
“There are things in those trunks that you cannot replace,” she said, her tone as meek and pleading as she could make it.
The prince snorted. “Thosethingsare no longer of any concern to you. You don’t need them where you’re going.” His voice turned droll. “Think of it as an exciting chance to start a new life, completely unhindered by all of the garbage you collected in your old one. Not many people are gifted such things.”
Sephia’s disgust was dangerously close to sparking into something more violent.
How was she going to stomach being in close proximity with this beast for more than a few minutes? If this mission took an entire month…
Gods, I might be in trouble.
Thinking quickly, she swallowed her revulsion and spoke in a firm but polite voice: “Then at least permit me to say goodbye to one of those parts of my old life. And to take at least one of my family heirlooms with me; not so much aneed, as I certainly don’t expect that I will need anything other than you, my prince.”
Silence.
“It is awant, not a need,” she pressed. “If that makes any difference.”
Every human present seemed to be leaning closer, astounded by her audacity and eager for the prince’s undoubtedly vicious reply, but Sephia paid them no mind.
She didn’t take her eyes off of Tarron. She was waiting—hoping, like a fool—that the cruel gleam in his eyes might soften into something kinder.
It didn’t.
But soon that harsh gleam turned almost…curious.
And this was a dangerous look on his face for a myriad of reasons, not least of all because it somehow made him all the more attractive.
He turned away with another scoff. Sephia’s heart began to sink, until she heard him mutter: “Very well. Be quick about it.”
Sephia was quick indeed, and Nora was quicker; the younger twin was already at work, pawing through the trunk where Sephia had left those priceless vials. She turned and met Sephia as she approached, clutching a worn leather journal. The pages of this journal did not containwrittensecrets anymore; years ago, Sephia had hollowed out those pages and made a hole in which to nest treasures she wanted to keep hidden.
She didn’t open the journal to check for anything now; she already knew what Nora had hidden inside it.
Nora’s whisper was hoarse with grief and barely audible even as they stood close enough to press their foreheads together: “Promise me you’ll come back.”
Sephia swallowed hard. Her fingers fumbled between them, tightening the buckle that kept the journal closed.
Nora took her hand and squeezed it. “Come back to me,” she whispered again.
Sephia squeezed back. “I love you, Nora.”
The warm breeze swirled once more. The river slapped and sloshed against its banks, and Sephia looked back to the bridge, where the golden prince stood waiting. For her. Her breath nearly stopped at the sight. She squeezed her sister’s hand more tightly, until she felt Nora’s pulse throb against her own.
Nora’s life.
That was why she was doing this.
That was whyshecould do this.
“I love you,” she said, letting go, “and I will not fail you.”
Chapter 3
“Idetest the smell of humans,” said the Sun King.
