“That will not be necessary.”
She left me without another word.
This life was a lie I wasn’t sure I could live.
I wished for some place quiet where I could hide away from every court. I had known that kind of peace only once before.
During the war, the threat grew too near to the Heart. My sister feared for her son’s safety, so Cora and I were sent to look after him somewhere no one would come looking for us—Fyn’s parents’ house.
It took us far beyond the threat. For a short while, weexisted together there. Our hope that everyone we cared about would return carried us through.
I still remembered exactly how the light crept in every morning. The smell of Fyn’s mother’s biscuits baking. The little garden she kept.
No one stared. No one asked anything of me at all.
I didn’t know how much I’d miss it then, but now it seemed like the only place I wished to be.
My hands glided easily over the smooth fabric of my gown.
I should have wanted this life. It should have been what I dreamed of, but being back in the human realm again didn’t feel the way I thought it would.
Eva returned a while later with the coffee.
She swept the blue locks that hung over my shoulders up onto the top of my head.
The steam from the drink hit my lips. I placed it back down to let it cool. “Eva, do you know where my sword may have been stored?”
“I can inquire about its whereabouts.” She shoved a golden pin forcefully into my bun until it tugged my hair too tightly.
I pulled my head back swiftly. “I wish for it to be retrieved.”
“I will let the prince know,” she said.
“He is aware of my practice with it. He wouldn’t have taken it from me, would he?”
“No, Your Highness.”
The starlight’s heat simmered.
Each lie felt more overwhelming than the last—no matter how small. Somehow I would have to endure whatever the evening brought.
There was no coffee strong enough to combat it.
Sheer sleeves were attached to the bodice at my request. Soren had chosen the jewelry. A delicate pearl necklace that was as colorless as the gown.
When I finally emerged into the hallway Fyn was already waiting there for me. “This one is not your normal blue.”
“It is a tradition for brides in Estlen.” Eva laid the train flat on the ground.
Fyn’s eyebrow raised slightly at me. “You’ve chosen?”
“I haven’t,” I said. “The gown was chosen for me.”
Fyn shook his head as Eva disappeared down the hall. I adjusted the shimmering stone pendant that slid on its chain as we each took a step forward.
“If your stars exist… they must care little for me.” I wasn’t convinced they hadn’t cursed me with whatever this was.
“If? You drank—” He stopped himself before we passed a guard. When we walked well beyond them, his voice lowered. “You are not what you once were. We still truly don’t know what this means for you.”
