She’d sprinted up the stone steps after Livia, following the light that glowed from the very top. When she’d reached the place where they had stepped through the mirror, she’d seen her sister’s long dark hair disappearing through the doorway into the Gilded Palace, and the sight had almost brought her to tears. Now that they were finally safe, she felt a little lightheaded. When all of this was over, she was going to sleep for a week.
By the looks of the reddish light coming through the windows, dawn was just breaking in Orovia. Sleep would have to wait.
“What now?” Livia asked, turning to face her. Her gown was still wet from her dip in the lake, and she’d begun to shiver, teeth chattering violently. Issy wasn’t sure whether it was from the cold or the shock.
She sighed, picking up a heavy woollen blanket and draping it around her sister’s shoulders. “We need to tell father what happened and alert the guards. Uncle Iago can’t be allowed to leave the palace, he’s too dangerous.”
“Why did he do it? What was his reason for putting this spell on us?”
Issy gave her sister a sympathetic look. “He’s a madman, Liv. He’s a power-hungry monster who couldn’t stand the fact that mother inherited the throne, and he didn’t. Nothing more.”
At that moment, Anders clambered through the hole left by the enchanted mirror—now a permanent doorway to the magical world inside—followed by the black-clad princes, all of whom appeared weak and pale in the soft dawn light. They had been trapped inside the enchantment for weeks—months, some of them. And Issy assumed the banquet provided each night was the only meal they had eaten.
With a soft gasp, she realised she remembered the banquets—the table full of platters of food and goblets of wine that appeared after each evening of dancing. Somehow, when they’d broken the curse, her memories had come flooding back.
Within moments, the Princesses’ sitting room was packed full of bodies, all vying for spots on the plush sofas or leaning against the elegantly papered walls, yawning and staring blankly as the lingering effects of the enchantment faded away.
“We need food. And places to sleep,” Issy said, looking around. “Everyone can begin their journeys home after a good meal and some rest, but for now, we can’t let Uncle Iago know we’ve escaped his spell. We need to keep him in the dark until he can be apprehended. As it stands, he believes he’s gotten away with everything, but if he realises we’re free he’ll bolt.”
“I’ll speak to my guards,” Anders said. “I trust them. They’ll take care of everything, with a little help.”
“Thank you, Anders.” Issy gave him a grateful smile and he nodded, rubbing a hand over his short, blonde hair.
Livia’s eyes widened and her hands flew to her mouth, the blanket slipping from her shoulders. “What about the ball?”
“What ball?” Issy narrowed her eyes.
Livia winced, picking the blanket up and wrapping it back around herself. “For your birthday. It was supposed to be a surprise.”
Issy raised an eyebrow. A ball may actually be the perfect setting for what she needed to do. “I guess I could stand to do a little more dancing. With the right partner.” She chewed her lip and when her eyes met Anders’ it lit a fire in her chest that warmed her all the way to her fingertips. The Silver soldier—Prince Anders of the Northern Isle, it now seemed—had helped her to solve the mystery and break the curse. They were both finally free.
Issy wasn’t sure why that thought made her a little sad.
Issy admiredthe fitted sleeves and soft-corseted bodice of the copper, silk gown Lady Fiona had left on her bed. The noblewoman had written each of the girls a note apologising for her appalling behaviour at the dress fitting, and offering the dresses in their chosen materials as reparations. Issy remembered the day somewhat differently, but she wasn’t one to turn down a beautiful new gown. She would be sure to apologise to Lady Fiona later, if everything went to plan.
Livia’s face appeared around the edge of Issy’s door, and her mouth fell open when she saw the copper gown. “Oh, Issy! You look absolutely magnificent. Anders is going to be awestruck.” She waggled her eyebrows and Issy laughed out loud, for the first time in days. It felt good.
Livia stepped out from behind the door and pirouetted, the chocolate satin gown swirling around her legs.
“You look wonderful, too, Liv. I knew that colour would be perfect on you.”
Livia beamed. “Now, all we need are two handsome young men to dance the night away with!”
“All in good time. First, we need to deal with that duplicitous uncle of ours. Where are Anders and Hans?”
“In Anders’ room, with his guards. They’re putting the final touches to the plan.”
Issy nodded. “Good. Then it’s almost time to go.” Her hand went to her throat before she could stop it, finding nothing but bare skin. Her eyes fluttered closed and she took a steadying breath. Warm fingers closed around hers and she opened her eyes to find Livia holding her hand, a soft expression on her face.
“I miss her, too. But you don’t need a locket to remember her, or anything else. We have each other. She’ll always be with us, in our hearts and our memories.” Tears glimmered along Livia’s bottom lashes, but didn’t fall. She blinked them away, painting a smile onto her sweet, heart-shaped face. She plucked the hammered copper mask up from Issy’s dressing table and held it out. “Ready?”
They crossed the hall and knocked on the door of Anders’ guest room. When it opened, the palace guards, Marco and Paolo, stepped out, taking their positions on either side of the door. Then Anders and his brother Hans appeared, dressed in matching midnight-blue tailcoats and leather masks, making them look more like twins than ever. But Issy would have known Anders’ sharp, blue eyes and tilted mouth anywhere. He’d had a haircut, evening out the patches into a short, sleek style, and his face was clean shaven. He looked handsome, she realised with a flutter of wings in her stomach.
“You look beautiful, Issy,” he said quietly, offering her his arm. She blushed under the intensity of his gaze, grateful that her light brown skin hid the warmth in her cheeks.
“Thank you.” She placed a hand on his sleeve, and they began to make their way to the ballroom, followed by Livia and Hans, and the guards. “Where are the others?”
“They’re getting ready for their performance.” She could hear the grin in his voice and it sent a frisson of excitement down her spine.
