1
DAHLIA
“Idon’t care how much you whine, I am leaving this palace. Tonight.” I throw my horse’s saddle over her flank and reach below her belly to tighten the straps.
Angel whinnies, twisting her cream-coloured head to blink at me.
“Blink at me all you want.” I adjust her bridle. “I’ve been planning this for weeks and I’d like to see you, or Eden, or Blossom,” my face screws up at the mention of my least favourite sister, “try and stop me.”
Tugging on Angel’s reins, I guide her towards the stable’s exit. Her hooves clop noisily against the hay-covered floor.
If I were younger than my twenty-three years, I would’ve sworn she rolled her eyes at me as we passed under the old archway.
But she didn’t. Obviously. Horses don’t roll their eyes any more than princesses don’t run away from their palaces in the middle of the night.
But, like I said, I dareanyoneto try to stop me.
With one final check of Angel’s saddlebags, I push myself up into her saddle and take up the reins. My fingers turn white from how tightly I grip them.
To my right stands Father’s palace, its golden towers stretching high into the night sky. To my left is the woods, a dark wall of trees marking the edge of the palace grounds – the one line I’ve never dared to cross.
A swallow lodges in my throat.
Two months ago, my eldest sister, Amaryllis, made this exact journey through the woods. She ran from the palace with a handsome dark-haired assassin, and they now live together in a beautiful townhouse a few miles beyond these trees.
It’s where I’m going tonight.
If I can just bring my stupid legs to kick my horse into motion.
“It’s just trees.” My voice quivers. “How scary can they be?”
Angel huffs beneath me, stamping her hooves into the grass.
“Quiet, you,” I grunt. My gaze searches the treeline.
I should probably check it’s safe first. Yes. I’ll take a few moments to watch for guards or nobles on late-night walks, or… wolves.
My throat constricts. As I stare at the trees, the misty gaps between them appear to grow larger. Deeper. And I swear the mist creeps closer. Its long arms weave through the grass like snakes, drawing nearer and nearer, almost brushing Angel’s hooves.
“I can do this,” I mutter, my heartbeat quickening. “This isn’t so bad. It’s only a forest.” I twist the reins between my fingers. “Only a forest…” My muscles tense. “Only a forest?—”
A twig snaps behind me, and I scream. Angel rears.
“Dahlia?”
The second Angel’s hooves slam against the grass, I whip around to see my blonde-haired younger sister. “Are you trying to get me killed?” I yell at her.
Eden, fifth eldest, blinks back at me with huge blue eyes. “Sorry! It’s just everyone’s looking for you, and I… I thoughtI might find you here. Father’s really worried.” She buries her hands in the skirts of her golden gown.
It’s a new dress, exactly like the one I’m supposed to be wearing right now. A low-cut bodice with puff sleeves sits above a wide honey-coloured skirt. Little pink flowers decorate the hem and sleeves, mimicking cherry blossoms.
Father had eleven of them made for Blossom’s birthday ball tonight. One for each of us.
Such a shame I won’t be attending…
“Go back to the party, Eden. I’m busy.” I turn back to the woods.
The tall trees look just as unwelcoming as before. Dread curls in my stomach.
