Page 5

CHAPTER 5

T he next day, the deep red fabric of the dress stared back at me where it was laid out on my bed. I’d been standing there for minutes, dread sitting in my stomach like an anchor at sea at the thought of having to put it on and attend this dinner.

I had no interest in meeting Lander or sitting through this torturous evening, but if I didn’t go willingly, a guard would come fetch me, and knowing from past experience, it wouldn’t be pleasant.

Accepting my fate, I let my ivory slip fall to the ground, opting for a clean one, as I’d been wearing the other throughout the day. I’d taken a short nap in it after my time in the cellar this morning, and if Heidi found out I’d been wearing something from this morning to such an important dinner, she’d only use it as an excuse to chastise me.

After I’d situated myself into the dress, I peaked out the door, holding the corset to my chest.

“Katie,” I whispered.

My guard turned my way but quickly averted his eyes once he saw the state of my dress. The floor suddenly became very intriguing to him.

Katie unfolded her hands where she stood across the hall, her faded red and white dress hanging limp on her petite form. She stepped forward, following me back into my room, and closed the door behind her.

I turned to face the mirror, giving my maid access to my back so she could tie the strings.

“Please, not as tight as the night of the dance,” I instructed.

In the reflection, she gave a quick nod as her fingers worked. Her light brown hair was tied back in a ponytail as it always was, shorter hairs of gray springing out around her round face.

I changed alone in my room to avoid any eyes on the bruises, burns, or cuts that littered my body under my clothing. Typically, I could sneak a bit of a healing vial in the cellar when I was down there working, but if I didn’t have the time, I didn’t want anyone, even my maid, seeing my body and the things my stepmother had done to it.

There was little I could do alone when it came to the strings on my corset, though. If Katie ever glanced a wound, she never spoke of it.

As she tied the corset together, my mind wandered back to the night of the masquerade ball, when I’d assumed the stranger outside was offering to loosen the binds of my dress.

Heat crawled up my neck at the memory.

I’d been so quick to assume he’d wanted to undress me, which not only had to have shocked him—and annoyed him further—but my forwardness also surprised me. Given the events of the night, my mind was a blur of emotions, and he’d said just the right things to set me off.

His mockery of calling me Princess was what grated my nerves the most. I was no such thing. A princess was treated like royalty, pampered and expected to marry and have children and sit on a throne one day. I was none of that, least of all cosseted as one typically was. But after the announcement of my engagement, I wondered if that somehow made me more of one than I was before.

Even so, I didn’t think I’d ever see myself as a princess, whether the title was appointed to me or not.

Not with the way my father used me like a tool for his own benefit rather than love me like the daughter I was to him. How he possibly knew of the way my stepmother treated me and made no moves to change the behavior would never be forgotten by me.

So long as I could work, the treatment was presumably acceptable in his eyes.

“All done,” Katie said, stepping back.

I took a full breath to test the limits of the bodice, satisfied that I was able to at least breathe.

“Thank you, Katie.” Despite my hatred for how tight she could tie a corset, I appreciated her. Aside from Taylin, she was one person I could talk to a bit more personally than the guards. As a child, she’d told me stories of the dragons that hid around our world, how when the moon exploded, they’d come to Serpentine and rid the land of fae. She never agreed with my father choosing to keep me uneducated on such topics, so she told me what she could in secret—though I was sure there was plenty more to learn. I was sure my father tried to keep me clueless purposefully. If I knew nothing of the world outside these walls, he hoped I’d have no desire to venture past them.

Katie wasn’t around me as often as the guards, only coming to clean my room or help me dress, which meant she never had the chance to catch on to any of my magic. Because of that, she didn’t have to be rotated like the guards did, so we knew a bit more about each other than the basic pleasantries.

“Of course, Lady Auria.”

I pressed my lips together at the formality.

“I’ve told you countless times before you can call me Auria.” I didn’t like the way the titles felt. They were too formal. Katie and I were well past the stage of being proper with one another.

Her wrinkled cheek moved as she gnawed on it, like she was debating telling me something.

My forehead creased in concern. “What is it?”

“Have you met Lander?” she asked hesitantly.

“No. But how bad could he possibly be?” I wasn’t sure how well she might know him, or the things she could have overheard, but I hoped that whatever it might be that he wasn’t a horrid person.

