As if he was trying to convince us both, he whispered again, “Reyva, I will fix this.”
Rhazien folded his hands, kneading them as he searched me for a sign of agreement, but I only met him with defiant silence.
“Will you let me try?” Desperate eyes darted between mine.
No.My mind didn’t hesitate.
What would be the point? If life would always be like this, was it worth staying and fighting? For what? To be just another version of a woman always waiting around for Rhazien to give me a morsel of attention. Endless days without any purpose other than to be decoration for a man.
I’d lived that life before. I didn’t need to do it again.
He lowered himself to capture my gaze. “Reyva?”
I gave him a smile so soft, it was guaranteed he knew it was fake, or forced, or both.
“Yes,” I whispered through a soft, disingenuous smile. “Majesty.”
“Thank you.” The regent exhaled, relief relaxing his brow line. He pulled me into a hug that felt more like a trap than a comforting embrace.
My return to the Southern Hive had signaled the tipping of an hourglass. A kaleidoscope of bouquets were designed and fluffed. The window trimmings were replaced with new, elegant dark fabric. Every inch of the Hive was under inspection and accordingly attended to in preparation for the noble and notable guests who would attend the upcoming Solstice events.
The pure excess infuriated me. All of this luxury and comfort with so many living in squalor and suffering in the Northern Hive. But I couldn’t be bogged down or distracted. I had a part to play as the dutiful prospect to the regent. A future queen of the Hive. A fate I grappled with in silence.
“Lady Reyva, your eye is impeccable.” Gorvin—my travel companion back to the Hive—had complimented me more than once. He flitted about like an excited hummingbird after a long winter, each task anew flower for him to savor. It was odd to think he was a descendant of Ruelle.
Seeing Gorvin in his element, fully alight with pride and passion, sparked a sour jealousy within me. My purpose was forced on me while his came naturally. I wondered if I’d ever feel that again. Something that lit me up, that felt like my own.
“And the lilies from your chamber have been replaced with something more seasonally appropriate. Commander Thorne passed along your request.”
I perked up at the mention of Dommik. I hadn’t made any such request, although the change would be a welcome one. The lilies, beautiful as they were, sent me into sneezing fits.
Either Gorvin was far too engulfed in his responsibilities, or my nonchalant mask was a convincing one.
Between the choices of flora, details of the feasts to come, and decor that would be discarded promptly following Solstice, I walked the halls of the Hive empty as one of the soulless shades deep within the Irriset caves.
When awake, rare moments of silence were haunted by visions of human slaves living in squalor within the caverns of the Northern Hive. I didn’t mind that sleep evaded me. When my body leaned into rest, I was met with horrific nightmares. Images collided into a myriad of memories. Rhazien’s indiscretion. Talia’s sisters. The shade.
Exhaustion was easier.
On my second evening back, Oddo called on me. The young master’s eyes grew three sizes when they noticedThe Sourcehaphazardly tucked beneath a pillow in my chambers.
“You brought it here?” he breathed, handling the book like it might disintegrate in his hands.
“There wasn’t much time to think,” I told him, chewing on my cheek. “We were nearly found. I saw my family name and I just had to know more.”
Oddo nodded and began slowly turning the pages, devouring its contents with a familiar fervor.
“This is remarkable,” he said, his finger tracing the same lines I’d been obsessing over. Then he listed a weary gaze to me. “Were you hiding this?”
I folded my hands and looked down to my feet. “Yes,” I admitted to the floor.
The book released a gentle thud as Oddo closed it and pursed his lips.The young master’s brown eyes softened as he stated, “Your instincts are sound. This book is very special. One we likely won’t copy for the public.”
My guilt melted. I hadn’t meant to deceive Oddo, who had been nothing but kind to me, but this book held more information about my family and our inherited magic than I’d ever known.
It also contained details about the creation of Lorana’s stone. The stone Rhazien needed to wake his maker and squander Eryx’s malicious ambitions.
“I’d still like to read it if that’s allowed.”
