Page 51

“I know what it is to have magic, Ana,” I said.

She shook her head. “You are equating harnessing magic with having it. They are not the same.”

We stared at each other and after a moment, I asked, “What are we going to do?”

“For now, you had better summon Violeta,” she said. “Adrian has called for a feast.”

“What?”

“While he conceded to allowing Solaris to stay, he wishes to remind Revekka there is a price to pay for treason, so we are celebrating Gesalac’s execution.”

I was not so surprised given Solaris’s arrival and Dracul’s death—Dracul, who had been searching Cordova for Julian, along with his men. It would not go unnoticed that the traitor was still missing, and where were the rest of Dracul’s men?

I could not help wondering if Julian might be responsible for Dracul’s death somehow—but then, how did that explain how the villagers had died?

It made more sense that whatever this…blood plaguewas, it was somehow communicable.

“I know you are angry with Adrian,” Ana said. “And you have every right to be, but I think you should attend tonight’s festivities.”

“I have every intention of going.”

I had to go because I had made a scene running from court. Attending tonight would at least assure our kingdom that nothing could come between us.

Ana left to prepare for the evening, and I summoned Violeta and Vesna. Both gasped when they entered my room.

“My lady! What happened?”

“I have a temper,” I said, unashamed.

Violeta walked farther into the room and started to pick up dresses from the floor. “We can clean while you are at dinner,” she said.

“Do not bother,” I said. “You should both enjoy tonight.”

“What if you need us?” Vesna asked.

“I likely will only require help undressing, a task my husband is more than capable of.”

Though I doubted he would be undressing me tonight.

Vesna blushed, and Violeta pressed her lips together to hide her smile, then cleared her throat. “What would you like to wear for the celebration?”

She continued to pick up dresses from my floor—full ones with lots of tulle and embellishments—but I wanted none of that.

“This one,” I said, picking one from the pile.

Violeta’s eyes widened. “My lady, I’m not so certain—”

“My husband will love it,” I said.

She did not try to deter me, and I slipped into the gown, which fell over my skin like liquid gold. The neckline exposed the soft skin between my breasts while the two slits that ran down the front of the skirt bared my legs. The only embellishment was a cord-like belt that wrapped around my waist.

Violeta and I gathered up the jewelry I had thrown across the room, and I chose pieces as I went—gold earrings, a bracelet, and a delicate tiara. When we were finished, I sent my ladies-in-waiting to prepare for the evening.

No sooner had the door closed than a knock came. When I answered, I expected Adrian but found Ana instead.

My feelings were conflicted, as there was a part of me that wanted him to come to me. I also wanted to know that he was stewing over my rage. Ana must have sensed my disappointment, because she smiled a little.

“I am sorry I am not who you expected,” she said. I opened my mouth to reply, but she continued. “I thought we could walk downstairs together.”