“You haven’t heard the stories?”

I frowned. “Who would be telling me these stories other than you or Taylin?”

Her shoulders sagged a bit in the reflection. “Just be careful who you trust out there.”

I turned to face her, adjusting my skirts. “You think my future husband would lie to me?”

Maybe she knew his family better than I thought she did.

“People can be deceiving, Auria, and with your isolation, you may not know what to believe.”

As much as I hated it, she was right. I was naive to the world and what went on outside the chasm that surrounded Amosite. The only way out of this kingdom was the one old bridge that had stood for decades. Inside the border, I only knew of some of the things that happened in Silicate, due to Taylin’s stories. Everything else, I was clueless.

I faced the mirror again, at a loss for words. My eyes roamed over my reflection. I truly hated the color red.

“I’ll keep that in mind, Katie. Thank you. I need a minute alone before I go down,” I told her.

She dipped her chin, then slipped out the door, closing it behind her.

Moving away from the mirror to my window, I gazed out at the glowing city in the distance. The sky was beautiful as the dome of amber faded into the silver light from the rings, and while the world looked so silent in this moment, I knew it was anything but.

My hand instinctively reached up to loop a finger around my hair, and I thought about how it must be to wander the city streets and look up to see that sky looming above, rather than seeing it all from the outside, as if Silicate was kept in a glass bubble, and I might never enter.

I wished I could say I had hope that this marriage would allow me the ability to visit the city, to have a speck of freedom, but I’d lost my faith in much all too long ago.

A knuckle rapped on my door, and a small sigh slipped from my lips.

The size of this castle truly didn’t matter when all the walls felt like a prison, caging me in from the world surrounding it.

Maybe Lander wouldn’t be so bad. He could show me the various landscapes other than the grass and woods I could glean from my window, the city streets and how they cracked. The colorful flower beds outside shop windows and citizens that didn’t only wear tight dresses and don swords on their hips.

Maybe he could be my key to getting out.

But something told me that wasn’t my father’s intentions with the arrangement, that it was rather a way to keep me hidden further.

How far could I go before I disappeared altogether?

* * *

My guard stayed posted by the door as I entered the dining room. Instead of searching the group of people for who might be Lander, my eyes landed on the full glasses of wine sitting on the table. I beelined for one of them, not caring whose place it sat at. They could get another glass. I just needed something to replace the buzz of my nerves.

Halfway to the table, I was stopped by a large figure stepping in front of me. My flats practically screeched on the stone floor as I halted and took a step back to steady myself.

“Excuse me,” I said, narrowing my eyes up at the man. “Can I help you?” He should know not to get in the way of a woman trying to fetch herself a drink.

“I’d simply like to get to know my brother’s fiancé,” he answered. “Where’s the harm in that?”

My brows shot up before I quickly cooled my expression. “I didn’t know you two were siblings.”

He smiled, the look anything but settling. “Ah, yes. But, in case you hadn’t noticed, I’m the far more handsome one.” He added a wink for emphasis.

“Cocky, too,” I remarked. I didn’t mention that I hadn’t seen Lander in the flesh yet. The man before me, however, looked nothing like his parents—his hair shades darker and his eyes nearly more pitch black than the sky at night. Taylin had said Lander was blonde, but I supposed if I looked hard enough, I could have found some similarities in what she’d described. But I was too focused on craving some sort of buzz to care.

He chuckled, extending a hand out to me. I laid mine in his, allowing him to press his lips to the back of my hand. “It’s a pleasure, Lady Auria. I’m Paxon Bular.”

I arched a brow at the use of my name and pulled my hand from his grip after he lowered it, taking a mental note of the calculated look in his deep brown eyes rimmed by dark lashes. “Well, Paxon, I’m rather thirsty, so if you’d please excuse me.”

He stepped to the side, gesturing toward the elegant setup. A thin, red tablecloth spanned the center, and shimmering gold trays were spread about. “Pick your poison.”

Moving past him, I reached the table, grabbing a glass and downing half the contents. Alcohol might not make this dinner go by any faster, but a girl could dream.

“Auria,” my father called, interrupting my sip.

I lowered the glass as I met his scrutinizing gaze across the table. He wore a pressed red suit with gold stitching tooled along every seam, and his graying hair was slicked back.

