Page 67

Chapter Sixty-Six: Rhea

As we climb the steps up to the palace doors, the guards on either side push them open, splitting the image of the albero tree carved on them in half. With the sun depicted on one corner and the moon on the other, it’s almost like watching the sky cleave in two as we enter. Perhaps that imagery is fitting, as the palace we step into leaves the quiet of the outside world behind. It’s buzzing with life, aides and workers shuffling from room to room as they begin preparations to usher in the autumn season with the aptly named Autumnal Ball. Burnt orange, golden yellow, and ripe red are dotted throughout the foyer and hallways in the form of potted flowers, wreathes, banners with tassels, and rugs. The colors remind me that I am anxiously waiting for the leaves on the trees to change into similar hues. The excitement of seeing that happen up close and not from the tower balcony makes my blood sing with anticipation.

“So, I will meet you here after dinner?” Elora asks as we all stop in the middle of the foyer.

I had asked her if she would like to accompany me to my dress appointment with Sarai later today, and she had leapt at the chance, raving about how lovely the ball was and how it was her favorite celebration. What she didn’t know was that I had asked Sarai to also fit her for a dress. It seemed like a simple gesture, one I hoped wasn’t stepping over boundaries that normal friends didn’t cross.

“Yes. Thank you again for agreeing to come with me.”

Elora smiles, giving a small shake of her head. “It’s what friends do.” She pulls me in for a hug, and I return it, scanning the room from over her shoulder. That’s when I spot him, his menacing frown easy to make out even from his current post down the hall. Upon seeing us, Councilman Kallin makes his way towards us with purposeful strides, as if Nox might escape his attention if he doesn’t hurry.

He isn’t entirely wrong.

I release Elora, a warning on the tip of my tongue for Nox, but it’s too late. For an older gentleman, the councilman is quicker than expected.

“Your Highness, I’m afraid that we have need of you today,” he says evenly, his gaze roaming from Daje to Nox and skipping over me entirely.

“I’m unavailable for the day, councilman, as I know you are aware,” Nox replies, moving to take a step towards the stairs. Since our impromptu day of relaxing—or rather, not relaxing— together in bed, the council has only increased their requests of Nox. They’ve often kept him sequestered in meetings or on assignments with his father for the majority of the day, Nox all but dragging his feet into his room at night. He told them he would not be available today at both my and his parent’s request, our concerns over the dark circles under his eyes a topic of conversation during a shared dinner two nights ago.

“I must urge you to reconsider,” Councilman Kallin insists, clasping his hands in front of him as a crooked smile twists his lips. “The council has decided it would be best for you to go and visit the people of Polatos.”

Nox stiffens, the movement echoed by Cass and Daje. “And why have they recommended that?”

“It is important that an heir apparent be more involved with the realm he is to rule. Not sequestered within the palace—regardless of the reason why.” He flicks his gaze my way, making Elora scoff in response.

“And they think sending the crown prince to an area where there has been an uptick of missing guards is… smart ?” Cass asks, his tone no longer the jovial teasing of a best friend but the hardened resolve of a personal guard.

“Of course. He’ll be protected with his usual retinue, as is the standard for royalty leaving Galdr. Let’s not forget he is also incredibly powerful. It will be good for the people to know that they are being thought of during this strange time. It will be good for them to see the caring face of their future ruler.” Councilman Kallin’s features settle into a stoic expression. “It might also do wonders with the other more reluctant members of the council to see that their prince is choosing his duties to his kingdom instead of what they will perceive as precious time wasted.”

Nox’s magic swells, its presence stifling in the air. I glance at him, only to find that cool, bored expression he painted on his face when speaking with Arin. My magic hums beneath my ribs, its vibration warm as it presses against my skin, yearning to reach out to Nox’s.

“Your Highness, using your magic to threaten a member of the council is highly inappropriate,” the councilman hisses.

Nox tips his head to the side, his raven waves shuffling while a smirk grows. “You think I’m threatening you, Councilman?” His voice is a warning all its own, one that Daje’s father doesn’t miss.

I watch as the workers in the palace stop attending to their duties to gawk at this open display. Cass adjusts his stance, folding his arms over his chest, while Daje stands perfectly still next to him, his skin paling as if he’s seen a ghost.

