Page 4 of Veil of Night & Flames

No such luck.

“Little human,” Kali says, aborting my escape. I turn toward the hearth and force a polite smile. “Kali.” She moves to stand in front of the flames, and the fire throws her shadow halfway across the room, making her look even taller than she is. Her obsidian armor gleams in the firelight, catching and releasing the glow like something fresh off the set of Game of Thrones.

It’s the same outfit every time I’ve seen her, and I have to fight a snort as I imagine my best friend Tia leaning over to whisper in my ear—Hello, variety? Someone get that woman a gift card.

God, I miss that girl. Right now, she’d take one look at my face and drag me to the nearest coffee shop and not let me leave until I’d told her everything—including the parts I can barely admit to myself.

I duck my head, then angle away from Kali as I pretty much trot toward the archway that leads to Chase. With luck, that will be my fill of Kali for the day.

Except, no. I must have used up my quota of luck when I found the cure for Chase, because she sidles up to me with the kind of fluid grace that seems impossible in her armor. And makes me acutely aware of my own bare feet and rumpled dress.

I don’t bother with a smile. Kali knows I can’t stand her, and the feeling is mutual, as proved by the way she runs her eyes over me, her expression much like my mom’s when the cat once dragged a half-dead mouse inside. “You’re awake,” she says.

“Now I see why Adric keeps you around. You have amazing powers of observation.” I smile with exaggerated sweetness, then add, “Couldn’t sleep.” Because, honestly, why poke the beast?

Except, of course, I’m going to poke the beast. “I thought I’d explore the castle,” I say into the lingering silence. “And I’m pretty sure a queen can go where she pleases.”

Kali’s expression doesn’t change, but something shifts behind her eyes. She says nothing, though, and I know I should hold my tongue, too. Except, of course, I don’t. “I went down and saw the dragons,” I tell her. But I’m sane enough to leave out the part where the king and I had sex near the stables.

“I’m not particularly interested in your comings and goings,” she says.

“No? Because my going was particularly interesting. I checked out the architecture on the walk back. That terrace with the red stonework, for example. The one just past where the path curves. It’s stunning. And I bet it has a great view of the grounds.”

Her brows rise maybe a millimeter. “You’re interested in castellology?”

“I love learning about most anything,” I say sweetly. “Right now, I’m hoping to learn who that was with you on the terrace.”

I know I’ve scored a point when the only sound is the crackle of the fire behind her.

“The woman standing on the terrace with you,” I press, taking one step toward her. “Who is she?”

For a moment, I think she won’t answer. Her violet eyes hold mine with a predatory stillness, and her armor gleams as the fire pops.

Then her mouth curves into the kind of smile that translates to Fuck You. “One of our librarians,” she says, her voice flat. Almost bored. As if my question disappointed her.

“Seriously?” That is so not the answer I’d expected. Not that I’d actually had a clue what to expect.

“The household is larger than you think, Little Bride. You’ve met only the tiniest slice of the castle’s residents. Maren often comes to the terrace in the evenings. She works in the stacks and appreciates a respite outdoors.” She tilts her head, the tiniest of smiles tugging at her lips. “Shall I call her?”

I’m about to say no when I think of Uncle Finn in that very library, oblivious to everything except whatever ancient text he’s buried in. He thinks this is all a wonderful dream. And for all I know, Maren is helping to keep that delusion alive. So, yeah. I want to meet this woman.

The moment I nod, Kali lifts a hand, presumably giving an order to fetch her.

Then she smiles, as if we’re just two gal pals hanging out together. “This realm is beautiful, is it not?”

I almost don’t answer, but this is Adric’s home. And, I guess, my home now, too. “It is,” I say, and mean it. Yes, the Nightmare Realm is eerie and dangerous, but it’s stunning, too. The way the moons paint the sand. The majesty of the dunes rising against that impossible sky. I can’t deny the pull of this place. And, strangely, it’s a place that feels like mine. Like it’s been waiting for me.

Maybe it has.

Maybe I do belong here.

I’m the emperor’s heir, after all, even though I’m still not entirely sure what that means for me. I mean, he’s my great-grandfather a billion times removed. Hardly a cuddly grandpa who played horsie with little me. That was something I didn’t have at all. No grandparents. No father, for that matter.

This isn’t my life. I may not have known any relatives other than Mom, but I grew up in sunshine, not shadows. I’m not a queen or an empress or anyone powerful like that.

On the contrary, I’m a coffee-drinking, book-toting freshman, and I belong at St. Augustine College.

And those are two truths that really don’t mesh.