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Mara tensed, her back rigid as she slid into her seat, her eyes nervously flickering between her hosts. She gave a curt “Thank you,” to the servant who tucked her chair in, fumbling with her words. Her heart settled slightly when she met Prince Aevum’s eyes across the table, giving him a tiny wave.

“Wondrous, isn’t she?” Acastus exclaimed.

The princess who caught my son’s eye.

Mara had barely interacted with Acastus in the three days they’d been acquainted—certainly not enough for her to gain the attribute of wondrous . Acastus’ dulcet tone hinted to her that he had simply told his father how much he adored her for appeasement. The prince quirked a brow at her, smiling, amused at the situation. Acastus’ tacit to please his father was something she understood far too well.

“She certainly is very beautiful,” the queen spoke softly.

“She’s only beautiful because there aren’t powerful enough words to paint the radiance she casts,” the prince added.

Mara blushed even though she knew this was all a farce. Everything in royal families were acts purely for political gain. Every courtier a pawn to be moved and played right. She wished she had more of a chance to speak with Cas alone. He seemed to always be in such a rush, darting off somewhere more important.

Mara examined the queen as the king spoke to her. “Beauty isn’t everything, darling.”

“No. But it helps, does it not?”

The queen had a soft aura about her, dark eyes twinkling, her skin creamy and pink, her hair thick and pulled up in a chignon of braids atop her head. The queen met Mara across the table and Mara shifted her eyes to her lap, embarrassed to be spoken about like she wasn’t present in the room.

“My son says you have interest in joining the Solar Sect right away.”

Mara’s face contorted, glancing at Cas then back to King Acanthus who had interest spread across his face.

“While most newcomers aren’t initiated into the Sect until wed, I think our high priest will make an exception for the prince’s betrothed.” The king gave her a compliant smile before picking up his spoon and slurping at his pumpkin soup.

She worried Acastus could see the stark confusion plastered on her face—she was certain the king could too.

The king put down his spoon to continue. “And to think such a small thing like yourself would be eager to bear witness to the grand absurdity of the church so soon! It’s clear you and my son have quite the connection.” She couldn’t help but feel jilted at his use of small —she knew he meant more than just her size.

Mara pondered the way the king described the church as something ‘absurd’, and yet he seemed devout, her mind ebbing with wild thoughts about what his devotion entailed. What had the prince gotten her into? Mara’s hand gripped her spoon tightly in her fingers, the detailing of the sun engravings sure to imprint on her skin.

She peered over at Evrardin, who stood watch at the doors, only to find him sneering at her like he was reveling in her discomposure.

The conversation continued to buzz around her while she politely ate her soup. Aevum leaned over, trying to get her attention. Mara glanced at the others conversing before she leaned across the table as well.

Aevum whispered in a hushed tone, “Do you like theater?”

Mara smirked and whispered back. “Of course. Don’t all princesses?”

Aevum seemed to think about that for a moment. “Not sure. Haven’t met many. I haven't been able to leave the castle much.”

“Oh? Why is that?”

Aevum seemed bored by her inquiries, but he entertained her, nonetheless. “I’ve been ill.” His voice a bit solemn. The young prince looked rather healthy to her.

Before she could ask more, the king spoke to her. “Have your journeys ever taken you to Solstrale before, Princess?”

“No, they haven’t, Your Grace. But I’ve heard endless stories of the decadent lands.”

“Nothing but good things, I hope,” he teased.

“Everyone I’ve met has said how much they didn’t want to return to Wrens Reach after visiting the seaside.” She laced her words with a soft laugh.

“Ah, yes. Well, Wrens Reach has its beauty, too. It's been so long since I’ve ventured there.”

“I’m sure my father would love a visit from the Sun King,” Mara beamed.

The king smiled in return, his spoon upright in his hand and dripping soup onto the table. “It’s always exciting to experience Sundance celebrations in the heart of the Sun Court. It gets rather… convivial this time of the season. You will be attending the events, will you not?”

Mara glanced at Cas who looked at her dully. “Yes, of course, Your Grace. I’m very much looking forward to partaking in Kairth’s traditions.”

The prince escorted the princess after dinner, offering her a tour of the castle. Mara tentatively hooked her arm with his, waving politely to the king and queen—immediately regretting such a subservient gesture. Acastus placed his gloved hand atop her fingers, his warmth radiating like a trail of fire.

The second they stepped into the corridor, away from the eyes of the dining hall, Evrardin close behind, he released her. “What the fuck?” he growled at Evrardin. Ev’s expression didn’t shift. The prince ran a leathered hand through his black hair, tousling it in irritation. “Didn’t I tell you to familiarize her with her place in the Sect?”