“Your duty is to give yourself to your kingdom. Anything else, anyone else, falls second to that. If that is not something you can do, then perhaps it is time for the council to begin talks of finding someone who can .”

Gods above . Shadows crawl towards us from the corners of the room, knocking Daje out of his stupor as he curses lowly under his breath. Did the council truly have that power? To just remove the Daxel line? Nox moves to step forward, but I stop him with a hand on his wrist.

“Look at me,” I whisper as I angle myself between him and the councilman. His gaze drops immediately, his starlight eyes intense as they pierce mine. “Give them this. Any chance we have to try and change their minds about me we should take, right?”

Nox exhales slowly, his denial nearly out of his lips before mine are there. I kiss him softly at first but let him guide it to something fiercer, ignoring the audience around us. Somehow knowing that this, my physical touch, is what he needs. There’s something different about this kiss—he tastes different. It’s like mist and rain, the static air before a thunderstorm. I am eager for more, my magic is eager for more, but Cass clears his throat, and we separate, the anger abating only a fraction in Nox’s eyes. “I will make it up to you tonight,” he says.

Unfortunately, Councilman Kallin refutes that. “I’m afraid that you and a few council members are scheduled to leave as soon as possible. This way you’ll have ample time to spend in Polatos tomorrow.”

Tomorrow ? “How far away is Polatos?” I ask quietly, failing to hide the slight tremble in my voice.

Nox’s anger presses to the surface again, but there is a shift in the magic around us as a new person joins the group, his face a mask of remorse.

“Son, I’m sorry for the last minute notice.” Sadryn sounds pained, as if he had tried to fight this but lost. Perhaps the council did have the power to remove him. “But I do agree that visiting the people is never a bad thing.” The placating statement settles the councilman for the moment but seems to only agitate Nox more. With a stern glance at Kallin, Sadryn adds, “And I’ll be going with you.”

“Polatos is a day’s journey away,” Elora whispers, answering my earlier question.

Nox’s focus finds me again, his jaw working while his hands—still resting on my hips—flex.

“I can say no,” he states, but it sounds more like a question.

It would be at least three days away from him. We had technically spent longer apart while I was in the Middle, but that was different. This is different. Still, Nox has proven time and time again he will choose me, regardless of the consequence. I couldn’t be so selfish as to ask him to do it again simply because I didn’t want to be away from him. My magic bucks at the thought, clinging to the spaces within me where I let it rise.

“Go,” I whisper, nodding my head with a confidence that isn’t truly there. “I’ll be alright.”

Nox looks completely torn, frustration surrendering to defeat as his forehead drops to mine. “Come with me.”

My hands squeeze where they are still gripping his shoulders, his breath featherlight over my lips. “I shouldn’t. I have to be here to get my dress fitted for the ball, and though I hate their methods, I don’t necessarily disagree with what the council is suggesting. About visiting the town, that is.”

Nox leans back, his lips quirking as he fights off a smile. “Smart. Fair. Patient. All qualities of a lovely queen in the making.” That makes me blush more deeply than kissing him so openly did. Nox heaves a sigh, his jaw hardening again as he flicks his gaze to Councilman Kallin. “I’ll pack and meet those going down here in thirty minutes.” Without waiting for anyone else to respond, Nox takes my hand and guides me upstairs to his room, our goodbye rushed but no less passionate.

Evening comes quickly, and at Nox’s request, I have dinner with Alexandria, Daje joining as well. Councilman Kallin didn’t go on the trip to Polatos, but I don’t question why Daje is having his meal here with us. I wouldn’t want to spend time alone with his father either. The talk is small, my comfortableness around the duo one that I’m grateful to have been eased into. Daje sits to my right, his eyes casting glances to the chair on the other side of him as if he expects someone to be sitting there. His next question reveals who.

“Have you heard from Bahira?”

“Only once since the last time,” Alexandria answers, a soft smile on her face. Daje nods, his mouth opening as if to ask another question, but he chooses to bury it instead. Alexandria is observant, however, and adds, “She is doing well, but she is very focused on her experiments there and navigating her new world. I’m sure she will have much to talk with you about when she returns.” That seems to answer whatever Daje wanted to know, though his shoulders round slightly.

