Gone, he’s gone–
Her gaze fell on the ivory gown hanging near the window – waiting for her. The morning sunlight spilled across the fabric, making the crimson and emerald flowers glitter gently.
It’s real.
Reason returned. She remembered now. It was tradition. Bride and groom don’t share a chamber the night before. She’d forced herself to do it. Sebastian hadn’t been happy, but she couldn’t be by his side every moment forever. She reached for their bond – it pulsed with warmth, steady and glowing in her chest. He was there. They’d been practicing sending thoughts across it, without Caldris magic, without pain in their scars, and had been getting better at it.
I’m awake, she whispered down their connection.Checking for cold feet?
His reply came quick and certain, rough with affection.Never.Though I’d kill to be beside you right now.
It’s tradition, remember, she teased softly.I can’t cling forever.
Tradition be damned,came his grumble, fierce and unrepentant.But I’ll wait.
Just a few more hours, she assured him.
I’ll hold you to that, Lady Thorne, he answered.
The title sent a rush of joy through her. By tonight, it would be true. She was still smiling when the first bell rang. Then the second. Therewere footsteps in the corridor – many footsteps, approaching fast. The door flew open before she even rose from her bed, her mother sweeping in with Alys and Sienna at her side. Rowan and Saffra weren’t far behind. They were all talking at once, correcting, rearranging, laughing.
It was chaos. Delightful, wonderful chaos.
The Keep came alive; bells rang, voices echoed off stone, servants hurried past with trays and ribbons and flowers. Dressers darted in and out, carrying reams of silks whilst maids trailed behind, arms laden with crimson blossoms.
This is really happening.
Kara hardly had time to breathe before she was pulled into the middle of it all. Rowan and Alys claimed her first, seating her before the mirror. Rowan’s deft fingers wove a delicate crown of braids – the style of Thorne brides – whilst Alys threaded narrow plaits down the length; a Hale custom. Alys pinned crimson and emerald flowers into the braids, so it shimmered with both fire and forest. Hale and Thorne entwined. They left much of her dark hair loose, tumbling in soft waves down her back. When they were done, Kara laid a hand on her hair in wonder. It was a far cry from the simple braid she usually wore.
It was Saffra’s turn next. She placed a tiny pot of balm into Kara’s hand, smiling broadly. “A touch of rose, nothing more. You’ll look radiant.”
Kara wrinkled her nose. “Radiant or ridiculous?”
“Radiant,” Saffra said, dabbing the faint stain across her lips before Kara could say a word. “Trust me.”
Sienna poked her head out from around a bouquet she was arranging, her voice deliberately soothing. “Let her do it, Kara. It’s the custom. Besides–” she smiled knowingly, “Sebastian won’t stop staring at you either way.”
Kara gave a small sigh of surrender, stilling long enough for Saffra to add a hint of berry at her cheeks and a touch of kohl to her lashes.
Her mother came up behind her. “Oh, Kara,” Eliyana said tearfully. “You’ve never looked more beautiful.”
Kara reached for her hand. “Thank you, Mother.”
Rowan was the first to break the hush, smirking as she leaned against the table. “Gods above, if anyone had told me three months ago my brother would be marrying the Hale girl sent to drag him back to the gallows, I’d have laughed them straight out of Thorne.”
Sienna snorted. “It’s still hilarious that the Council really thought this one would bring him back in chains.”
Kara’s face burned. “Please don’t remind me.”
“Oh, I will,” Rowan said sweetly. “I heard you knocked him on his arse before his charm won you over.”
“We are not talking about that,” Kara moaned, covering her face with both hands. “Absolutely not.”
“I did say he was nice to look at,” Alys added with a grin. “I take full credit for pointing that out at the Arcalon.”
“It was the Fire Trial, wasn’t it?” Sienna said, her tone mock-serious as she placed a final flower in the bouquet. “That’s when it happened. He threw himself into the flames for you, and you thought: yes, that’s the man I’ll marry.”
“That was not what I thought!” Kara protested hotly, but Sienna just arched a brow at her.
