Page 37

I had never stayed until the end of a festival in Calida before because Adora had never let me. She considered it unnecessary indulgence after a certain point. That was another comfort: if Soren and I hid in the periphery long enough, Adore would leave before I had a run-in with her.

Although it did end up being harder to stick to the shadows, because people kept running up to congratulate both Soren and me. We had utilized magik and combined it with aerial acrobatics and ribbon dancing in a way that no one had really seen before. None of the parts were especially groundbreaking, but we put them all together in a spectacular, unique way.

Eventually, Soren and I managed to break away from the crowd, and we went up to the balcony, where a dozen or so folks were enjoying the show without all the madness of the floor. From there, we leaned over the railing and watched Briar outdazzle the muses during Herve’s conduction, despite her cumbersome costume.

When she finished, I whistled and clapped, but the audience’s enthusiasm did seem more lackluster than it had been for mine and Soren’s conduction.

Queen Kriselle stood up before her throne, and everyone fell silent. Her gown was slinky and glittering, with feathers adorning the long train. She stepped off the edge of the dais, and her two eldest daughters joined her on either side – the heir apparent, Cosetta, on the right, and Sylvetta, on the left.

Both of them looked like slightly smaller, younger versions of their mother.

Cosetta wore a red gown that was a more elegant, structured version of the one that Briar had performed in. The feathers were clearly of a higher quality, all clean and bright down her hips and into the voluminous train. Meanwhile, Sylvetta – and the three younger sisters who remained back on the dais – wore a variation of slinky, glittery, black gowns. Sylvetta's had two slits that went high up her thighs.

The obvious clash of Cosetta's gown and her sisters' didn't make sense, until I remembered that her husband, Tarian Chaunter, was the nephew of the warlock, Herve. Cosetta and Tarian had chosen to match the muses' performances instead of following the family trend.

The one area where Queen Kriselle matched all five of her daughters was in the crimson lipstick and the royal jewels they were on their heads. As reigning monarch, Kriselle's was the largest of the tiaras, adorned with diamonds and onyx, and then they decreased in size to the tiny one on her youngest daughter, Anabetta.

"Thank you for attending and performing," Queen Krisille announced in her commanding, elegant voice. "I know our ancestors are watching over us all with great pride. Let us celebrate tonight in their honor!"

The crowd let out a cheer, even us up in the balcony. The minstrel band began to play, and the party started in earnest. Hors d'oeuvres and drinks were being passed around the main floor, and I could see Briar dancing with her sister, Dahlia. Wrenley ran over to join them, so all three were dancing together.

"Come on!" Without thinking, I grabbed Soren's hand and pulled him toward the winding stairs down to the main floor. "Let's go dance!"

This was my first time genuinely joining the revelry in Calida. My performance was behind me, Adora was gone, and I was ready to let loose and have fun.

I made my way through the crowd with Soren behind me. He let go of my hand when we hit the main floor, moving his hand to the small of my back. I could see Briar and Wrenley laughing and having a good time.

But I never even reached them.

Baxley Cole appeared out of nowhere – despite the fact that he was well over six feet tall and wearing a costume made of bright yellow plumage – and he blocked my path.

“Isadore.” He smiled down at me, his bright blue eyes eclipsing everything else around us. “I wanted to tell you that you seemed amazing tonight.”

I couldn’t move and didn’t speak, but I felt Soren’s hand sliding around my waist to hold me protectively against him.

"Let us by. We don't have time to talk," Soren said firmly.

Baxley looked away from me, and his eyes flickered with confusion and annoyance as he eyed Soren behind him.

“You were great, too,” Baxley told him with a tight smile. “But Isadore was the real star of the show. No disrespect.”

"Move so that we can get by," Soren said, more forcefully now, and his arm around me was the only thing that kept me from trembling.

“I’m not blocking you from going anywhere,” Baxley insisted with exaggerated innocence. He gestured vaguely to either side of him, where people were crowded around so close there was no clear path. “There’s just a lot of people having a good time.”

“Right,” Soren replied, and he started leading me to the side.

“Isadore,” Baxley said, and when he grabbed my upper arm to stop me, I recoiled into Soren.

“Get your hand off her,” Soren growled. He moved deftly, sliding my body behind him, knocking Baxley’s hand free in the process, and he put himself between me and Baxley, so I had to crane my neck to see him.

“What is wrong with you?” Baxley asked, glaring up at Soren. “I only wanted to talk to her.”

“She doesn’t want to talk to you,” Soren snapped at him.

Baxley tilted his head, trying to catch me with his blue eyes, but Soren immediately moved, shielding me from him.

"Why aren't you letting her talk?" Baxley asked, his voice growing louder as he spoke. But not like he was yelling in anger; instead, he was clear and calm, like he wanted to be sure that he would be heard. "Just because you are an enchanter and she is a muse doesn't mean you get to control Isadore. She doesn't belong to you."

The noise around us had begun to soften as the crowd switched from revelry to onlookers. Soren's attention was fixed on Baxley, but the muse was playing for an audience now.

“Leave her the hell alone!” Soren yelled at Baxley, and that’s when the band fell silent.

Soren finally looked around, noticing all the faces watching us.

"Let's go," I murmured. I put my hand on Soren's elbow because I didn't want to be here a moment longer, not so close to Baxley or with all the prying eyes. All of the earlier joy and lightness had evaporated entirely. I just wanted to get away and get out of here.

