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Theo looks at me with a lopsided smile, his eyes somehow glazed and sharp all at once, his cheeks tinted pink. He traces the pad of his thumb across my jaw.

“You and I,” he says, his eyes not leaving mine.

Looking at him there, beautiful and kind, I know I am in love.

Chapter 27

Month Five

News about the king spreads fast.

I am painting in my art room, lost in the process of replicating the vase of flowers sitting in front of me. Flowers the prince has sent for me, vibrant and beautiful, grown in his garden. Tubes of paint are scattered on the ground and the table as I dip my brush in a particularly striking shade of dandelion yellow and swipe it across the canvas. I am feverous, fixated on my task as the rest of the world around me ceases to exist. I do not hear Inez until she is right next to me.

“Miss Shivani!” She waves a hand in front of my face, startling me out of my bubble.

“Oh.” I blink. “Inez. Good afternoon.”

“It is evening now, miss,” she corrects me.

“Is it?” I turn my head to look out of the glass wall. The sun sinks below the horizon, andthe first of the navy blue night sky slowly crawls in. “Oh dear, I seem to have lost track of time again. Apologies, did I miss you for dinner?”

“Never mind that, miss.” She shakes her head before pausing. “Although, yes, I should fetch you dinner if you have not eaten yet. But that is not what I came here for.”

She bends over to grab my hands. Her skin is warm against mine, but her brows are furrowed.

“What is it, Inez?” I ask, turning away from my painting, concern rising.

“News of the king has arrived,” she says, and my stomach drops.

“Is he returning to the castle?” I ask. “I thought we had longer.”

“A rider from Swordstead met him halfway. He…I am sorry, miss, but he is bringing home a bride for the prince.”

Nausea bubbles in my stomach. A deep ache forms in my chest, like a storm cloud, dark and troubling. I try to say something but there is a ringing in my ears blocking out all my other thoughts.

“Miss Shivani?” Inez grasps my hands tighter.

“I am alright,” I manage to say, my voice quiet. “When does he return?”

“A month,” she replies. “I am so sorry, miss.”

“In time for my six-month sentence toend,” I say bitterly.In time for him to remove my head.

I stay still for several moments, my brain churning. Inez watches me, a ball of nervous energy.

“Will you take a note to the prince for me, please?” I say eventually. “We…I need to talk with him. Urgently.”

“Of course, miss,” she replies, standing. “I will find him immediately.”

After I hastily scribble a note and send Inez away, I stand alone in the middle of the room. I clench my fists hard enough for my nails to dig into my palm and fight back tears. My ophid is tense, and I wish, now more than ever, I could reach my au’mana.

“I will figure this out,” I say out loud to myself. “I will.”

I take a deep breath and unfurl my fingers. Once my breathing has calmed, I hurriedly make my way to my chambers. I will need to speak to Theo first, but if that fails—for reasons I do not allow myself to think about—I will escape. I know the castle layout better, I know the staff, I can think of a better plan than last time. I have the secret tunnel. My skin itches at the thought of leaving everyone behind and I clutch at my neck, agitated. I only hope my note reaches the prince soon.

But when I open the door to my chambers, Theo is already there.

“Shivani,” he says and his voice is laden with relief and sadness. He crosses the room immediately and scoops me into his arms, burying his face in the crook of my neck.