Evrardin leaned back against the cherrywood wall, his hand lazily holding onto his sword sheathed at his hip. “No. You said, she should probably be caught up before dinner . Nowhere did you explicitly instruct me to do anything but escort her.”

Acastus’ eyes closed as he sucked in a deep breath, his nostrils flaring. “I swear to the gods, Evrardin. Sometimes I think you'd be of more use at the guillotine.”

“Apologies, My Prince,” Ev spoke mirthlessly, clearly mocking Acastus.

Mara’s eyes felt like they were going to pop out of her head at the informality of their conversation. She blinked several times before the prince turned back to her.

“What was I supposed to come to know?” she asked him.

The prince’s features softened marginally, his eyes darting between her own. Mara felt her stomach twist as he silently appraised her, feeling like he was deciding something. Ev watched from behind, his eyebrows raising. Both of them waiting to see what their unruly prince was going to do.

Acastus sucked in another breath, his eyes never leaving hers as he spoke. “Evrardin. Tell her the plan for the coming days. Or I swear to fucking?—”

“I will do so promptly.”

The prince’s head snapped to Ev, narrowing his eyes. “And give her a tour while you’re at it.” He turned back to her. “Anywhere the princess cares to meander.”

A scowl formed on Evrardin’s face, clearly forlorn about chaperoning Mara—her company acting as his punishment. “Of course. I had nothing better to do anyways,” he grunted.

“Are you going to accuse me of overworking you?” Acastus asked forwardly.

Evrardin held his gaze a moment longer before turning away, conceding.

Acastus shook his head in annoyance, then he reached out and took Mara’s hand in his, placing a soft kiss on the back of it. “Princess,” he muttered in departure before taking off down the hall.

Mara was so flustered and dazed she wasn’t able to get her words out: to tell the prince she wanted to speak with him , not Evrardin. But what would she say? She simply wanted time to know what was going on. To steady her racing mind. But the prince didn’t think that worthy of his time, so maybe Evrardin was her next best bet for answers.

She looked at Evrardin who was eyeing her with an unreadable expression. He shoved himself off the wall and began to stroll opposite her. “Come, liten rev .”

Mara obliged, scurrying after him like a field mouse. She glared at him once she matched his stride, having to take two steps for each of his. His eyes flickered down to her. “You know, you’d be a lot prettier if you didn’t scowl all the time.”

Her face contorted, aghast at his rude remark, though she should be familiar with it by now. She saw the way the prince and his guard just conversed. They lacked order. Respect. Hierarchy. Evrardin seemed able to speak freely without facing any repercussions.

They turned the bend of the hall before she spoke. “I suppose I could say the same thing about you.”

“So, you think I’m pretty, then?” he asked teasingly, but his voice was harsh with indignation.

Mara had to refrain from letting her lips tip up into a smile. “Didn’t know you knew how to tell jokes. Thought your mouth only capable of unintelligible animal communication,” she muttered, then mimicked the grunting sounds he seemed to be keen on.

“My mouth is capable of far more than that, Princess.” His fingers flexed by his side as he led her down the labyrinth of corridors.

Mara’s face turned a humiliating shade of red, her sputtering words caught in her throat. Uncharacteristically, Evrardin seemed kind enough to quickly redirect the conversation. “The Solar Sect will be meeting in four days’ time. Acastus wants you to be initiated into the Sun Court then. Binding your blood with his.”

Mara looked up at him, confused. “But that usually happens after the wedding?”

“Usually, yes. But the Summer Solstice is happening so soon—he thought it would be best to do it then. Creates a stronger bond. The Solar Sect will be pleased to see that you’ve taken such initiative.”

“But I haven’t.”

Evrardin’s forehead scrunched in pain, his hand massaging the headache from his temple.

“I didn’t know any of the other houses still practiced blood bonding.” Mara pondered wistfully and Evrardin remained silent as she thought. “What did his father promise him?” she asked, her words becoming dissonant and demanding.

Evrardin’s brows knitted together. “What? The king?”

Mara nodded.

“What are you asking?”

“What did the king promise Acastus? Land? Power? I don’t know”—her hands gestured out in front of her as she spoke—“but it had to have been something if he’s working so hard to make our… arrangement seem genuine.”

Evrardin appraised her, halting in his steps. Mara crossed her arms over her chest. “He hasn’t been in the Solar Sect’s best favor as of late.”

