Page 38 of A Storm in Every Heart (Enchanted Legacies #2)

I jitter with excitement and anxiety all afternoon, then practically run down the halls to dinner. There’s some sort of dance performance during dinner meant to entertain the courts, but I’m so wound up I can barely eat, let alone pay attention.

“Did you have a pleasant time at the garden party, Dessa?” Aunt Beatrix asks, when she finishes applauding for the dancers and finally picks up her glass of wine.

“Yes,” I nod as I push my food around my plate, making little piles rather than eating.

“Did you meet any of the Hydrattan courtiers?”

“No one important,” I lie.

Daemon and Aunt Beatrix exchange dubious glances, which makes me think they already heard about this afternoon’s chaos with the boats. I meet Daemon’s eye, trying to communicate that I do not want to talk about this— please .

“You might not have met anyone interesting, but I did,” Daemon says loudly.

Aunt Beatrix rolls her eyes. “Girls, you mean.”

“Exactly.” He grins, launching into an overly detailed story about some noblewoman and a dog, and completely taking the attention away from me. I can’t tell whether he did it on purpose or not, but either way I’m grateful because his monopoly on the conversation means I can sit quietly and think.

Part of me wonders if I should cancel this evening.

I don’t go on dates. I don’t have many friends aside from Daemon, and I certainly don’t allow myself to become too interested in anyone.

Everyone I’ve ever cared about has been taken from me against my will, and I dread the day I lose anyone else. Even with Daemon and my Aunt Beatrix, I’m constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop—for the moment we say goodbye and never see each other again.

Prince Kastian thinks he likes me, but I have no idea how that could be possible when I’ve been nothing but rude to him. Not that I regret it—how else am I supposed to act when, in all likelihood, I’ll never see him again after tomorrow?

I’ve been trying so hard not to let my imagination run away from me, knowing if I get my hopes up I’ll be crushed when nothing comes of it. He’s a prince. He’s betrothed—though not engaged, which seemed to be an important distinction that I hadn’t understood—and I’m just me.

This is likely going to end in disaster, and I’ll be the only one who gets hurt.

But what if it doesn’t? A tiny voice in the back of my mind whispers.

I waver back and forth about meeting Kastian as I bathe after dinner and pick out my favorite dress—the ocean blue one with pearl buttons. I’m still unsure as I brush out my hair and wait for Aunt Beatrix to go to sleep so I can sneak out unimpeded.

Finally, the clock strikes 9:00 and I jump to my feet. I’m going.

It’s a terrible idea, but I’m putting on my dress and tying my hair into a long braid.

I must be insane, but I’m poking my head out of my room to make sure Aunt Beatrix isn’t waiting for me.

I’m going.

I’m lucky, and Aunt Beatrix isn’t anywhere in sight as I creep out of my room and down the long white stone corridor.

The castle is mostly quiet, and while I pass the occasional guard or servant, no one pays me any attention.

That’s good, because I don’t know what I would say if anyone asked where I’m going.

Prince Kastian didn’t say it was a secret that we were leaving the castle together, but he did mention having to escape his guards as a child.

My memory conjures up the image of the green-jacketed guards pushing through the crowd at the harbor and Kastian jumping off the wall to escape them. That makes me think that what we’re doing is a secret—which only makes it more fun…and more dangerous.

Kastian told me to meet him in the hallway outside the dining room where we first met the other night—or, where he thinks we first met. I’m dying to ask him if he still has the key I gave him eight years ago. He probably doesn’t…but what if he does?

What if every stupid, impossible daydream I’ve ever had is about to come true?

I reach the hallway, which is open on one side like a balcony, and lean against the railing to wait. From here, I can just barely make out the masts of all the tall ships in the harbor, and my heartbeat speeds up in excitement.

“I feel like I’ve seen this exact scene before,” Kastian’s voice interrupts my thoughts.

I turn around and can’t help but smile when I see him walking toward me.

