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I tore off, leaving her standing in the center of the busy square. Offended reactions and curses flew my way as I barreled down anyone standing in my path.

“Alejo,” I barked.

He gave me a double-take while handing over a bundled loaf to an elderly woman. I tipped my head to the side, requesting a private conversation. He excused himself from the long line gathering at his booth. Flour covered hands dragged over his apron in an attempt to clean them.

I dipped between the stacked pallets that held his ingredients, and when I confirmed we had privacy, I stated in quiet declaration, “I’m in.”

“You’re in?” His gaze bounced between my eyes, fishing for explanation.

“I’m now officially in the running for the prince’s hand, and since they’ve given me no choice in the matter, I’m going to make them all regret it.” My hands formed fists at my sides.

Alejo studied me for a moment. A few seconds drifted past, like he wasn’t sure how to respond, until he released a slow breath. “We’re meeting tonight.”

“When and where?”

The softening dirt beneath my feet gave way to each step as I reemerged into the square. Like it somehow knew what I set out to do and bowed before me, helpless to do anything to stop me. Nothing and no one could stand in my way now.

Purpose and power hold similar intoxicating effects as the most potent liquors. It wasn’t until I realized I’d been searching the market for sunshine colored hair longer than expected before I snapped out of my daze. I scoured each nearby stall for my sister.

My feet carried me at an increased pace when yet another stall didn’t reveal her. Maybe she’d begun retreating home? But she wouldn’t leave without telling me.

I finally spotted her, and my chest flattened with instant relief. She stood among a group that had gathered, listening to a woman. As I approached, the topic of conversation reached my ears.

“We know it takes time,” she said, “but acceptance starts with acknowledgment! For too long, we’ve allowed the idea of magic wielders to be associated with darkness and evil. That will never change if we stay silent and in the shadows. Quietness breeds fear, so let us be loud! Join us tonight at The Revelry. See for yourself the true magic that comes from an open forum discussion of a people not ashamed.” The woman passed flyers to those gathered before her, including Melody.

I stopped at her side. “Thought I lost you for a minute. I’m finished, we can go.”

“What do you think of this?” she asked without taking her eyes off the paper.

The flyer mostly just repeated what the woman had been saying.

“Sounds like any other club,” I said. The OFMS had been around since I’d been a child. Admittedly, they’d grown in support throughout the years, though their numbers still didn’t amass to much. By the way Melody refused to tear her focus away, and how she looked at that paper like it held something she desperately needed, I realized I’d overlooked the importance of this.

Even just a few years ago, I would have scolded her for even considering making her magic public by aligning with a group like this one. But a shift had begun in the perception of magic wielders. Though small, not insignificant. I didn’t fear for Melody’s safety as I once would have, and I could tell by the glint in her beautiful ocean eyes that she needed this.

“I’ll go with you, if you want,” I offered. There was still no way on Myelle that I’d allow her to go unattended.

The flame dancing behind her eyes assured me of my new evening plans before she even agreed.

I’d mentally shut down for the entire duration I stood on the pedestal as Eucinda pulled and pinned the fabric of the purple chiffon gown. The sheer sleeves billowed over my arms and tapered into a wrist cuff with matching dots or buttons or whatever they were. The skirt had vertical pleats from the ribbon-cinched waist to the floor. Most of the alterations had to come from the bust area, since I didn’t have much to work with.

I ignored Eucinda’s continual commentary on the subject every time she placed a new pin. She no longer held the power to hurt me, not even cutting remarks on my appearance held weight. She’d done the absolute worst last night, and in doing so, freed me.

For now, I’d bide my time. For now, I’d play along like the obedient horse she’d worked on breaking for years. At the end of all this, I would walk away, taking any last privilege from her life that she never worked for, that she’d only received from the goodness of my father’s kind heart. And I’d do it with a smile. Envisioning her caked with mud, living on the dirty street, seemed worth dooming myself to the same fate.

“Are you almost done, Mother? When is it my turn?” Kenzie whined from the corner of the room where she slumped over the beat up arm chair.

“Yes, darling, that is about as good as we’re going to get with this one,” Eucinda said, expertly tossing out an insult about me disguised as one about the dress.

I stepped from the pedestal, working hard not to trip on the skirts that swished between my legs. Concealing a weapon strapped to my thigh would be easy, but access to it, not so much. I delighted in the idea that I could stand near the prince, a weapon dressed in lilac, and he’d have no idea.

I thought of the smile lines that curved around his mouth on that perfectly golden skin before a stray pin pricked my ribs and sobered me. Having my dagger would only bolster my ego, seeing as using it was totally out of the question. No, there are other ways to take down a prince.

Eucinda berated me not to move a single pin even a fraction of an inch while I undressed, a task proving near impossible with how tightly she’d bound it to me. Gentle hands started working the buttons along the spine, and I immediately placed who’s.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

Though I didn’t see her, the heat of Melody’s beaming smile hit my neck. Walking sunshine in my gloomy life. I left the dress in their bedroom while they began fiddling with their alterations.