“And uniting with his wife helps him…how, exactly?”

Evrardin clenched his jaw, his muscles flexing under his cheek before beginning to walk again. Mara hustled to keep up. “He’s to be the Crown Prince. The Sun Prince,” Ev said to her through gritted teeth as if that answered everything.

She could tell he was forcing the words out, quite plainly not wanting to continue this conversation.

Mara knew each of the kingdoms possessed different innate abilities: Solstrale destined to the sun; Wrens Reach coupled with the travel god. Over the many years since the gods left—this era deemed After the Gods —each court’s powers had been draining. All but the fae—whom didn’t channel their magick from any divine force—and The Shadowed Isles—which summoned their abilities directly from the Veil, not their god. However, the Glass and Sun Court were the last of the other courts to dwindle. Perhaps Acastus was trying to strengthen his prowess, and she guessed Acastus’ conjurations would somehow strengthen if he bonded his blood with hers. Or perhaps he needed her blood to match the sun’s and not the travel god’s. Maybe it wasn’t his father who had promised him anything after all, but he was still pursuing something covert, nonetheless.

Mara stomped her feet, pouting as she followed the beast. She was being used; a pawn in the royal game. Not that she ever thought her position would be any different, but it still wasn’t nice to hear.

Mara crashed into Ev’s back, stumbling against him for the second time that evening. He grunted in annoyance, making her want to laugh at the resurfaced animal sounds. Mara peered at him as she slithered to be by his side. “Why’d we stop?”

Without looking at her, Evrardin gestured his head forward. Mara followed his line of sight to gawk at two heavy doors languidly swung open. They must have been twice as tall as Evrardin. Beyond the archway, Mara could see ever-growing rows of books moving in a coil around the room, some fading off into the shadows like a maze.

“Is this the library?” she asked, a dumbfounded look plastered across her face.

“And what else might you call a room stockpiled with dusty old books?”

Mara’s eyes lit up, her smile growing, having no regard for Evrardin’s stilted attitude. She strolled into the room, the ceiling as high as a cathedral’s. The books never stopped; they climbed the wall to the top, multiple levels with gilded iron fences lining the upper shelves. Before her, a labyrinth of bookcases filled to the brim with books of all different bindings painted the room. She imagined she could get lost here if she wandered too far. Whether that referred to the unsolvable maze before her, or the way she’d get transported to new realms diving into all the books, it was hard to say.

It was incredible. She had never seen anything quite like it. She had only ever known Venmore’s poor excuse of a library with so many missing volumes to sets. The shelves were crumbling like dust, books having to be stacked on the floor.

But this, this was out of a fairy tale.

Mara paused, facing Evrardin who was no more than a foot behind her. Her eyes sparkled in the evening light that poured in through a glass point in the middle of the ceiling. “Why did you take me here?”

“Is Kairth’s library not to your liking, liten rev ?”

Mara shook her head, her lips tightening. “No. I just meant… I didn’t ask you to show me the library.”

“No? And yet I took you here anyway.” There was a beat of silence between them. “Was there another area of the castle you were clamoring to see?”

Mara pursed her lips, deciding not to pry any further lest he drag her back to her room and lock her in for the night. He likely knew bringing her here would quiet her questions for a while, giving Evrardin some peace as he slid into a green upholstered chair. He watched her as she twirled between the bookshelves like the motes that glittered amongst the beams of light streaking in from the stained windows.

Mara skimmed through the books, little appreciative sounds escaping between her lips whenever she stumbled upon a particularly special or sought-after tome. She spun down the aisles, marveling, before halting as she noticed the unnatural way a farther hall down one of the library’s corridors seemed rotted. It was shadowed even though the candles on the sconces were lit. Stones seemed to crack and bend, its darkness sickly. She quickly went the opposite way, startled by the unnatural sight.

“Is there a forbidden section?” She rocked back and forth on her feet as she turned to Evrardin.

Ev quirked up a brow, looking surprised by her sudden appearance in front of him. “Now, if it was forbidden, why would I show you?”

“I didn’t ask you to show me.” She crossed her arms across her chest. Evrardin’s dark, almost black, eyes scanned her face like he was slipping into her thoughts and shifting through her mind. She sighed. “I mean, I was going to ask you to show me. But I’m strictly curious if such a section exists.” She knew it did—a library of this size would likely have lots of stowed-away books filled with faraway secrets.

Evrardin shook his head but pointed a finger up to the second level. Down in the corner, a golden cage reflected the light, a wall of tenebrous books trapped beneath it.