“Come.”

Reluctantly, I set the glass down where I’d found it and rounded the long, wooden table.

“This is Lander Bular,” my father introduced, gesturing to the man at his side. I hadn’t cared to look at the stranger—my fiancé —on my way over. “Lander, this is my daughter, Auria Tenere. Your fiancée.”

Our eyes met, and as I expected, no sparks flew. No heavy beating of my heart or a flutter in my stomach, like the old romance novels I used to sneak talked about. He was just a man, a stranger, a prince, one in which I had no physical attraction to right off the bat, despite his good looks. His hair was as blond as his mother’s, his hazel eyes nearly sparkling in the light from the chandeliers. Beauty ran in their family, but I wasn’t pulled by it.

“My fiancée,” Lander said, testing the word on his tongue.

Maybe he was as happy about the news as I was.

“It’s very nice to meet you,” Lander added as I politely held a hand out to him. He took it gently, placing a quick peck to my skin before dropping it. His hair was mussed slightly at the top, strands of it sticking up in odd directions, like he hadn’t cared to fix it before attending.

My father left us to speak, quickly getting lost in conversation with King Bular a few feet to the side. Neither seemed very interested in us meeting, which only proved my suspicions that this was simply a political move, not one set up out of love for their children.

“It’s nice to finally put a face to the name,” I stated hesitantly, not sure what else to talk about. I wasn’t good at…this.

He forced a sympathetic smile. “My apologies. I was caught up in something the other night and couldn’t attend the ball. I’m sure it was lovely.”

“Caught up gambling again, brother?” Paxon interrupted, sneaking up on the two of us.

I took a small step to the side, putting space between Paxon and myself. Our shoulders did not need to be touching.

Lander’s eyes narrowed on his brother. “And what were you doing that night?”

Paxon glared right back. I had no idea what was going on, but a brotherly dispute wasn’t something I wanted to get caught up in.

“I don’t mind,” I said hurriedly.

Both their gazes landed on me, and I struggled to swallow. Attention was clearly not something I craved.

“If you like to gamble,” I clarified. “And I didn’t mind that you weren’t there.” But I should have, given we were now engaged. Minding if your fiancé was out enjoying himself rather than attending the ball where your betrothal was announced seemed like something I should feel.

Then again, I truly had no idea how to react to any of this.

“You two will get along just fine, then,” Paxon said as he patted Lander’s shoulder a bit too hard. They both wore dark green suits, yet Paxon’s was more finely pressed. Lander’s, on the other hand, was wrinkled, the top button undone.

Before either of us could say another word, Paxon walked off, joining his father.

“Did you know?” I asked, moving my attention back to Lander.

He was a few inches taller than me, his stubble-coated chin tilted down as he regarded my question. “About the engagement?”

I nodded.

“Somewhat.”

I waited for him to continue, shoving down the frustration that threatened to creep up at the knowledge of him knowing more of this than myself. I’d never felt so clueless before, and that said a lot, given that my entire life was me being kept in the dark.

“Tensions have been high with trade between the other kingdoms, so it was no secret my parents were debating making an arrangement to keep the peace. I just didn’t expect it would involve you.”

I cocked a brow. What was that supposed to mean?

“Not that I’m upset it’s you,” he quickly clarified. “You’re very pretty, Lady Auria. Your eyes alone feel like I’m staring into an icy forest, but just from our conversation, I can tell you’re a warm person.”

Was warm supposed to be some sort of compliment? Clearly Lander was not well-versed in speaking to women.

“I’m under the impression you were unaware?” he asked, his words hesitant as he realized he was talking out his ass.

I wished I was holding a glass so I could fidget with something other than my godsdamned dress. “I had no clue any of this would be happening.” Gods, I wanted to say more, but I wasn’t sure how much I was allowed to discuss with him.

He looked a bit taken aback, like that was somehow a shock to him. I supposed he thought the king’s daughter would know of such basic information.

“Please take your seats,” my father announced, interrupting our conversation.

I gave Lander a small smile before parting ways, heading to my designated spot at the table. I was to always sit on the side my father took.

To my satisfaction, my stepmother was seated where I’d drunk most of the wine from the glass.