He’s wearing a green cloak which looks achingly familiar. It can’t possibly be the same one from 8 years ago, as Kastian is nearly two feet taller than he was then, but the overall look is the same. He has another cloak—blue, this time—thrown over one arm.

“I wasn’t sure you’d come,” Kastian says, coming to a stop a few feet away from me.

“Likewise. I’m sure you’re much busier than I am, Your Majesty .”

He smiles. “Why is it that when you say that it sounds like you’re calling me an asshole?”

I grin. “I don’t know, maybe you should consider why you’re hearing it that way—internalized self-loathing isn’t healthy.”

He rolls his eyes but keeps smiling as if he’s caught somewhere between amusement and exasperation. “I brought you this.” He thrusts the cloak at me. “I’d rather not be recognized if we can avoid it.”

“Ooh, so this is a secret. I wasn’t sure.” I take the cloak and fall into step with him as he leads us down the hall.

“Not a secret exactly, I’m allowed to leave the palace, but it’s still a good idea not to draw attention to ourselves.”

“My Aunt Beatrix is always saying the same thing to Daemon and I—mostly to him, I guess.”

He nods. “Because he’s Florian’s son.”

I look sideways at him. “How did you know?”

He laughs. “I have eyes.”

“Yeah…so does everyone else. It’s becoming more of a problem lately. It’s making my Aunt Beatrix nervous.”

“Why?”

I bite my lip. I probably shouldn’t tell him this. Then again, as he just said, it’s not much of a secret. “Because Daemon and Thorne are close in age. They go to school together. Or, at least, they did until Thorne finished his schooling last year.”

“I take it Thorne doesn’t enjoy being forced to spend time with his half-brother?”

I shake my head. “No, he doesn’t. It wasn’t always as much of a problem, but now that Daemon is older and looks so much like the king, there’s a lot of tension at court. My aunt is afraid that the king will kill Daemon, or at least have him sent away.”

“Are you worried about that?” Kastian asks, his eyes searching my face.

“Yes,” I admit. “I think he should leave the country as soon as he finishes school. He could move here to Hydratta, or maybe to Solistine.”

He looks at me sharply. “If Daemon moved to Hydratta would you go too?”

I shrug. “Probably. It’s not like I have that many other friends to leave behind.”

Kastian seems to think about it. “As much as I’d like you both to come here, I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know King Florian that well, but if my father had another son, the most dangerous thing he could do would be to disappear. Then there would be rumors which could turn into legends and either I or my father would have to hunt him down to remove the threat.”

The blood drains from my face. I hadn’t thought about it like that, but he’s absolutely right. Daemon is already attracting followers without even trying. If he were exiled, the legend would only grow.

“What would you suggest he do?” I ask.

Again, Kastian seems to consider it. “I think he should join the army as soon as possible, even if that means leaving school early. He needs to make himself useful, and more importantly, he needs to appear loyal to both Florian and Thorne. That’s his best possible chance.”

I nod. “I’ll pass that on.”

We reach the end of the hall, and Kastian holds open a door to a winding, white stone staircase. I pick up my skirt to keep from tripping and walk ahead of him down the stairs. We reach the bottom of the stairs and pass through another door, finding ourselves in a garden.

Kastian smiles. “I promise nothing will happen to any of you while you’re in Hydratta,” he says firmly. “But that would be an easier promise to keep if you let me convince you to go literally anywhere else tonight.”

It’s a warm evening, but I still pause and throw on the blue cloak. When I’ve finished fastening it around my neck, I furrow my brow up at Kastian. “You don’t want to go to the docks?”

He shakes his head. “I will, of course, if that’s what you want. It’s only a short walk from here, but it’s not the safest place in the kingdom.”

“Oh, I’m well aware.” I laugh. “I’ve spent a lot of time there.”

It’s his turn to look skeptical. “Are you going to explain why or leave me to try to imagine?”

