I nod firmly. “You should definitely look into that.”
“I might have to,” Cyrill says with a grin. “Be safe, Suraya.”
“You, too, Cyrill,” I murmur.
The deferential expression on his face makes me blush. But he is one of the few who knows who I truly am and what I’ve done. Despite the events of the last few weeks, things have already settled back into some form of normalcy. And I feel ordinary, as if everything has been part of some surreal fever dream.
“Where’s Amma?” I say, peeking around the makeshift kitchen that has been set up within the bones of the old. My aunt is nowhere in sight.
“You know how she gets,” Papa says, coming up next to me.
I swallow—she’s never been a fan of goodbyes. “Tell her I love her.”
One of the kitchen girls rushes up with a large basket, shoving itinto my arms. “Food for your journey. Your aunt wanted you to have it.” I blink, staring at the hamper. It’s large enough to feed a small army. And even though my journey is a short step through a portal, I never say no to her food.
My father laughs at my blissful expression. “Better than Jade?”
“Don’t even joke about that,” I say, my lips curling. “This is way more precious than any shitty Jade.”
We have to stop to greet more people on our way to the square, but we eventually arrive at the middle of town. To my surprise, the waiting runecaster is the same one who transported me to the palace the first time, what feels like forever ago. I let out a huff of laughter at having come full circle and peer upward with an eye roll.
The fates—and Vena—have a unique sense of humor.
“Be safe, daughter,” my father says, and kisses the top of my head. “And don’t be a stranger.”
“I won’t.”
As the portal shimmers into existence, I fight back a wave of sadness. Coban has been my home for so long that it’s hard to think that I’m voluntarily leaving it behind. But life is too short not to take chances and embrace change. Kaldari may be vast and fast-paced, but the one I need to be with is there. I close my eyes and take a moment to appreciate the beauty of the stars in my mind’s eye.
I imagine that one of them is Laleh, urging me on. Another is my mother, pride and love glittering in her eyes. My gaze flicks to the brightest Royal Star resting in the north, and I incline my head.
Vena is watching. She always will be.
I take the step through.
Chapter Thirty
The future king of Oryndhr’s face is beautiful in repose. His hair has been trimmed, his body washed and groomed, and he’s clothed in rich garments. I wonder wryly if his inner circle thinks he’s going to wake up and want to have a coronation ball straightaway. The Imperial House certainly has a skewed idea of celebration.
I glance around—the chamber is full of advisers and specialists, as well as the aldermen of the four houses—all sworn to secrecy, of course, and there’s no chance that anyone’s going to listen to me about getting a minute alone with him. The Imperial House is not going to let the future of Oryndhr out of their collective sight, not while he’s still breathing. If he dies, there’ll be anarchy in the non-blooded succession of a new monarch. The houses will be at war.
My gaze coasts over a familiar face. Helena, one of the chosen from the arena. That seems like a lifetime ago. Her haughty, icy gaze meets mine, hostility burning in her eyes. Clearly, she hasn’t gotten over her issues where I’m concerned, but that’s on her, not me. I can’t believe she’s still here, but her father is the alderman of Regulus. It makes sense that she’d be at court. A few women from the contest surround her, all watching me with varying degrees of envy and enmity.
Wonderful.
Save the realm and people are still out to skewer me.
The runes on my forearms heat beneath my gloves, and I calm them with a thought. No sense in causing a fiery ruckus in a palace that’s just been rebuilt. And besides, using my starlight gifts to prove a point isn’t exactly nice baby goddess behavior.
But damn, would it be satisfying.
“Lady Suraya,” a man’s voice says, making me jump. I turn to see the royal viceroy. I’d remembered him as being friendly, and sure enough, his smile is wide and genuine. “It is wonderful to see you again. A pity that it is under such somber circumstances.”
“Thank you,” I say. “What is the prince’s condition? Any change?”
“None.”
I lean close. “Is there any way I can have a few moments alone with him?”
