What if it flared it when others were lying too?
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
ASHLYN
Fyn pulled on the collar of his charcoal tunic as we rounded the corner of the hall. "I see you're allowed to wear sleeves today. Sleeves must be acceptable for a trip to the marketplace." He didn't smile. "Are you allowed to wear colors other than blue, or is that your assigned color?”
“It’s my favorite.” I tugged on the waist of the icy blue gown. "Did you dance with anyone last night?" The lady who approached him didn’t seem to persuade him.
"I think you know I didn't," he said.
"You are allowed to have some fun while you're here.”
"How kind of you, Princess.” He fell instep beside me as we continued down the hall.
“It looked like you had someone who was very interested in you. She was rather flirtatious.”
“What are you talking about?” His head tilted as if he truly didn’t understand.
“The fan. The women of this court use it to show a manshe is interested in him. Novena told me about it.” I kept my face still.
“Well, she can wave that device all she likes—it won’t make me interested.”
“Oh yes, how could I forget? You have a lady waiting for you in Sygil.” I shouldn’t have mentioned her—or brought any of it up at all.
He stopped walking down the hall. “No, I do not. There is nothing between me and Kylana.”
Relief flooded me. I shouldn’t have been relieved to hear it. “Perhaps there is another lady awaiting you somewhere else then.” I braced myself for whatever he would say next.
“Ashlyn, there is no one else.” His eyes softened as he looked at me.
My throat constricted. I smoothed the skirt of my gown. “We shouldn’t keep Princess Novena waiting.”
I looked up at the archway that braced the major corners of the hall. Soon, we’d travel to the place I wanted to visit most. I wouldn’t be distracted from experiencing it all.
“After you.” Fyn gestured to the grand doors just down the hall.
Rustling wind screeched through the courtyard as a cluster of knights walked past.
I leaned in closer to Fyn. "I’ve been meaning to ask you… what does magic feel like?"
He halted, pulling his shoulders back. “Why are you asking me that?”
“I just need to know.”
Fyn’s throat bobbed as the guard pulled the carriage door back. “You know I don’t have any?—”
“Princess Ashlyn, I was starting to think you weren’t joining me today,” Novena called to me.
"Your protector always looks so serious. Are all the fae this way?" Novena asked as Fyn bowed deeply before her.
“He always looks that way.” When I looked back at him, he was still staring at me.
"Interesting,” she said. "If you wish to stay behind, you may, Lord Fyn. My husband never lets me go anywhere without our guards. She will be well looked after."
"I am to escort her everywhere.” Fyn gestured toward the carriage that awaited us.
"Very well, then. Are you ready, Ashlyn? Soren has arranged for you to have whatever you pick out today."
