“Oh, pipe down.”
“I’m with the man in the mirror,” Gwyneth says, tilting her head at me. “Whathaveyou gotten yourself into?”
When your sister and your cracked mirror man both question your actions, you know you are in trouble.
ChapterNine
There’s nothing more Idylican than a comfy bed with blankets that swallow you like the fluffy clouds that surround the Jade Mountains. I could lay here forever surrounded by warmth and security. Maybe The Hallowed would take mercy upon us and allow Gwyneth and I to stay for a few diurnals.
A loud click echoes through the room, and I awake with a start. The sun has risen and bathes the chamber in a soft golden glow. A bang comes against the door. “Gwyneth, let me in,” Charming’s unmistakable voice snaps through the barrier. Gwyneth and I shoot upright and we both stare at the door where she’d lodged a chair under the handle to prevent sneaky Hallowed from entering. They don’t seem the type of folks to respect a Burgher’s privacy.
Gwyneth lets out a long sigh and shuffles out of her cloud with a groan of resentment. I get it. I could stay in this bed forever, but Charming wasn’t going away. On a positive note, he is fortunate to still be breathing.
“Ugh, time to face Charming and persuade him a night of debauchery was had,” Gwyneth mutters as she wraps a long blue robe around her body. Where did she magic that from? She probably had the palace layout memorized in just a diurnal. She is so clever and has a super memory—I struggle with what I had for my morning meal, and it was the same every diurnal.
“Oh, most fair, Gwyneth, you are a delight this diurnal,” the mirror man declares.
“Hey, I thought I was the most fair?” I say.
“Oh, yes, my lady fair—I did not see you there among the many blankets.”
I roll my eyes. My mirror is cheating on me with my sister.
The door shakes with each pounding of Charming’s fist, so she quickly picks up the chair and sets it aside. Her chest heaves with each breath, her face changing from disgust and contempt to dick-dazed maiden as she pulls open the door. She has quite the talent for acting.
“Happy diurnal, Charming,” she breathes. “I trust you are well rested after our night together?”
He barges past her, the door closing with a resounding thud. He shoots me a quick scathing look before turning away with an air of disdain. He crowds Gwyneth, and she stands her ground, her chin lifted as she looks him in the eye. That’s my girl, make him sweat.
“I expected you to be in my bed this dawn,” he snaps.
“Apologies, you stated you were done with me, claiming I am not the Cinderella you seek.”
He scowls and his lips form a tight line as he concentrates on finding the memory. “I must have drank too much berry wine.”
She inclines her head. “Indeed, but we still shared a sundown. Now we can be assigned to the library as agreed and moved to the Burgher quarters.”
They better have fluffy cloud beds which smell of fresh linen. If they don’t, I will move this one with me. Nobody can part me from it now.
Charming licks his lips as he looks down on Gwyneth. “You can help in the library, but I believe I made too hasty a judgment.” Oh no.
Gwyneth shakes her head, her lips pursed in frustration. “You were quite adamant.”
“And now I am equally adamant that you should remain here. I do not want to visit the Burgher chambers. They aren’tpleasant.”
Gwyneth squeezes her eyes shut and pinches her nose. “I’m sorry, Charming, my mind is made up.”
“Do not test me, Gwyn. Do not make me your enemy.” Gwyn?Oh no, Charming, she is always a Gwyneth, never a Gwyn.He gets closer, so his chest brushes Gwyneth's bosom. She doesn’t even blink.
“If you wish to test my suitability for your Cinderella, then you will have to court me appropriately.” Good call, turn him off with threats of patience and hard work.
“Those are acceptable terms.” My eyes widen as I look between them. Make-believe Gwyneth made quite the impression on a comatose Charming. Perhaps she should have faked it a little less enthusiastically. “Meet me this sundown for a walk in the palace gardens. Someone will be along to show you to the library.” He does know how to woo a girl. He had no interest until my sister arrived, and now he’s smitten, begging for her company. That’s my girl. His head bobs up and down with approval, like his plan is the best thing he's ever heard, before he swivels around and leaves the room with a bang as the door shuts behind him.
“I do believe you’ve garnered the undivided attention of the favored Prince Charming,” the mirror man observes.
“You’ve bewitched the untamable Charming,” I say.
Gwyneth fixes me with a stare so piercing I can almost hear it echoing. Most folks crumble under that look. Not me, I’m immune. “It was not my intention to ensnare a prince this diurnal. But at least we have a longer stay in the chambers while we navigate our new lives in The Hallows.”
