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Hawthorne shook his head, his battered body heaving in the chains. ‘You should have kept your name day gift.’

Thea blinked, glancing back down the end of the prison row. ‘What does that have to do with anything?’

‘Everything,’ he told her. ‘It’s time to open your eyes, Thea.’

‘I —’

‘I’ll wager Artos didn’t want you down here? I wonder why.’

Someone shouted from the stairs above, startling her.

‘Go,’ Hawthorne said roughly.

Thea’s boots were frozen to the spot.

‘Get out of here,’ he growled. ‘Lest you end up in the cell beside me.’

Heart hammering, Thea withdrew. She had disobeyed a direct order from the king to be here; there would be no talking her way out if she were discovered. With the images of Hawthorne and the imprisoned shadow-touched children seared into her mind, she ducked away, slipping past the guards. She made her way to the floating glass dome once more, her skin crawling as enchanted heat enveloped her, the brightness of the winter’s day an eerie contrast to the darkness that rotted below.

‘Althea!’ someone called. ‘Althea, wait!’

Princess Jasira was lifting her skirts and hurrying towards her.

‘I’ve had someone looking for you!’

Numb, Thea mustered what little strength she had left to school her face into an apologetic expression. ‘I’m sorry, Your Highness. I think I got lost after we left the throne room. With the events of the day, I’m afraid I got turned around.’

The princess’ brow crinkled before she nodded in understanding and linked her arm through Thea’s, not caring that her pristine, freshly pressed gown was in contact with Thea’s filthy armour. ‘I can only imagine how exhausted you are,’ she said kindly.

‘I’ll be fine, Highness,’ Thea assured her.

‘Of that I have no doubt.’ Jasira smiled. ‘My father told you of my invitation?’

‘He did, Your Highness —’

‘Please, Thea, as I’ve told you before, call me Jasi. Surely we are past the formalities now?’

Thea gave a tired smile. ‘I suppose if anything strikes out the need for titles, it’s surviving a wraith attack on the road.’

‘My thoughts exactly.’ Jasira started walking, her arm still linked through Thea’s. ‘You once told me that you’d never been to a ball. Now I get to accompany you to your first, of hopefully many.’

The palace halls were buzzing with activity, banners and floral arrangements being raised to the ceilings, silverware being rushed every which way. It was dizzying.

Jasira patted her arm. ‘Let me show you to your quarters.’

‘I’m sure one of your attendants could do that —’

‘But Iwantto.’

‘If you insist.’ Thea didn’t have the energy to argue. ‘I told your father I was honoured by your invitation,’ she said.

‘So you’ll attend?’

‘Of course.’ What was it Hawthorne had once told her?If the king invites you to sit at his table, you sit at his table…She imagined the same could be said for princesses.

‘Are you alright, Thea?’ Princess Jasira asked, peering into Thea’s face with concern.

‘A little sore, a little tired, that’s all, Your – Jasi.’