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Smoothing her hair, Adelina thought for a moment. “We will go to the spring equinox as planned, so we do not draw attention from the palace servants. I’ll find a library, see if there’s any magical texts I can take, then I’ll find Damir. He needs to know—my family, too.”

“Gather your belongings,” Salma said. “Enough to carry and nothing more. A change of clothes, a bag of ruble—you have an allowance from Filip, right? Now don’t forget, we leave at dawn, so go to the library for reading material for the journey, and we’ll leave as planned.”

Salma whisked out of the room in swift movements.

Natasha returned moments later, and Adelina informed her of the plan.

Her clothes, along with her grandfather’s pocket watch, hairbrush, and other belongings were already packed for the journey.

“There’s enough clothing here to last you the two-week journey, so there’s nothing for you to worry about. And of course, your new dress.”

“Thanks.” Adelina pressed her fingers against her temples, forcing her scattered thoughts to align.

She was about to turn her back on her supposed destiny, but she couldn’t agree to marry Filip and be used as his weapon.

“But I doubt my dress is going to be needed, given the circumstances. Leave it here. It will take up unnecessary space in my bags. By the time Filip returns to the palace, I’ll already be far away.

It won’t matter if he sees I’ve left it. ”

“Yes, miss.” Natasha quickly unpacked the new sarafan, corset, and shoes.

“Can you escort me to the library?” Adelina said. “I’ll need a few things before I leave. We must be quick.”

“Of course, miss.” Natasha bowed. “I’ll load your bags into the carriage for you first thing in the morning.”

Natasha guided her to the dome ceiling library at the back of the palace. Adelina’s breath caught in her throat as her gaze fell on the spectacular, panoramic views of the gardens and aspen forest.

“Stay focused,” Adelina muttered to herself.

As she surveyed the books stacked on the shelves, Natasha left.

Adelina made her way through the first few rows of books, all in alphabetical order, but none of them referred to astral magic. Hurrying over to the next aisle, she rummaged through books in search of Supreme Power, two of which referenced it.

Balancing them under her arm, she left the library and returned to her chamber, stuffing the tomes into her bag.

Later that night, she tossed and turned, fighting for sleep, yet unable to find any. At the first signs of dawn, Salma hurried through the door with Natasha on her tail. Within twenty minutes, Adelina was dressed and ready for departure.

Natasha carried her belongings, then stowed them into the waiting black carriage outside the palace entrance. Climbing inside, Salma slid across the seats.

Sitting next to her, Adelina leaned out of the window and smiled at Natasha. “Thank you for everything. Please tell Yelena I’ve borrowed these books to further my studying while I’m away.”

“I wish you a safe trip, miss,” Natasha said.

Adelina wanted to say more—a lot more—she wanted to thank her handmaiden for keeping her secret, for helping her flee without raising alarm, and for tending to her during her stay at the palace.

The coachman clicked his tongue, and the horses jolted the carriage along the path, through the gates, and away from Kirovo Palace.

∞∞∞

Two weeks later, the carriage halted outside the entrance to Aramoor—the small, quaint village of her home.

The snow had long since melted, and in its place, flowers blossomed.

Buildings were bedecked with flower garlands for the spring equinox, and the strong scent of bonfires wafted on the breeze.

As the sun sank towards the horizons, men and women lit the fire torches outside their homes, drenching the cobbled path in golden light.

The coachman hopped from his seated position at the front, then opened the door.

Adelina and Salma were greeted by Velinka and Daro .

“Oh, dear, I’m ever so glad to have you home.” Velinka’s eyes welled with tears as she drew Adelina into an embrace.

The coachman dropped the luggage onto the ground beside them, then guided the horses towards the field. He’d likely spend the night at the nearest inn, so Adelina would have to be careful if she didn’t want word of her activities travelling back to the palace.

Adelina let go of her mother.

“We must speak somewhere private,” Salma said, which was met with a concerned look from Adelina’s parents.

“Oh?” Velinka arched a brow. “Come, I’ll put the kettle on.”

Once they were all inside the Orlov family home, Tihana bolted from her seated position at the dinner table, abandoning her schoolbooks to fling her arms around Adelina.

“I’ve missed you so much,” Tihana said against the fabric of Adelina’s corset.

“And I, you.” Adelina smiled.

“Darling, why don’t you have a break from studying? We need to speak with your sister in private,” Velinka said to her youngest.

