‘She’snotwell,’ Bear said quietly. ‘Someone took her memory, which means she won’t remember us.Me.She no longer knows her sister is alive, and she won’t be searching for the House of Knight book.’
‘We’re still going to stick to the plan,’ said Trinn. ‘We’ll be there for the ball.’
‘And if she sees me, her memory might return?’ Bear hoped, looking to Lancen.
‘She won’t see anyone,’ Lancen told him. ‘It’s a masked ball. Everyone will have their faces covered.’
He smiled, roguish and vicious. ‘Perfect. I can walk among them, and no one will see me.’
‘And how will you find her when she will be masked as well?’ asked Raven.
Bear’s smile widened, soft and peaceful.I have her scent embedded into my soul. I’d be able to find her in a crowd of a thousand people with my eyes closed.‘I’ll know.’
33
Scarlen laughed at her friend Zana as she entered her bedchamber, all flowing orange gown and black lace eye mask.
‘Recognise me?’ asked Zana with a chuckle.
The general’s daughter had been trained for combat since she could walk. With her tall, athletic frame, blood-red hair, and piercing blue eyes, Zana Degafe could be spotted a mile away.
‘Well, I’m not sure,’ said Scarlen. ‘Mitch, perhaps?’
Zana waved off the joke. ‘Please. I’m twice as strong.’
‘I heard that,’ said Mitch from the doorway.
Zana reached for the soft material of Scarlen’s floral dress, taking in the bold blue of the flowers. ‘Who designed this?’
‘Don’t snarl. I asked for blue flowers.’
‘Well, you certainly got what you asked for. At least there are silver swirls to match your hair.’
Scarlen lifted a silver-and-black mask attached to a thin black veil. ‘This thing covers my face and hair, so it doesn’t matter what matches what, as no one will see me for the best part of the evening.’
Her personal maid, Meltie, entered to fix the mask and veil in place, and part of Scarlen wished she didn’t have to reveal her face to the kingdom at all.
‘There, all done, and well and truly hidden,’ said Meltie, admiring her handiwork. ‘Can’t even see your hair.’
Scarlen touched the tight bun, and someone’s face flashed in her mind. A woman with a similar look to her maid. Shaking off the vague memory that probably came from a dream, she turned to Zana. ‘I can’t be seen walking around with you out there. It’ll be a dead giveaway.’
‘I don’t stick out that much.’
Mitch’s scoff was heard. ‘You do.’
‘Oh, hush, Capley. I will hide my hair.’ Zana turned to Meltie, a pleading expression on her face. ‘Or you could try?’
Meltie gestured at the chair by the white dresser. ‘Take a seat.’
Scarlen heard Mitch talking to someone outside, so she went to investigate, knowing it wouldn’t be her father, as he would be in the courtyard or hall, mingling with guests.
‘It’s time for you to join the masses,’ Mitch told her as she stepped to his side.
A cold sweat coated Scarlen’s neck at the thought of entering the ball. No one would know who she was, but she still didn’t want to be there, feeling the urge to be somewhere else, even though she wasn’t quite sure where. She glanced behind her at Meltie tying Zana’s locks. ‘Am I missing something?’
Meltie gave her the once-over. ‘Nope. All good. Off you trot now. Have fun.’ It was more of an order than a wave goodbye.
Scarlen walked with Mitch. ‘I’m not feeling the fun.’
