Soren wasn’t exactly charming.
He didn’t need to be. This was meant to be an arrangement—as nearly all royal weddings were.
Overwhelm struck me. I sank into it.
For months I lived amongst the fae and always wanted more. I wanted the life I had before my sister left—before my brother wanted more power than what he should.
And now, if I wanted this world, I would marry a man I didn’t know if I could care for.
I had crossed kingdoms to stand here. If the starlighthadn’t taken me down, then certainly my lack of interest in my potential husband wouldn’t.
The starlight.
It was the last time I had felt the heat—the one that kept overtaking me.
The feeling shifted slowly, but the warmth remained. It was undeniably the same as when I drank the starlight.
Maybe it didn’t just alter my energy.
Maybe it altered me with magic.
The concept seemed foreign, even though I had seen my sister use hers, bringing blooms to life under her glittering fingertips.
My hands didn’t release glittering light. They were human and ordinary.
Aelira could call upon it. I tried to force something, anything to come from my fingertips, but nothing happened. I wasn’t sure if it was a thought or a feeling.
There were plenty of fae that I was told had magic, but I never saw them do anything with it. Cora had visions of the future. There was nothing visible about it other than how shocked she looked when one took hold.
The starlight warmth came on whenever I said something, or when someone else did. Maybe I had to test it.
The last few times I had felt it I had lied.
My name is Aelira.
It sweltered.
I am the only true daughter of King Ardyn.
Only calm.
I am really good with the sword.
More warmth.
I don't want Fyn to leave.
Nothing.
Ilike Soren. He's charming.
Heat rose.
I wished I liked Soren.
Nothing.
It struck me with every lie. Every truth was a calm I couldn’t ignore.
