Mumbling around a pin in her mouth, Aunt Morgana plucked at my hair and said, “The daughter of one of the lords, I think. We’ve seen her walking in the gardens with her little dog, and Beau can never take his eyes off her.”
“It’strue love,” I said dramatically, bringing my hands to my heart. “Does this girl have a name?”
My aunt shook her head. “I don’t know?—”
“Eliza,” Beau muttered, embarrassed. “I heard her father calling for her the other day.”
Morgana and I exchanged a glance. For the next ten minutes, we pestered him about Eliza until he was red in the face and looked ready to jump out the window. A warmth in my chest spread as Morgana finished my hair and moved to sit in front of me, her pouch of cosmetics in hand.
“I’m glad you’re here,” I said, grabbing her free hand.
She squeezed mine. “I am too, Rosie. I’m so proud of you. The courage it took to volunteer in Ragnar’s place is something not many have. And sticking with it, especially after Emperor Gayl ambushed you like that, with all the talk about your father…” She shook her head, irritation lining her features as she swiped rouge across my cheeks. “I’m glad that group of boys walked away from Theodore while they still could.”
I straightened. “What group of boys?”
“The ones who were always with Hamilton and Theodore all those years ago. I thought I told you about them?”
“No, you only mentioned my father and Theodore. There were more?”
Nodding grimly, she motioned for me to shut my eyes and brushed powder onto the lids. “Unfortunately, Theodore amassed quite the following among the young men in town. There were three or four I’d see regularly gathering around him. I kept my distance, you know, but the rumors…” I felt her hand stop moving, and I opened my eyes. “The Sanguivex, they called themselves. Purveyors of blood magic.”
A beat passed, the name lingering in the air, until I heard Beau breathe out, “Cool.”
Morgana shot him a cross look as chills swept down my spine. “What happened to the rest of them?” I asked. “Are they still in Feywood?”
Morgana’s jaw tightened. “No. They’re dead.”
“Allof them?”
Nodding, she said, “Died within a couple years of your father.”
We both went quiet as she applied kohl to my eyes and a cream to my lips. Gayl had said Branock Aris was responsible for my father’s death, that he’d sent men out to kill those closest to Theodore as revenge for Gayl causing the curse. Did that mean he’d had those other men, the Sanguivex, assassinated too? Leo mentioned his father was brash, especially in the later days of his life, but the longer I got to know Leo and hear about his family, the harder it was to believe the former emperor would have done such a thing.
“Enough of that,” Morgana said with a sigh, backing away and pasting a smile on her face as she admired her handiwork. “You look beautiful, Rose.” She placed a finger under my chin and tilted my head up to meet her eyes. “So much like your mother.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I know I…I never knew her. And I’ve spent every day wishing I did. But I couldn’t have asked for anyone better to be put in my life instead.” I bit my lip, unfamiliar tears threatening to be set loose. “I love you and Ragnar so much. All three of you,” I added, casting a glance at Beau. “I think I get too caught up in feeling sorry for myself that I forget how lucky I am. How thankful I should be, that fate gave me to you.”
Morgana sniffed and took my hand. “Who are you, and what have you done with our Rose?” she asked teasingly as a tear tracked down her cheek. Motioning for Beau to join, she enveloped the two of us in a tight embrace. “My sweet children,” she said softly. “How I love you both more than words can say.”
I smiled at Beau and ruffled his hair as Morgana pulled away with another sniff. “Now, let’s getyouinto your dress”—she pointed at me—“andyouinto the chair.” She gripped Beau by the neck and plopped him in the seat I’d just vacated, then grabbed a pair of small scissors. “It’s time.”
“Well,darling, I had no idea you’d take my nickname to heart,” Nox drawled as he leaned against the doorframe to my room, taking in my ball gown.
Sheer dark green fabric hung from my shoulders, cascading down my arms until it cinched at my wrists. Gold designs in the shape of serpents were threaded delicately along the sleeves. The solid deep green bodice fastened at the chest with gold laces, then opened at my waist to flow like a cape down my legs, which were encased in matching tights with decorative snakes slithering up the sides.
I pointed my toe out with a sly grin, showing off my gold sandals. “I figured it was time I embraced it.”
Beau and Morgana had already left for the ball, seeing as the challengers were supposed to arrive after everyone else to make our grand entrance. Arowyn peered out from over Nox’s shoulder and raised an eyebrow at me. “Green looks good on you.”
I reached for my gold mask, slipping the dagger next to it in a small sheath at my thigh. “Are you two ready?”
Nox held out his arms to Arowyn and me, and I slid mine through. “Don’t get any ideas, Nox,” I joked, glancing between the three of us. Arowyn’s long, pale blonde hair hung down to her waist, brushing against the beautiful navy cloak she wore over a silver bodysuit. The sheen material flowed over her large curves like moonlight and ended in her normal pair of combat boots.
“Where’s your mask?” I asked her.
“I’m wearing it.” She pointed to her face, the black kohl beneath her eyes more prominent than normal against a pale blue shimmer on her cheeks. Black paint lined her lips, and when she smiled, it was a kind of lethal beauty that would have her enemies tucking their tails between their legs. “It’s called feminine rage,” she said dryly.
Nox chuckled. “You look the same as always.”
