“I’m okay,” I whisper.
He reaches out a hand as if to stroke my cheek, but then quickly drops it before nodding and stalking past us.
We spend the remainder of the day walking around the grounds and assessing the damage from the storm before Mina and Mathilda have to check on their districts.
Evander and I are left standing on the path between the training grounds and the terrace.
“I need to fill Lachlan in on the rest of the damage. Are you okay to head back by yourself?” he asks, eyeing the Great Hall behind me.
I know he’s hesitant to leave me alone, but I am not going with him to track down Lachlan. The sky is dark blue, and the puffy clouds are a buttery shade of pink from the setting sun.
“Yeah, I’ll be fine. I’ll see you later.” I wave over my shoulder and turn on my heel.
My stomach growls, so I head for the dining hall. I missed lunch during our ride up the mountain, and I’m starting to suffer the effects.
Odessa and Julius are seated together at the high table. I almost turn around, but Odessa’s eyes stab me from across the dining hall.
“Helena, darling, come and eat with us,” she calls out to me. Her mood swings are starting to grate on my nerves.
I make my way to their table and see Julius give her a scathing look.
“I don’t want to intrude,” I offer, as he aims his glare my way.
“Nonsense,” she says, smiling at us both. “We’re family.”
As I sit, she snaps her fingers, and a servant I don’t recognize races my way with a plate of food. The smell of the food usually makes my mouth water, but for some reason, my appetite vanishes.
It could be that the fish on my plate still has eyes or that theberries have an iridescent sheen. Instead of grabbing my fork and digging in, out of instinct, I grab my medallion. It’s cold. The frigid temperature almost burns my fingertips, and I drop it quickly. I’m beginning to wonder what magic my necklace still possesses.
It’s as if it’s been guiding me.
Odessa notices my hesitation. “Do you not like fish?” She watches me intently.
“Not really,” I reply sheepishly, biting my lip.
“Well, that’s all there is to eat tonight,princess.” Julius sneers.
He’s baiting me. Odessa doesn’t even throw a glance his way, but pouts at me.
“No worries.” I push away from the table. “I’ll just grab something in town. Have a good night.” I walk swiftly away from the table.
My pulse slows with each step I put between them.
But then Odessa calls, “Helena, dear.” I halt, turning back towards them. “I’ll be joining you again for training. We never had an opportunity to spar.”
I turn and wave nonchalantly over my shoulder. “See you tomorrow then!”
I’ve got to get out of here.
I can’t seem to find any of my friends after I leave the dining hall to go with me into the city, so I settle on retiring for the night. But my stomach protests with a loud growl. I turn on my heel and decide to check the kitchen for myself.
The sweet-faced young girl who usually serves me is slicing up some bread when I enter the stifling hot kitchen. Her knife clatters to the woodwork top as she sees me and drops into a curtsy.
“Your majesty,” she squeaks out.
“Oh, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to interrupt; please continue.”
She stands and moves back to the work table, but her eyes linger on me awkwardly as I stand in the doorway.
