My knees went weak and I fought to keep myself upright. Annalisa clutched my hand so hard her fingernails dug into my skin.
Mother slowly pulled away, her lip paint smeared and her eyes half-lidded. “Happy birthday, Lord Hyton.”
Whistles cut through the air like whips as Mother thrust Derrick’s head back and tipped her little glass of faerie wine down his throat.
I pried my eyes from my mother to look anywhere else and found Freya. She sat on her throne and glared daggers at Duke Hyton, clutching her golden goblet like she was about to crush it. Derrick’s six older sisters stood around the dais, their faces frozen in shock and disgust.
Duke Hyton paid them no attention as his voice boomed over the raucous crowd. “My son got the first potion, but now everyone can join in for RavenwoodRota!”
What the hell was RavenwoodRota?I did not even care, I wanted to leave.
A servant wheeled out a cart topped with a circular tray that held dozens more tiny fluted glasses in a circle around the outer rim. Each glass held either faerie wine or dark purple liquid.
Duke Hyton wrapped his arm around Mother’s waist and lifted her off his son’s lap. “The Viper whipped up some special treats for tonight! Let us make some magic happen!”
Mother kept her smile painted on, but her eyes were glassy.
A crowd of men rushed for the tray and I lost sight of Mother and the Duke. Derrick pushed his way out of the crowd, his face colorless except for the red paint smeared across his lips.
His eyes found mine for a brief moment before they snapped up to Annalisa. Her hand was like granite around mine, but even from the edge of the ballroom I saw Derrick’s shoulders start to shake.
I had to get him out.
Before I could even take a step toward him, General Hyton clapped a hand on Derrick’s shoulder and led him away.
Even though my limbs were frozen, my chest was raging with white fire. Duke Hyton was a monster. I wanted to roast him alive. I wanted to…
No.I had to stay in control.
I yanked my hand out of Annalisa’s and gripped my skirt. I closed my eyes and counted my pounding heartbeats, forcing myself to calm down.
My usual tricks were not working. I was about to combust. I was mere seconds away from igniting every glass of faerie wine and dooming myself.
Then I looked deep within, focusing on the fractals of the diamond in my heart. Annalisa needed a friend just like I did. Making her happy could calm me down.
The crowd had rushed for the dance floor. The din of laughter and clinking glass would drown me out.
“Anna, your grandmother…” I opened my eyes and looked up at her. “She was strong. She was stubborn. And…she did not need to see herself to know she was beautiful.
The fire within me calmed and my limbs started to weaken. My heart’s desire had led me down the right path again.
Annalisa swallowed, considering. She eyed a nearby servant holding a silver tray. “You know what I really want for my birthday?”
She grabbed the poor servant’s arm and dragged him next to us. The gleaming silver tray held at least a dozen tiny glasses of faerie wine.
My eyes danced across the shimmering cut glass. “Anna, but remember last time—”
Annalisa picked up two glasses. “I want to forget everything we just saw. Everything that we feel.”
She handed me a glass and I bit my tongue. Drinking the faerie wine was risky. I could spill secrets. I could get sick like Annalisa had.
But the last time I had faerie wine…I was happy. For the first time since my blood bond had been removed, I had finally felt warm.
My heart ached as I stared at the glass, yearning to feel warm again.
My upbringing had been a lie. My mother was a whore. Derrick was heartbroken. Brietta was no longer my friend. Ilsa was still a mystery. Riyan was still little more than an executioner.
And I was stillsounhappy. And exhausted. And frustrated.
