“Get away from me, forest witch,” she croaked.
“What just happened?” I glanced from the two fearful women to the glamoured faery prince.
“Come, Callie.” Marigold smoothed out the wrinkles in her bodice before tugging on her daughter’s hand. “We’ll have you meet Lukas later.”
They’d both disappeared down the corridor before Arenn finally answered my question. “She’d had watermelon for breakfast. With seeds. I doubt you’ll want me to elaborate.”
Definitely not. Just thinking about it made bile rise in my throat. “Will she be alright?”
“Most likely.” Arenn shrugged. “But my offer still stands. Just say the words, and I’ll murder her.”
With a thick swallow, I turned, looking for a way out of this courtyard when the sound of sprinting made me pause.
“Princess Naria!”
My lips parted at the sight of Callie rushing back towards us. She scooped up the skirts of her dark velvet gown as she ran, sweat beading on her tanned forehead.
“I saw him in the library,” she blurted, glancing over her shoulder to make sure we were alone.
Confusion tugged at my brow. “What?”
“Lukas,” she whispered, checking over her shoulder again. “I saw him in the library earlier, but I didn’t speak to him. He looked like he wanted to be left alone.” Her voice wavered. “I know the feeling.”
My brow softened. “Why are you helping—”
“And I’m so sorry,” she continued, “for my mother’s behaviour. I don’t know why she’s being so cruel.” She wrapped her arms around her middle, glancing away. “I don’t want tomarry Prince Lukas. I tried to tell her but she won’t listen. I promise I’ll keep trying to get through to her.” There was genuine sadness in her voice. Any dislike I might’ve felt for her vanished as I slipped my hands into hers.
“Thank you for letting me know where he is, and for being honest,” I soothed. “I’m sorry about your mother too.” When she looked away again, I released my hold on her hands.
“I’m going to find Lukas now,” I told both Arenn and the princess.
The faery prince straightened and extended his arm to me. “I shall escort you.”
“That won’t be necessary,” I groaned, but I may as well have said nothing at all. I could still hear the faery prince trailing after me after I bid goodbye to Callie and started towards the palace library.
CHAPTER 22
Considering how spectacular the rest of the Ocean Palace was, I really shouldn’t have been surprised to find Cora’s library equally as breathtaking. Unlike the candlelit library tucked deep beneath Drothmore’s palace, these aisles of books basked in the daylight that poured in from the tall windows. Gold-tinted shelves stood free of dust and occasionally vine-like plants with bright flowers weaved between the books, as if I’d stepped into some kind of reading jungle.
It was all so beautiful. Mesmerising. Dare I say even Raena may have liked it here. But I didn’t let my wonder stall me for long. I could already hear Arenn’s bootsteps rapidlyapproaching, and it was hard enough to outrun him on the way here. Darting between shelves, I pushed forward through the vast room, weaving and changing direction as often as I could. It was only when I stumbled across a small alcove filled with desks and plush chairs that I finally paused to catch my breath.
That was where I found him.
Afternoon sun streamed through a nearby window, dancing off Lukas’s deep brown curls as he poured himself over a pile of books and parchment scraps. His tanned hands worked tirelessly, flicking through yellowed pages while his brow pinched in concentration. Despite my panting breath, he didn’t notice me at all. Until I stepped to his side and cleared my throat.
“Forges!” he gasped, dropping his parchment as he bolted upright in his seat. Through fluttering paper, his gaze crashed into mine. “Oh. Naria, forgive me. I didn’t hear you coming.”
“It’s alright.” I sniffed with laughter. “What were you doing?” Dozens of books lay open across the desk, and based on the dark rings under his eyes, he must’ve been here for hours.
“Nothing.” He swept a few stray parchments aside. “Just some reading.”
“Reading what?” I asked, not missing the way his jaw tensed at my question.
Before he could answer, limpets and green-tinged fingers flashed in my mind. “Raphael,” I breathed, wincing at the memory.
“What’s wrong? What is it?” Lukas rose from his seat.“Are you alright? Did something happen to Prince Raphael?”
I blinked, confused. “You didn’t hear about his condition?”
