“No fair!” she calls out.
“You can get the next round,” I tease.
Rowena picks up her glass and holds it aloft. “Hear! Hear!”
“May the wine flow.” I clink my glass against hers, taking a long sip. It’s delicious, with a sweet berry and clove flavor.
“Tell me, what do the beaches look like in the South?” Rowena urges me, taking another drink.
“Do you not have beaches or shores in the North?”
Rowena shakes her head. “I am only familiar with the mountains and forests of the North.” She sighs. “We have some tall cliffsides, but that hardly counts when the water is frigid.”
I know the feeling. Up until recently, I have never left my kingdom, either. The North is far more beautiful and lush than the South, but each has its unique beauty. Khalessor is a marvel. There is no doubt in my mind about that, but even its splendor can’t quiet the ache for home.
“I wasn’t allowed to leave the castle walls, but many people told me that the sand was soft to the touch, and the water was excellent to swim in during the summer months. From my balcony, I had the best view of the sea that stretched across the horizon, and during sunrise, the water would glimmer,” I explain.
“Does it snow there?”
“Yes, but only a few weeks out of the year. The rest of the time, it's quite hot,” I reply, wondering if I will ever see my home again.
She gives the man two more coins, and he refills our glasses to the top. Rowena and I drink and talk and wander until the world grows a little hazy. My skin flushes with warmth, and mybody relaxes. The sound of a lively melody carries through the street as an Elvarran plays a lute somewhere in the crowd.
“That one is handsome.” She points at a man with curly, brunette hair and thick brows as he passes by.
“I like that one.” I point to the black-haired man lost in his music—the source of the lively melody.
She giggles. “He looks like Wrath.”
“Rowena!” I gasp. “Don’t you dare!”
My outburst only makes her mischievous smile grow. “I’m kidding! Though you’re turning quite red, Rae.”
I hide my flush behind my glass. “It’s the wine.”
“That one can do whatever he wants to me.” She points at the tall Elvarran with dark hair and a scar across his cheek.
“You mean Gilead?” I look at him across the street. “From the King's army?”
She sighs longingly. “We see one another around the castle all the time. He’s the captain of the royal guard. But he usually keeps his distance.”
I inhale a playful breath. “I’m going to tell him.”
“Raelys!” Rowena hisses under her breath, making me burst with laughter. “I will never speak to you again if you do that.”
“I’m kidding,” I tease.
“If you’re not going to eat your candy, can I have it?” Rowena plucks the treat from my grasp.
“Of course.” I smile, enjoying the sight of her devouring the sweet in one go.
A searing gaze cuts through the lively festival from afar, and a familiar prickling sensation creeps up the back of my neck. Turning away from Rowena, I glance up the street and lock eyes with Wrath. He wears a finely tailored black coat, a high-collared vest of deep plum, and polished boots. In typical Wrath fashion, he is faultless.
Perhaps it is the wine, but tonight he looks… otherworldly. Divine power coils beneath the surface as he stands, and it steals the breath from my lungs. His eyes hold such intense desire and yearning that it makes me question if he is gazing at someone other than me. People surround the King, all vying for his attention, but he ignores them to watchme. Unable to hold the weight of his gaze much longer, I turn back to Rowena. She is busy drinking another glass of wine, her attention on the crowd of people dancing.
“Is the King always so…” I consider my words. “Fickle?”
Rowena stifles a laugh with her hand. “Whatever do you mean, Rae?”