Mara smiled in amazement, her body rumbling with uncontrollable excitement. Ev looked like he didn’t know how she could be feeling elated gratification from books alone. “How do I get up there?”

“Ah.” He gave her a stern look, pushing himself up off the chair he was splayed in uncomfortably. “That, you can find out on your own, liten rev . Though I don’t recommend it.”

Mara tapped her foot. “Am I going to be escorted everywhere I go?” Ev nodded, stretching his arms above his head. Mara tried not to look at where his emerald tunic rose with his arms. “And none of my chaperones?—?”

“I’m to be your only chaperone,” he said, cutting her off.

She took in a breath through her clenched teeth. “ You’re not going to let me wander up there, are you?” Ev shook his head, his hand resting naturally on the hilt of his sword. “This is hell. I’m trapped in hell,” Mara exaggerated. She turned to move toward the double doors.

“Yes, being kept in a lavish castle, servants to wait on you hand and foot, three meals a day, a bed to sleep in. Truly such a terrible purgatory. How do you manage it?” Ev followed behind her. “You should be in theater,” he muttered under his breath.

“So, you understand, then,” she said with a sardonic smile. “Don’t worry, I’ll try not to bore you with my dreadful penitence.”

“Doubtful.”

She gave him a narrow look over her shoulder. “And for your pleasure, I’ll have you know, you’re right. I happen to be a wonderful actress,” she beamed, knowing his comment was a jab, but refusing to let it cut her skin.

His eyes shifted to hers, matching her intensity. Begging her to continue. That's what he wanted. So she didn’t give it to him. She walked back down the hall without a sound.

Somehow, Evrardin managed to pass her, taking the lead as they walked through the endless stone halls. She supposed it was a good thing he had longer legs than her because she would rather rot away, lost in a corner of the castle, than have to tell him she had no idea where she was going.

When they made it to a spiraling staircase that seemed to infinitely travel upward, a long, drawn-out screech of metal echoed up the stairs. Evrardin tensed and Mara stood still, his foot hesitating on the step in front of her. A short man with a deep sea-green cloak wrapped around his collar came up from the lower level, moving slowly but with a spark.

She felt Ev’s hand on her lower back, urging her up the stairs. She shook him off, making him clench his jaw. He was bound to give himself a headache with all the tensing he did around her, but before he could protest, forcing her to move, the small-statured man matched their level.

“Evenin’, Ev,” he said. His voice gravelly, like the crunching of sand in someone’s fist. “Princess.” He bowed at her—though he wasn’t able to dip his head very low.

“Good evening,” Mara said politely, taking her foot off the step and turning to fully face the man.

“Let’s go,” Ev grunted, both his hands on her shoulders now, attempting to turn her around and shove her up the stairs. Mara’s body lit aflame where his touch lingered.

She struggled this time to shake him off, his grip overpowering hers. Mara turned her head to look at the man, ignoring the fact that Ev was trying to direct her away without brute force but failing miserably. “Where were you coming from, might I ask?” Mara inquired sweetly. Mara twisted her body, ducking beneath Evrardin’s arms, and down the few steps he managed to guide her up.

“Do not pay any mind to the gravedoctor,” Evrardin grumbled in frustration behind her.

“Crowrot,” the old man corrected, gaining an irritated look from the captain.

“Crowrot, then,” she repeated, smiling at him.

“I was jus’ coming up from the crypt. Was jus’ gonna go on over to the kitchens. Would the princess care t’join me?”

Mara had a strong urge to say yes. She had a slew of questions stacking up now that he said he was coming from this mysterious crypt she hadn’t seen on the map she studied back in Venmore.

Evrardin gave him a deathly stare, his eyes slicing the man every which way.

Mara nodded her head, but Crowrot spoke up. “My apologies, Princess. It is unseemly to be so forward and invite such a lady to t’kitchens where t’servents eat.”

“Mara,” Evrardin said sternly, gaining her attention.

“Gods. You’re such a goddamn bore,” she growled back at him. “Why do you have to make my life miserable just because you hate your own?” She clenched her teeth, her words mumbled and directed over her shoulder. She gave Crowrot one last look. “It was lovely meeting you, Crowrot. I hope to speak again.”

“Course, Princess,” he said before giving a half-bow once more, smirking at her impolite remarks to Evrardin.

Mara shoved past the captain and marched up the stairs, no longer waiting for him to lead. He turned to Crowrot, telling him a thousand curses with just his eyes.

“I like her,” Crowrot said.

“Don’t get any fucking ideas,” Evrardin grunted before storming up the staircase after Mara.