I bite the inside of my cheek, thinking, as we walk through the garden and out onto the road that leads up to the castle. We don’t pass any guards at the gate and I wonder briefly if that’s normal or if Kastian did something to make sure we weren’t stopped from leaving the castle grounds.

“You’re not done talking to me, are you?” Kastian asks with a teasing smile.

“No, I was just thinking.”

“Good, I thought maybe I offended you again.”

He’s clearly joking, but my face falls. He’s right, I have been so standoffish he probably thinks I’m offended by everything in sight. That’s not really it at all. It’s just that I’d rather keep anyone away from me than allow them to get close ,only to inevitably lose them.

I don’t know how to be open with anyone.

“I grew up on a ship,” I blurt out. “That’s why I want to go see them.”

I internally cringe. As far as an attempt at transparency, that was a bit stilted.

Kastian raises his eyebrows. “Really? I thought you grew up in Vernallis.”

“I did. I mean, both are true. I went to live with my aunt and cousin when I was eight.”

“Is your ship docked in the harbor?”

“It’s not my ship—not anymore, anyway—and I don’t know, but I’d like to just check. I’d hate myself if I was in Hydratta for the first time in years and I didn’t at least check.”

Kastian looks at me appraisingly, before his face breaks into a smile. “Alright, let’s go look, then.”

He holds out an arm for me to take, looking very princely despite his cloaked disguise.

I take his arm and try to ignore the fluttering in my stomach.

I fail miserably, and by the time we walk into the harbor I swear it feels like my heart is going to explode.

At least Kastian was right, and it wasn’t a very long walk—any further, and I know I’d say something stupid.

Like, how this is everything I’ve imagined since I was a little girl.

“Do you see your ship?” Kastian asks when we reach the dock.

I raise a hand to shield my eyes. and squint into the setting sun over the water. “I don’t know. Can we get closer?”

“Of course,” he says, but there’s a slight wariness in his tone.

I know what he’s worried about—the harbor is dangerous. The docks are disgustingly dirty and full of all sorts of vicious and desperate men; pirates and murderers and thieves, but I love them anyway.

I grip his arm more tightly and pull him along the dock, my head turning every which way, hoping to catch a glimpse of The Adella.

“If we find your father’s ship do you want to go aboard and see him?” Kastian asks.

My stomach lurches unpleasantly. “He’s dead. So no, I don’t think that would be possible.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.” He clears his throat, obviously horrified. “I thought?—”

“It’s alright,” I interrupt. “He’s been gone for a long time.”

“Do you see the ship though?” he asks stiffly, as if he’s afraid I’m going to burst into tears. “Maybe we could still go aboard…”

I shake my head, disappointment washing over me, then tilt my face up to meet his eyes. “It’s not here. That’s alright. I knew it was a long shot. Thank you for taking me, anyway.”

“We could still go on one of the ships if you want. That one’s mine,” he points toward an enormous gleaming ship docked near the very end of the pier.

I stare at it, swallowing the overwhelming desire to laugh. “HMS Kastian Stormbreaker,” I read aloud. “Does having a ship named after you make it yours?”

He smirks. “I would think so, but I meant literally. My father named that ship after me when I was born, but it became mine when I turned sixteen.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Do you ever use it?”

“No. It’s a war ship, so it doesn’t get used much—which is a good thing I suppose. We’ll be using it for the first time tomorrow to hold the ball. There’s already a crew aboard getting ready, so we could go up there now…if you want, of course.”

My pulse speeds up with excitement. “If it’s not too much trouble…”

Kastian’s slightly nervous expression breaks into a wide grin and he grips my hand tightly, pulling me toward the other end of the dock. “It’s no trouble at all. I’d be an idiot not to agree to anything that makes you smile like that.”

I flush and look down, biting my lip as my heartbeat speeds up.

I can’t believe this is happening.

The prince likes me and it feels like every stupid, impossible, little girl’s fantasy I’ve ever had is coming true.

And maybe it won’t end in tragedy…maybe, just once, someone won’t leave.