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The smokey cloud rolled into something warmer, gilded. Glowing yellows and whites with a streak of ruby flame overtook him. Anticipation waltzed with nerves, a blush of relief, the whisper of something sparkling across a dance floor.

She dropped her eyes—gods be damned—was she blushing?

“This is certainly the most intriguing way someone has ever flirted with me.”

“I think it would be much less exposing if you could read minds over feelings,” Mirquios whispered, his eyes turning toward the paintings behind her.

“Most people around me have learned tricks to keep their feelings quiet. I try not to pry unless invited, but in a large crowd, it gets difficult to breathe. Most strangers have no idea what they willingly give away to me. It’s exhausting.”

“Hence the hiding,” he said, gesturing to the study.

“Hence the hiding,” she repeated.

“How long do we have until someone notices and insists you return?”

“Hard to say,” she sighed, running a hand over her wild waves. “Lunelle would alert me if Mother were searching.” She tapped her forehead to reinforce her point. “Although it’s entirely possible Father has already dragged her back to their quarters. He’s not one for parties.”

“That’s another rumor I’d like to get to the bottom of,” Mirquios said, leaning on his knees. “Your parents. The legends are fascinating—are they truly Tethered? A Lunar demigoddess and a common human soldier?”

Astra’s lips parted in a wide smile. “Unusual, to be sure,” she explained. “But the gods weave souls together for a reason. If you observe them, watch the way they move together as one spirit, the way they orbit one another… you’d understand why they couldn’t escape one another.”

Mirquios took this in and tapped his fingers against the desk. “I don’t know that I’ve ever witnessed it.”

“Never? Are Tethers not common in Mercury?”

“I’m sure they are outside of the palace. But to my knowledge, none of the pairings I grew up with were anything more than carefully arranged legal documents.”

“Ah yes, that first feeling you showed me. Duty.”

“Does your mother expect you to marry without it, even with her own experience? Life Untethered?”

Astra thought about this for a moment. She’d never really considered it either way—it wasn’t unlikely she had a Tether roaming the realms. Most did, but her mother’s case was the exception, not the rule in the upper echelons of society. Matches were made through strategy, not stars.

Some courts didn’t recognize Tethers at all, merely viewing them as a fairytale. Others, like the Venusian Court, thrived on them.

Her mother suffered greatly when she chose to honor the Tether—though she hadn’t intended to be queen when she did it. No, the girls grew up understanding they were destined for alignment and alliances, not star-crossed love affairs.

“That second feeling you shared…”

“Seeing you slipping your way into the palace the other night,” Mirquios whispered.

“That feeling. That could be enough, couldn’t it?

Our lives are so carefully curated on our behalf, but there’s comfort in knowing that people can still catch us off guard, even without Fate pulling the strings.

I almost think it might be preferable to stay Untethered.

There’s no distraction. No loyalties to consider except to my people. It’s liberating if you think about it.”

A quiet smile unfolded across his face. “You almost sound like you believe yourself.”

“Almost,” she admitted.

“Princess?” Three soft knocks against the door jolted Astra out of her chair.

“Come in,” she said, Ameera’s honey-gold energy rolling into the study. Took you long enough , she beamed to her maiden. “Mirquios, King of Mercury. Meet Ameera, my Head Maiden and best friend.”

Ameera bowed, tucking one ankle behind the other. “Your Highness.”

“Pleasure to meet you,” Mirquios said. “I’ll see you two back out there?”

Astra nodded as Ameera studied her, searching for what might have caused her panic. Mirquios slipped out of the study and surely wasn’t even out of earshot when Astra turned and hissed at her best friend.

“We have a major problem, Ameera!”

“What? You might actually be enjoying yourself?”

Astra rolled her eyes. “Beyond that, though, add it to the list. There was someone out in the garden. I couldn’t see him.

He was on the other side of the hedges. He was scorching hot, Ameera.

It was unbearable, just like in the Midwood the other day.

I’m concerned there’s a Solarian spy in the court. ”

Ameera’s eyes widened. “The Midwood?”

“Sorry,” Astra muttered. “I forgot to tell you about that.”

“Are you sure , Astra? The wards in the Rift wouldn’t let anyone with Solarian blood through.”

“That Solarian orb didn’t just fall into the court, Ameera.”

Ameera sighed. She had a point.

“I felt this storm of awful dread, but it was like when he spotted me, he shoved it all away. Completely untraceable. I could hardly read a whiff of him, which means he knows how I work, and he knows how to defend himself. He must be Solarian.”

“Shh,” Ameera hissed, all too aware there were always maidens in the walls. She pointed to her temple, switching to a silent conversation. Tomorrow we’ll speak with Archera. Surely the sentry can locate him.

Astra nodded. That was really all they could do, she supposed.

Perhaps we should consider telling your mot ? —

No. If I’m wrong, if he’s not Solarian, it’ll look like I’m trying to get out of whatever plot she has for my hand. A dark cloud of violets and navy blues settled over Astra’s chest.

Ameera frowned. What do you mean?

She’s clearly trying to marry me off to Mars to atone for her broken engagement. I had to cling to the Mercurian all night just to stay out of the infant’s path!

Certainly not the worst Fate, Ameera giggled.

Astra closed her eyes, leaning her head against the armchair. If there was one Solarian in the court, there could be any number of enemies lurking.

If they could get this close to the palace, they could get to her sister.

They could all be in terrible danger.

“Tomorrow,” she said aloud. “Tomorrow, you’ll speak with Archera and tell her everything you know. But please instruct her not to alert my mother until we have something to show for it.”

Ameera nodded, chewing on her nail. “Whatever you say, Fire Queen.”