"What was that?" Baxley craned his neck around to see me, and he held his hand up to his ear like he was trying to hear me better. "Was Lady Isadore permitted to speak?

Soren scowled, seething with barely contained rage, and he grudgingly stepped to the side, allowing me a sightline to Baxley. It would be much better if I told him off myself, even though I felt like vomiting at the thought of it.

Then suddenly, Wrenley came bursting out of the crowd, pushing xer way through with the grace and patience of an angry bull, and xe was pulling Briar along with xer.

“What is going on?” Wrenley demanded to know.

“Are you okay, Izzy?” Briar asked.

Both Briar and Wrenley had known that I had dated Baxley and that our relationship ended abruptly with his incorrect accusations of infidelity on my part. But I had never told them about how he put his hands on me and left me discarded in the dirt. I had never told anyone that before Soren.

"I'm fine," I said, but my voice was too quiet and weak. I cleared my throat and, more loudly, declared, "I am fine. But I am tired, and I want to go home."

“You deserve a rest after that conduction,” Briar said brightly, trying to lighten the tension. She looped her arm through mine and announced jovially, “Let’s get you somewhere nice.”

"I still haven't had a chance to talk to Isadore," Baxley persisted as if anyone cared about his opinion.

Briar was leading me away while Wrenley watched from the sidelines with wary eyes. Soren remained planted where he was, glowering at Baxley.

Abruptly, Baxley's long arm bolted around Soren, and he latched onto my bare arm, his fingers digging into my flesh hard enough to bruise. I knew it was because it wasn't the first time – or even the second or the tenth – that he'd left marks on me after he'd grabbed me.

Before anyone else could do or say anything, Soren lunged at Baxley. His fist collided against Baxley's face, and because he was an enchanter, his violence was imbued with magik. A bright green light flickered through the room each time Soren punched him – once, twice, three times.

By then, Baxley's head lolled backward, but Soren's left hand was knotted in the front of Baxley's outfit, holding him up while he punched him with his right hand.

When Soren raised his arm for a fourth time, Briar said, “That’s enough.”

Soren stared down at Baxley’s bloody face, and he let out a ragged breath before dropping him to the floor.

“Nothing to see here,” Wrenley announced and held up xer hands, shooing the crowd away. “There was a little misunderstanding, but it’s over now, and we should probably get a medic to check him out.” Xe kicked at Baxley’s leg gently with xer foot.

Briar ushered me toward the exit, and the crowd slowly parted for us.

“What was the misunderstanding about?” an onlooker asked.

“Well, the unconscious fool on the floor misunderstood basic decency and thought he could touch whoever he wanted, and he can’t,” Wrenley replied, and then xe gave Soren a shove with xer shoulder. “Let’s go.”

Briar kept her arm through mine, and we hurried to where the carriages would pick us up.

“I’m sorry about pulling you away from your fun night,” I apologized to Briar and Wrenly as soon as we stepped out into the night. “You can go back in if you want. I don’t want to ruin your night.”

"Oh, you never ruined anything." Briar wrapped her arms around me and hugged me. "Are you okay?" I nodded, but the way her eyebrows crinkled, I knew she'd seen the pain and confusion in my face.

“You know it’s never a good time until there is some bloodshed,” Wrenley said, and xe watched as Soren flagged down our carriage driver with new appreciation.

"Do you want us to come over?" Briar asked, and then her eyes bounced over to Soren. "Or do you want to come over to my house? Me, you, and Wren can have a slumber party like we used to."

"No, thank you." I shook my head. "I do want to rest, and I don't want to spoil any more fun. You and Wren should head back inside.”

“Are you sure?” Briar asked uncertainly.

I smiled tiredly and nodded. “Yes, I’m sure.”

“Let us know if you need anything,” Wrenley added. “And you were great tonight, Izzy.”

“Thanks.” I smiled as I watched my friends reluctantly head back into the palace.

Soren stood with his back to me, watching for the carriage, and I walked over to join him.

“How are you?” I asked.

“Fine.” He let out a rough sigh. “I’m sorry about making a scene like that.”

“Baxley is the one who made a scene,” I corrected him.

He looked down at me. “How are you?”

"I want to cry, and I want to laugh," I admitted. "But I did like watching you knock that smug look off his face."

He smirked. “Me, too.” His hand was flexing and unflexing at his side, and I noticed blood all across his knuckles from punching Baxley.

“You’re hurt!” I gasped.

He glanced down, then shook his head. “It’s mostly his.”

"I can see that your flesh is torn and puffy around his knuckles," I said. "Let me have a look."

I reached down to take his hand, and he let me. His hand felt hot in mine, and the familiar charge whenever we touched. I used one of the satin scarves to wipe away blood, and he was right that most of the blood was from Baxley.

I slowly wrapped the scarf around his hand, and then I bent over and kissed his hand over the satin.

“Thank you,” he murmured.

The carriage pulled around for us, and I let go of his hand and climbed in. Soren followed after, and soon, we were on the road, riding through the darkened streets to Soren’s house.

The windows were open, and it smelled like bonfires from celebrations around town. An icy wind whipped through, and I shivered.

“Are you cold?” Soren asked, and he was already slipping out of his overcoat.

I would’ve declined, but he draped it over my shoulders. His hand brushed against my arm, and he said in dismay, “You’re freezing!”

He wrapped an arm around me, pulling me close for warmth, and I rested my head against his shoulder. I closed my eyes and sunk into his arms, where I felt safe and content, no matter what else went on around us.