When dinner is over, Daje and I bid Nox’s mother goodnight. “Thank you for the company,” I tell him as we exit the queen’s dining hall and enter the long corridor that leads to the foyer.

“Anytime,” he murmurs, his mind occupied elsewhere. On Bahira, perhaps.

Though she seemed less terrifying when I spoke with her through the Mirror, she is still a bit of an enigma to me. Everyone speaks highly of her, none more so than Nox. There is reverence and respect there but also carefully chosen words. Maybe it has to do with the fact that she doesn’t have magic, or maybe it’s something else. I’m excited to try to get to know her. To pick her brain about Nox and what he was like growing up. To maybe gain a sister of sorts; something I never dreamed I would have.

Elora stands tall in the foyer, her smile growing when she spots us—a quick glance given to Daje that I swear makes her cheeks lift a fraction higher. The flame gems reflect in her glasses, and she pushes them higher up her nose before pulling me in for a hug.

“I’ll see you both later,” Daje says politely, ducking his chin before spinning on his heel and heading to the palace doors.

“Are you ready?” Elora asks in a rush, looping her arm around mine.

“As I’ll ever be.” Together, we climb the steps to the second floor of the palace and to the seamstress quarters.

My eyes are wide as I take in the rows of folded-up fabric lying neatly on wooden and stone shelves. Strung pearlescent beads of every color and chains of gold, silver, black, and even lavender hang from rods in a corner. There is a table on the far wall to my left lined with sewing machines, the spaces between them filled with spools of thread. In the middle are round platforms lifted up by two short steps. Right above them hangs a large black and gray chandelier, each of the three tiers lined with small spelled flames dancing in glass cups.

“Go ahead and stand here, you two, while I get some fabric choices that I think would be lovely.” Sarai gestures to the platforms, and Elora and I do as she asks, each stepping up onto one.

Elora fidgets, her fingers lacing together before she undoes them and squeezes the fabric of her light blue trousers. A line forms between my brows as I study her. She had gone quiet when I told her of my surprise, her eyes wide as they stared at me.

“Are you alright?”

“Of course!” she shouts, scaring some of the women in the room. Scarlet travels up her neck as she forces herself to take a breath. “I have never had a dress made by the palace before, and I don’t know… It makes me nervous. I shouldn’t wear anything so fancy.”

“What? Why?”

She shoots me an arch look but then immediately softens it. “I’m just a librarian. A regular woman. Not royalty. Not someone important enough for all of this.” She gestures to the room.

“You are important to me ,” I whisper, reaching my hand out to her. She interlaces her fingers with mine and squeezes them tightly. “And I am no one of importance either. I’m only here because of who I am to Nox.”

Elora silently mouths, “You’re an actual princess,” before rolling her eyes playfully. Sarai and two other women make their way back to us, their arms full of different colored fabrics.

“I am not one here .”

“Not yet,” Elora responds, giving my hand one more squeeze before letting go.

We spend the entire evening choosing fabrics and accessories that fit the autumnal theme of the ball, Sarai and the other women pinning and shaping them until a lovely dress begins to take form.

“It isn’t too much?” I ask out loud, my hand resting over the expanse of skin that will be on display at my chest.

“Princess Bahira has worn things much more revealing than this, My Lady,” a different woman answers, adjusting a panel that covers my breast to make it a little wider. Elora snorts in agreement from the center of her own gathering of fabric. “Of course, if you are uncomfortable with the design, we can add more fabric or even a colored applique in the middle.”

I stare at my reflection. At how the deep color of the dress makes my light complexion glow, my hair in perfect golden contrast to it. Its silky texture clings to my upper body, while its length flows down to the tops of my feet. I’ve never worn something so lovely before, never had a reason to. I am a princess, in the barest sense of the word, but I have never attended anything so royal . It makes me feel a bit like a fraud—a child playing dress-up in grown-ups’ clothing. That new voice in the back of my head, one formed from love and kindness and safety, begs me to think otherwise. Maybe I’ve earned a moment like this, and I’m finally stepping into a role that was always meant for me.

“If it won’t cause a scandal, then I should like to keep it as it is,” I say finally, smiling when Sarai and Elora clap in approval.