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“What are you doing just standing here?” Sia said with almost enough mirth in her voice to be believable. She then grabbed Peri’s shoulders and pushed her out the door. “It’s not polite to keep your betrothed waiting.”

Chapter

Seven

PERINE WILDER

Peri had been little more than a shadow in the room when her parents had made the mating bond arrangements for her. Takar, her father, and her mother had nodded along, agreeing to whatever terms were set before them. Valus, on the other hand, had lounged across from them, demanding and bargaining until the union was finalised.

Peri was the result of their negotiation—an offering to an honoured warrior.

Her parents wanted her protected, except Peri hadn’t realised that being protected might feel more like being shackled.

But there was still time before her future came crashing down on her—before she was bound to someone not of her own choosing. She hoped that in the meantime she’d also grow to care for her betrothed, that they’d find the same common ground her parents had eventually found. Perhaps then it would not feel quite so constricting.

Over the last year she’d hoped to watch her sister and Rocco falling so deeply in love with each other. But while Sia claimed this was the case, Peri was growing increasingly nervous that her sister was lying.

Valus stood in the entryway, crisply handsome in his cream linen outfit. His deep garnet skin contrasted sharply with his rust-hued, tousled hair, which caught the light as he turned to face her. She rushed toward him, but instead of the warm embrace she had expected, he placed a hand firmly on her shoulders to keep her at arms length.

“Does it always take you this long to get ready?” He was looking in a mirror fixing his hair.

Peri ignored his question, her fingers twitching nervously as she rearranged her clothes. She was about to respond when her father strode into the room.

Takar’s violet eyes matched the deep hue of his hair. He had an air of boyish innocence around him that hadn’t faded, even though he was nearing his second century of life.

“I thought we’d agreed to arrive as a family,” he said amiably, yet there was an uneasy glint in his eyes as he observed them.

“I know,” Peri hedged. “This was a surprise to me as well.”

“Of course.” Her father bobbed his head with forced affability. “You probably have things to discuss."

There was a part of her that wanted her father to get upset that she wouldn’t be going to her sister’s mating ceremony with her family as planned. But then he had done this to her hadn’t he? So, he wasn’t allowed to be upset when Valus demanded her time or presence. She motioned her head at his closed hands that appeared to be holding something. “What have you got there?”

He held out a lavender perilla bloom, her namesake. A soft smile tugged at his lips as he said, “I know you haven’t put these in your hair since you were very young, but… they remind me of when you would force me to spend hours picking them to weave into your flower crowns. You don’t have to wear it if you don’t—”

Peri’s heart ached with warmth at the memory. She eagerly took the flower, poking the delicate stem behind her ear. “Of course I’ll wear it!” she said, her tone a little too bright. She pulled him into a tight hug, whispering, “It’s perfect. Thank you.”

He kissed her cheek, his eyes soft with affection. “You look beautiful.” He nodded once more before turning to leave. “Remember, when you’re there, you represent your grandfather, and everyone watches the Grand Duke’s family very closely.”

Valus, impatient, grabbed her arm and pulled her out the front door towards his gryphon. Peri winced at the jarring motion, trying to steady herself. Her cloak, scarf, and thicker shoes were upstairs in her closet because she hadn’t planned on riding a gryphon to the ceremony.

Her family’s boat had enchantments to keep one warm and protected from the winter winds. A harsh wind swirled around them and she hugged herself tightly. Valus was pulling on a thick, woollen coat and sturdy boots followed by a hat and gloves that he’d pulled from his saddlebag.

Notoriously, demons were clueless when it came to thinking of others; so she knew his lack of forethought wasn’t malicious.

Even still, it stung.

Something hard nudged her shoulder and she turned to find Valus’s gryphon alarmingly close to her. She reached out to pet behind the gryphon’s ears. “You’re called Irit, right?”

Irit nodded, then in a voice as soft as the wind she said, “I’ll do my best to avoid the coldest parts of the sky, little hellion. If I could offer more than that, I would.”

Before Peri could respond, Valus was lifting her by the waist, setting her gently on the saddle built for two. She told herself it was a nice attempt at romance, even if it felt more like an obligation than anything.

He swung behind her, his body pressing against hers as they settled together on the gryphon. The bird took off, its powerful wings cutting through the air with a thunderous beat. Peri clutched onto the front of the saddle for balance, her hands and feet quickly going numb as the icy wind whipped around them. Within minutes, her hands were frozen stiff.

A gust of wind tore one of her shoes from her foot. Panicking, she tried to scrunch her toes in the other shoe, desperately trying to keep it on, but it too was swept away by the wind. Flying through the Void—the cold, endless tunnel that connected all the Circles—felt even worse than it looked. The air was sharper, the wind fiercer, and Peri’s braid, once neat, was now a tangled mess of wild curls that whipped into her eyes and mouth. When they finally landed, Valus slid off Irit with ease. He took his time putting his coat, hat and scarf away while Peri still shivered atop the gryphon.

When he finally remembered to help her down, he took a long, appraising look. Suddenly, she was deeply conscious of how much of a mess she must look, her clothes were windblown and her hair was the very definition of dishevelled. He put his hands on his hips with a deep chuckle.