In the spot next to her, at the head of the table, my father cleared his throat, gaining everyone’s attention. “Thank you for joining us tonight to celebrate Auria and Lander’s engagement a bit more privately. As I’m sure you two are”—he looked to King and Queen Bular on the other side of Lander and Paxon—“we are so pleased with their engagement, in the hopes it restores peace between the kingdoms.”

I stared at my plate, not bothering to look his way as he spoke. This was the first time he’d ever mentioned anything of the sort in front of me, and while I’d had a sinking suspicion since the announcement, his words only solidified that I was being used as his pawn.

If this marriage was to bring peace the same way my magic brought him wealth, then what was I but a body to be moved around for convenience?

“In order for this to work,” my father began again, “Lander and Auria will need to make their engagement known more widely than solely at the party I threw. Royals may be able to spread the news, but townspeople will surely have their doubts, and without them, we may not get the best in trade, as they are the biggest producers.”

My head shot up, a small bit of hope blooming in my chest. Was he going to allow me outside of these walls? Outside of the chasm?

My father’s gaze moved between Lander and me beside each other. “First, a stroll through the city, flaunting how deeply in love you two are. Then, with the protection of two dozen guards, you will travel to the three other kingdoms. You are not to stop in the other towns between visits. Is that understood?”

I blinked a few times, as if the action could help me process what he was saying any clearer. Did I hear his words right? Surely, I couldn’t have.

“Other kingdoms?” I asked for clarification.

His eyes pinned me in place, clearly not appreciating my interruption. He wanted me to agree, not ask questions. “Yes. You will visit Sulphur first, then Lander’s home in Torbernite, head to Feldspar, and then you will be back home, in Amosite.”

My entire body was frozen in place, even my heart quieting its beat to take in this news. I was going to visit the other three kingdoms. That was…incomprehensible.

He was just going to let me walk out these doors, without him, cross the bridge over the chasm, and be free, even if only for a short time?

“Get that little gleam out of your eyes, Auria. There will be guards, and you are expected back within three weeks. If either of you do not arrive on the day you are expected to return, there will be consequences. Is that clear?”

I nodded, trying my best not to look too eager while Lander seemed entirely bored, not giving any indication how he might feel about this.

“All of the guards have been given detailed instructions with a planned route. There will be no straying from those directions. No exploring any cities. This is not a vacation. It is a show of power, of unification, that we will not crumble under their threats of breaking off trade. Understood?”

Though my father’s voice boomed with authority, I couldn’t care less what he was saying.

I was getting out.

Even if only for a few weeks, I would still be able to see something other than these drab walls.

That was enough.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” I said, attempting to hide my excitement from my tone.

Across from me, Paxon eyed me curiously, not once taking his attention off of me. Lander had already begun eating beside me, seemingly in a hurry to be done.

“Along with the guards, Paxon will be accompanying the two of you on this journey,” King Bular added after taking a sip of his wine.

My eyes moved from him back to Paxon, who now had the corner of his mouth tilted in a smirk.

“Plenty of time to get to know each other,” he said, his expression twisted like a cat watching a mouse.

“Lovely,” I mumbled before taking a large gulp of my wine. Not only was I supposed to become comfortable with Lander, I was now expected to be polite with his brother, too.

“May I be excused?” Lander asked, as if he hadn’t been listening at all.

With a glance at his plate, I found it was empty, save for the leftover bones of the pigeon.

“Yes,” Queen Bular answered, flicking her hand in a shooing manner.

I silently wished it was that easy for me to get out of things.

Lander’s hand covered mine on the table for a split second before he stood, leaving his chair at least two feet from the table. He didn’t bother to fix it before he left the dining room.

I got the feeling this fiancé of mine would not be saving me from any dreaded conversations and long dinners anytime soon.

But I could deal with that knowledge, knowing I would be able to leave soon. I’d be tasting the air of other kingdoms in no time.

Excitement swirled with the slightest buzz of wine flowing through me as we ate. All the while, Paxon kept his eyes on me, only ever looking away for a brief conversation with my father.

As soon as my stepmother noticed how low her glass was, she frowned, calling for a servant to refill the cup immediately.

It should’ve filled me with some sort of joy to see her irritated, but all I could think of was the endless possibilities of what I might experience in just a matter of days.

The buzz of that knowledge alone was enough to make me forget all the pain I’d endured here, even if just for the evening.