Durae held perfectly still as the net of garnets and amethysts was set into his hair. The tiny array of gems would make his hair glitter like a sea of stars. Matching sparkles of color were embroidered into his gossamer robes. He’d hated the idea of thin fabric when he first saw his outfits for market. They were far too lightweight for even the hottest day of summer in the mountains, but the dash back to the inn had reminded Durae how much warmer and muggier the Everend Market was compared to home. When the sun struck its zenith, he was going to be happy for the thin material, even if he did feel mostly naked in it now.
Though his unease likely had more to do with the way his mother was staring at the tea leaves in his cup rather than what he was wearing. She hadn’t taken anywhere near as long reading Uleyri’s before dismissing her. His sister had escaped to her bedroom, where another of their servants was helping her finish her preparations for the morning.
“Where did you go last night?” Mama asked without lifting her gaze from his cup.
“To bed. I wasn’t feeling well.”
“But you went out this morning for pastries.”
“I woke feeling refreshed,” Durae said carefully. He’d repeated his story a few times already. “I wanted to partake of the cultural celebration. This is the birthplace of all elfdom.”
“In the same way that mountains birth rivers. All has flowed from it, but even itself cannot remain the same.” Mama sighed heavily. “Whatever you did, your future has become more muddled than ever! You should have gone with me to the seers last night. One of them might have been able to pierce this veil enveloping you and given us guidance.”
Durae lifted one of his arms so the sheer fabric of his sleeve was in front of his face. “This is the only veil I know of in my life, Mother.”
“It is the fashion.”
“Next, you’ll push an illusion ring at me,” Durae scoffed.
Mama gave him a flat glare.
He dropped his jaw in disgust. “Mama, I was joking! Tell me you’re not going to give me some charm that changes my appearance!”
“Every noble uses magic to enhance?—”
Durae stood, wincing as some of his hair was caught in the servant’s hands. He hadn’t thought his rebellion through, but he wouldn’t back down now. “I can assure you, I don’t need some bauble to enhance anything! I am handsome without being draped in all this fabric. I certainly don’t need magic to choose my suitor!”
“You do need to show up,” Mama said sternly. “Something you failed to do last night.”
“I told you, I was tired!”
“You were not in your room.”
“I—”
“I opened the door, Durae, so please stop lying to me!”
Durae flinched. With a sigh of resignation, he sat back down. The servant resumed fixing his hair. “I explored a little, that’s all.”
“You came back with barely enough time to get ready for this morning.” Mama narrowed her eyes. “Will there be rumors of the Navisora heir drinking himself into a stupor last night?”
She always seeks how I will be our family’s ruin.One night with Blaze had been more confidence-affirming than a lifetime within the Navisora tower. Durae leaned forward and said with a hiss, “I barely had a glass of wine last night,Mother. I was out having sex.Lotsof sex. On a boat. I lost my virginity on the Glaesflod.”
“Durae!” Papa said. He and Father were emerging from their bedroom together. They both looked shocked, but Papa was the one to continue speaking. “There is no cause to speak to your mother with venom in your voice.”
“Of course the two of you would think that. You’re likely in on the conspiracy to gussy me up like a prized tiara. Did you know she has an illusion ring for me? She’s worried I will be the doom of our family unless I marry but wants me to lie about my appearance while attracting a spouse! What if they aren’t happy about the deception, andthatcauses our ruin, hm?”
“Illusion rings are common, Durae,” Father said.
“Does Uleyri have one?”
“We all do, actually. It’s little more than to keep our complexions from flustering in the heat and to provide a pleasant odor if we sweat too much,” Father replied.
Cold swept up Durae’s spine deeper than any winter chill. “Mama made it sound like?—”
“You didn’t give me the opportunity to explain what it would do. You assumed,” Mama snapped. She dropped a ring onto the table. “Wear it. Don’t wear it. The choice is yours, just as you willhave the final say of whoever you join with. I endeavor to provide our family with a future, Durae, not rob you of joy.”
She stalked out of the suite.
