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That name was familiar. I kept my attention on Sharla until she hugged Mrs. Gallagher, and swallowed the lump that instantly swelled in my throat. The woman wouldn’t know me, but I knew of her. I might have even trampled some of her petunias by accident. The area beneath her eyes was puffy, and my heart cracked at the sight. I’d seen a few relatives of missing persons over the months. Sometimes they’d roam the market, handing out flyers with puffy eyes full of grief, asking if anyone had any information.

I knew that feeling all too well, myself. Watching her navigate the room, being greeted by caring friends, a loving support system in her time of need, forced an unexpected heat to prick behind my eyes. I tore away my gaze before it made my vision blur. “So, Sverik, are you from South Harbor?”

“No, actually. Sharla and I only moved here about six years ago. We’re originally from Windguard.”

It wasn’t often I ran into those from Windguard. Anyone who moved from that kingdom generally possessed enough wealth to avoid the slums of Highcrest. “Oh, what brought that on?”

He broke our stare, dropping his gaze and laughing lightly toward the floor. I hadn’t anticipated his reaction. My question clearly made him uncomfortable, and I worked quickly to recover. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry.”

“No, no, it’s fine. We left because the divide of magic remains strong there. The longer I remained, existing like this…” He snapped his fingers, and a flame extended from the tip of his thumb like a matchstick.

I couldn’t contain my shudder of laughter at the unexpected, incredible sight. “Oh my stars!” My hand slapped over my chest. “It doesn’t burn you?” Concern wrinkled my forehead as I became lost in the trance of the mesmerizing fire.

His amusement shone as brightly as the conjured flame licking at the air. “No, that’d be mighty unpleasant.”

“Nora!” Melody’s call drifted over the voices. She waved me over with her delicate, frantic hand, and I returned my gaze to Sverik.

His fire fizzled into nothing before he slid his hands in his pants pockets.

“It was so nice to meet you, Sverik, but my sister beckons.”

“Glad you stopped by, Nora. Hope to see you again.” He dipped his head in farewell.

Throwing my hand up, I gave an awkward wave before weaving through the bodies toward Mel. A couple of men stood in the midst of the crowd, facing each other but not speaking. The bald man with thick black facial hair didn’t take his eyes off me as I maneuvered past. He opened his palm that I noticed held a small crystal before he closed his fingers around it. Maybe it was an anxiety thing, holding it for comfort that it would ease his hesitation for showing up to a place like this. The other, with shaggy brown hair, glanced at me briefly before glaring wildly around the room again.

I was grateful my beautiful sister had found other company to entertain, since not all attendees seemed as receptive.

“Tryssa, this is my sister, Nora,” Melody said as I joined.

The woman who had garnered Melody’s attention in the first place stood before me, her sandy blonde hair falling loosely over her shoulders. Smile lines deepened around her mouth as she extended her hand and we shook. “Wonderful to have you join us, Nora. Your sister tells me you had no hesitations attending tonight.” This woman radiated charisma in a way that had me questioning how she hadn’t already changed the mind of every citizen in South Harbor.

“No, I did not. I was just speaking with Sverik and mentioned to him that we’ve always been accepting of magic.” I smiled at my sister as she wrapped her gentle hands around my arm and briefly pressed her temple to my shoulder.

“You might just be the girls to save this kingdom from its gluttonous history of hate.” Her eyes sparkled as they passed between us.

I huffed a sarcastic laugh. “We are in no role to offer such change.”

Tryssa narrowed her eyes in an assessing way. “Do not underestimate how crucial your role as the next generation is. If more and more young people such as yourselves imbue this mindset, within your lifetime, you might see great strides in the reemergence of magic. And how the kingdom will be blessed by that. Are you two attending the prince’s events?”

The gleam in her eye made me consider just how historic it would be for the next queen to be a vocal magic supporter. The significance of that would reshape the destiny of this kingdom. Usher in a new dawn after a century of bleak night.

The former King Antoine and Prince Nicholas did not outwardly endorse magic to the masses. Instead, they let indifference divide and fester. Cowards. If anyone had the ability to create a drastic change, it was the royals. But of course the current prince would remain silent on the matter, just as he’d done with the kidnappings.

My thoughts turned to that golden sculpture of a man, drawing people in with his charming good looks like flies to a web, only to leave them immobilized while he sat back until he feasted on their attention and devotion while offering no lifeline.

His smile lingered in my mind, a brilliant flash of pearl white. Soft, yet masculine. Warm, yet blazing. It took a moment to sever the memory.

“I am, along with my other sister, but Nora—”

“We are,” I interrupted. Melody’s gaze burned my skin, taken aback by what I’d said. “We are to attend a ball next.”

Neither Eucinda nor I had mentioned to the girls that I would be attending as something other than chaperone, and they hadn’t pieced it together while I’d been fitted for an equally elegant dress as theirs.

“A ball, how delightful. I know a couple of our girls went to the luncheon but haven’t heard anything about an invitation to a ball. Seems you are the lucky ones to make it through,” Tryssa said, her hopeful enthusiasm raining down upon us. She, too, must realize the significance of a magic supporter on the throne.

Melody lifted on the balls of her feet, her blooming excitement palpable from the idea that she’d passed a round of royal scrutiny. I fought off the idea that my interaction with the prince had somehow contributed to our invitations.

Melody had been perfectly calculated in her approach. Surely she was the one who made an impression. I’d been lucky that I hadn’t been removed for being so bold. My stomach twisted at the thought of having to see him again. This time would be very different. I would be vying for his attention. At least, portraying the appearance that I was.