Compared to Aurora’s Belt, there’s nothing wild about where I come from. Overharvested fields and a bland cityscape of imposing structures raised from steel and concrete. Barren as it is, it planted the most exhilarating dream in my heart: that one day I might command all the spotlights in Montrose. There, the stages don’t get any bigger.
Nell and Cora escort me to the kitchen of Lupine Manor, where I take a seat on a bronze barstool. Coffee is already poured, and three plates are uncovered, revealing scrambled eggs, biscuits, and a mouthwatering pile of bacon. As the two exchange a volley of giggles, I listen idly while admiring the handiwork of the space, fairly modern compared to most of what I've seen inside this mountain fortress. Cedar logs remain the backdrop, though they are contrasted with bright industrial lights and white rustic cabinets. A long countertop stretches across the polished hardwood floor, an impressive slab of sparkling granite. Fruit baskets are filled to the brim, and I help myself to a shiny plum.
Once we've all cleared our plates, Nell hooks an arm around me, hauling me towards the stairwell.
Cora groans as we begin our ascent. "Sorry, I'm gonna have to take it slow."
Instinctively, I turn over my shoulder.
She waves me off with a slight flush in her cheeks. "I'm fine. Sorry, just trying to cope with the lack of sleep I got last night. Felix was screaming in his crib for most of it.”
Nell snickers. “You know, eventually your son won’t be able to cover for you anymore.”
“Wait, what?” I ask.
“Poor Cora must’ve had a rough tumble in the sheets last night,” Nell continues. “This isn't the first time she's been too sore to face the stairs."
"Zip it,” Cora hisses.
Nell carries on. "C'mon, we all know how demanding Qinnu can be. Even though most of the time you're the one baiting him.” Lowering to a whisper, she cups her mouth. “It’s always the quiet ones, isn’t it?”
The medic doesn't deny it, even as she rolls her hazel eyes. Both of us are breathless as we mount the final step.
“All I’m saying is that she has a half-decent excuse. You don’t, Doc. Unless you ended up with a concussion, too, which in that case, I’m going to need to know what position you were?—
"Nell!"
My stomach cramps with laughter as we take the left flank of a hallway that looks as if it were just polished for a feature in an interior design magazine. A rustic cocktail table is displayed in the foyer, along with a round golden mirror and a landscape painting of a countryside estate that harkens back to the work of Sylo’s renowned impressionists. Between elaborate sconces and several other pastoral pieces adorning the walls, my gaze flits to each work of beauty as I pass.
My eyes widen as I take in the new wing of the house. It's not a hallway at all—in fact, it's an opening to a grand room that features a massive canopy bed. The space is a clever marriage of classic Eastern elegance and contemporary woodwork. While the natural color of the wood showcases throughout most of the manor, in this room, an eggshell white covers most of the walls, with alternating wood panels of winding vines along the borders.
A sigh slips from my lips as I take in the silky drapes, a golden vanity with a vase of roses and baby’s breath, a cozy nook with a velvet reading chaise, and a balcony outside with a small table and chairs.
Nell strolls over to the vanity. "This wing was rebuilt after the fire.”
Fire?
“Axe did most of this himself, salvaging what he could. With my expert guidance, of course. We designed this room with you in mind.”
"But you didn’t even know—” A golden glass case full of sparkling trinkets crosses my vision. My breath hitches as I take in the polished gemstones. Four shelves adorned with jewelry fit for a queen.
"Those belonged to Axe's mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother," Cora says. "This entire wing served as their private quarters. And now, it is yours. Everything in here is yours."
My eyes bulge wide.
Nell strokes a hand over her belly. "Not bad, huh?" I follow her gaze towards the ceiling, where a priceless Volkenese crystal chandelier illuminates the room.
With more still to uncover, I walk over to the bed, gliding my hand along the lavender silk sheets. The entire room smells of the demulcent herb. I peek my head around the corner where a bathing room awaits, complete with a sparkling white tub and a rack of perfumes and essential oils. Everything a woman could possibly need.
I turn to face the women waiting for my approval. "I don't even know what to say. This is incredible."
“Better get used to it," Nell quips, motioning towards Cora. “C’mon, let’s give her some breathing room.”
Indeed, my head is spinning, baffled by the number of precious gowns and accessories at my disposal. No costumes I ever donned in my performances were ever crafted from such fine materials. The dresses and skirts are all stunning, some ranging from twenty to ninety years old, though sadly, none ofthem come anywhere close to fitting my petite frame. Or my bust. Nell wasn't kidding about these females being light in the cleavage department.
After a good hour of playing dress up, I decide to explore the opposite wing on the top floor. The other side of the foyer splits off into two doors. The first room is a massive private library. Timber walls are laden with vintage maps and miscellaneous antlers. I can picture Axe here in solitude among the towering shelves and brown leather furniture, perhaps even a cigar between his lips.
Next to the largest window sits a shelf with three picture frames propped on top of it. One photo is a pair of two golden-haired children holding an infant. This must be Axe, Dominik, and their older sister. The middle frame shows the young Skornokovy boys smiling outside of a snow fort they built together alongside a dark-haired toddler with the most adorable round cheeks. A native of Tukkon.
