But how well did I know either of them?
Lord Briscalar shifted the topic. “The king asked about you not long ago.” He tweaked a curl into place beside my face. “He suggested you might enjoy a stroll on the deck this morning. Some fresh air, perhaps.”
Tension flickered through me at the thought of seeing Merrick again after what happened. I clenched my hands in my lap, reining in the whirlpool of memories and sensations Merrick had stirred.
“I’m afraid I’m not ready to venture out of my suite yet.” I curved my lips into a faint smile. Remaining indoors and locked away with Farris wouldn’t solve anything, but at least it would keep me from falling for Merrick’s considerable charms. “I’d like to catch up on some reading this morning.”
His brow arched, but his face remained smooth. “Of course, my lady. The king will understand.” He finished the last touches on my hair. After stepping back to admire his work, he nodded. “There. You look every bit the queen you’re destined to be.”
I glanced in the mirror. The elegant gown flowed around me like a soft cloud, the intricate hairpiece he’d secured at the top of my head twinkling in the light.
An odd emptiness tugged at me, but I chose not to examine it closely.
“Thank you.” I offered him a weak smile.
He returned it before making his way to the door. “Please don’t hesitate to call me should you need anything throughout the day, my lady.” With that, he left, closing the door behind him.
I paced the length of the suite, back and forth, the soft slap of my shoes against the polished floor providing no calm. I nibbled on my nail until I realized—again—that I was doing it and made myself stop. A bad habit I couldn’t seem to kick. My gaze caught on the worn spine ofEmber's Shadowpeeking from beneath one of the pillows on the bed. Lord Briscalar had made it up neatly while I bathed. I’d tucked it beneath the mattress, but he must’ve seen the subtle lump and investigated.
Although, this book had a habit of turning up where it needed to be—and for being mostly unreadable. It dealt out hints and teases in equal measure, but it had shared vital information in the past. When it wasn’t in the mood to reveal anything, it remained as blank and useless as the walls around me.
I tugged it out from beneath the pillow and settled on the bed, the mattress creaking underneath me. Farris trotted over and jumped, landing beside me with a soft yip. He curled up, his fluffy tail waving as he nuzzled my leg.
“Alright, book. Show me what you’ve got.” I flipped through the first blank pages. “Come on. Tell me something. Don’t be an ache in the ass.”
When I turned another page, the faint, ghostly outline of the table of contents materialized, the ink unfurling across the page in cursive script. My pulse leaped, and I ran my fingertipdown the page. “Table of Contents. Hmm.On the Origins of Fae Animagery.That’s more Tempest’s thing than mine.” My friend could coax almost any creature into licking her face. “The Intricacies of Gown Magic, a topic only Lord Briscalar would find appealing.Twilit Realm: Trade Customs and Laws of Silent Courts.What in the fates is a silent court? From what I’ve seen, they’re all equally demanding and loud.” Although, the people of Lydel had been silent when I first arrived on the island. Frowning, I returned to the page. “Chapter Fourteen: Evergorne Court.”
I gasped. Farris looked up at me before sighing.
I feverishly thumbed through the book, flipping past blank pages to the chapter,Evergorne Court. And there, nestled in the middle of the page, I found . . . something. It appeared sparse and written simply, but I knew this book well. Every word it shared would be more weighted than the last. The ink shimmered like it held more than just words embedded deep in the fabric page.
Seek ye the mystery hidden
behind Evergorne’s gilded walls,
Where whispers fall and secrets have forevermore crawled.
Upon joy’s path or at sorrow’s gate
lies a choice ye must make.
Will ye step close or back away and seal fate?
Be wary, lest the jaws of magic ensnare ye as well,
And steal the hearts thou didst not know ye craved.
I grunted. “What in the fates does that mean?”
My heart fluttering, I reread the poem. Was this a warningor a dare? Cool air hissed through the cracked-open porthole, a briny scent clinging to the breeze.
A chill settled over me.
Palming the edges of the worn pages, I closed my eyes. I needed to memorize this, because unlike other books,Ember’s Shadowhad a nasty habit of playing games. The next time I opened it, this particular page would most likely be blank. Like the wicked fae and their tricks, this book followed its own rules, and they were not only elusive, but they were also unpredictable.
I repeated the lines silently, searing them into my mind. “. . . secrets have forevermore crawled. . . jaws of magic ensnare . . .” A mystery meant to either give joy or destroy. This referred to me. I knew it in my heart.
What in the world did “seal fate” mean? What mystery waited for me at Evergorne Court?