“Yes, Ma.” Tihana dashed to her chamber.

Velinka brought a bottle of vodka and a tray of glasses to the table while the rest of them settled into their chairs.

“Salma, what is it you must tell us?” Velinka poured the drinks, then passed them out.

Adelina eyed her chaperone and tapped her fingers on the edge of the table .

“Best take a swig of your vodka.” Salma clasped her hands and placed them on the table in front of her.

After Salma filled them in on Filip’s plans, Velinka stared, wide-eyed and open-mouthed, from Salma to her daughter, then to her husband, Daro.

“You can’t stay here,” Daro said at last, slicing the silence. “Who knows—Filip could be on his way back to the palace right now if he isn’t already there. You’ll need as much of a head start as possible.”

“Where do you plan to send her?” Velinka glanced sharply at him.

Adelina leaned forward, her hands planted on the table. “I’m right here, you know. Besides, I already know what to do.”

“What?” her parents said in unison.

“I will marry Damir. Bless our union. Filip won’t be able to force me to marry him. We’ll pack our belongings—I have plenty of coin from the palace—and we will take a horse from the stables. We’ll travel south into the pine forests away from civilisation and prying eyes,” Adelina said.

“Surely not,” Velinka said, her voice thin. “Flee like a thief in the night?”

“Damir is a carpenter apprentice and I’m good with needlework—we can find work in a small village, one less likely to recognise me,” Adelina said. “I’ll travel under an alias. It’ll be harder for Filip to find me. Never staying in one place for too long will also help.”

“Our eldest daughter living a life on the run?” Velinka laughed, her eyes wide. “Those are not the prospects we wanted for you.” Her mother’s lips parted, then closed again. She glanced at her husband .

Daro cleared his throat. “Perhaps we ought to involve Damir in this conversation. His parents too.”

Adelina swallowed a large gulp of her vodka—if she was going to make this proposal to Damir, she’d need the liquid courage.

Sitting beside Salma, she waited while her parents left the house to collect Damir and his parents. A while later, the five of them returned.

Mirelle leaned over the back of the chair on which Adelina was sitting, then draped her arms over her shoulders.

“Oh, Adelina, your ma has told me all about your predicament.” Mirelle squeezed her, then let go and slid on to the free chair next to her.

Adelina glanced from Mirelle to Damir, who stood awkwardly in front of the front door. An even more awkward silence fell over the dinner tables as both sets of parents observed the young ones.

“Shall we go for a walk?” Damir ran his hand through his hair, keeping his gaze fixed on Adelina.

“Yes.” Adelina’s voice was no louder than a whisper. A sudden and intense shyness flooded through her.

Velinka rose, then kissed her daughter on the head. “Be quick about it, dear. If you are both to go through with this union, we ought to do it fast.”

Adelina nodded, slipping outside with Damir.

They wandered, shoulder to shoulder, along the cobbled path towards the entrance of Aramoor, turning their backs to the cheerful chatter and merriment drifting from the centre of the village.

The wooden sign could be seen in the distance, welcoming newcomers .

“How have you been?” She cast a glance at him, unable to find any other words in her vocabulary.

“Well,” he began. “Ma has explained everything to me. I thought you didn’t wish to hear from me. I awaited a letter from you, checking for post each day, but soon drew the conclusion you’d moved on with your new life in the palace.”

“I’d written to you too, but I guess it was never sent,” she said. “When I wrote to my parents, I also mentioned you but at the time, I’d no clue what Filip was planning. I found out right before making the journey here.”

Damir halted, leaned against the stone wall, then rested his hands on the surface. He gazed across the field ahead of him—the corn crop golden under the setting sun. “He wishes to marry you,” he said.

“Yes,” she replied, falling into place beside him, an inch between their shoulders.

A long moment of silence hung between them.

Adelina glanced sideways at him, noticing the thick frown of concentration wedged between his brows.

“You don’t have to, you know,” she said at last. “If your feelings have changed.”

He swivelled to face her. “If there’s one thing I am sure about is that I do love you.” The corners of his lips curved. “I regret not telling you the day you left.”

She smiled too, her heart bursting. Was this really happening? This man, someone she cared deeply for, was prepared to accept her proposal and spend his life with her on the run. All she could do was hope she’d make him happy, because in truth, she’d grown to love him, too. “Then what? ”

“I want to do right by you.” He shook his head. “But a life on the run is not a good one.”