The party continues before me like something out of aMidsummer Night’s Dream. Unlike the wild celebration that occurred in the Below or the formal ball in Winter, this event seems more casual, like a gathering. Some fae are downright subdued. I wonder what Ezryn thinks of all this. I hadn’t wanted to leave him earlier, but I also didn’t want to stay on his arm all night; I’m only holding him back.
“Lady O’Connell, you look ravishing.”
Kairyn stands beside me, nearly blending in with the dark shadow of the tree. My heart thumps against my chest, and I startle.
“Prince Kairyn! You scared me.”
“Apologies. I merely wanted to compliment the Lady of Castletree on her beauty.” He takes my hand and bows, lowering the cold edge of his helm to my knuckles. “Though I doubt she wants for praise. You seem to be followed by one prince or another wherever you go.”
I give an awkward laugh. “Are you enjoying the party?”
“More so now that I’ve come across you.” His voice is deep, yet I can’t help but feel that he lacks the confidence of the High Princes. Like he’d rather be anywhere than socializing. “I was hoping you would indulge me in a dance.”
My ears prick as a haunting melody seems to grow louder, drifting across the breeze. “Of course, I would be honored.”
He nods stiffly, as if he didn’t expect me to say yes. Then holds out a hand. I take it, seeing how small my own is against the black expanse of his leather glove.
In a whoosh, he pulls me into the soft grass being used as a dancefloor. My bare feet find purchase, and with my hand in his, the other on his shoulder, I realize just how short I am in comparison. I’m not used to feeling short—at least when I’m not around the four princes of Castletree—but Kairyn has me feeling positively miniature.
We move in rhythm to the music—or close enough to a rhythm. Kairyn’s movements are more march than dance. Nothing like my waltz with Caspian last winter, when the very air had seemed to carry us.
“It’s a beautiful necklace you wear,” Kairyn says.
I look down at the moonstone rose. “Thank you. It belonged to my mother.”
“Did it? And how did she come by it, if I may ask? I tend to be … a collector, of sorts.”
The words are on my lips:She found it on an archeological dig.That’s what Papa and I had always believed. But it’s obvious my mother was hiding her true nature all along. Could it have been a gift from the Queen?
Could she have stolen it?
Regardless, something warns me away from the truth—or what I know of it. “She found it in the human realm.”
Kairyn’s owl helm twitches ever so slightly, and I know he doesn’t believe me. He presses on. “It appears to be very old. I should like to examine it at the monastery. We have many precious artifacts. If I could only compare—”
“I’m sorry,” I snap. “But it’s very special to me. I never take it off.Ever.”
Kairyn’s grip tightens on my waist. “Is that so.” It’s not a question.
The music picks up, and Kairyn spins me faster, nearly lifting me off the ground.
“Ezryn looks like he’s having a marvelous time,” I say, despite the fact I can’t see Ez. I want Kairyn to remember he’s around.
“My brother’s always been good at appearing the perfect prince. He was trained and taught from birth to follow in our parents’ footsteps. A silver son.”
My dress swishes as I twirl under Kairyn’s arm. “He’s a powerful leader. Spring is lucky to have him.”
A grinding sound reverberates beneath the helm. “He wastaughtthat he is a powerful leader. But true power cannot be taught; it is something that one is born with. An innate ability to make the sacrifices required. And this is not always visible on the surface.”
I stay silent, watching the dark visor for any clue of the fae beneath. I can’t figure out if he loves Ezryn or hates him. There’s both admiration and resentment in his every word.
Maybe that’s the truth of it; love and hate merged so closely together, he can’t see which is which.
I think of my father. When he was off on his adventures and I was stuck at home, I spent years resenting him. And as soon as he came home, I’d be desperate for any ounce of attention.
But we found our way back to each other. Maybe Ezryn and Kairyn can, too.
“I know Ezryn isn’t really a man of many words, but he appreciates what you’ve done here,” I tell Kairyn. “If you reach out to him, I’m sure—”
