Page 4

CHAPTER 3

A SERVANT RACED TO the garden entrance ahead of me and held the door open. I looked over my shoulder at all the esteemed guests at my garden party. The women meandered through the grassy paths, chatting, laughing, and oblivious to my whereabouts. Mamá stood in the same place I left her, listening to the same plump lady brag on her son. I spun my attention around toward the marble palace floors within the corridor. The servant shut the door behind me, leaving me alone with the person who sent me the note.

But then I realized that Prince Lux of Pedroz had company. Cosme stood several paces off, a hardened set to his jaw.

“Brother.” My voice sounded like a chime.

Cosme furrowed his brow with suspicion. “Aren’t you supposed to be attending to your guests?”

“I—I have a headache.” My fingernails dug into my palms. I snuck a glance at Lux, whose turquoise eyes widened with meaning. We wouldn’t get to sneak off to the royal beach if my brother insisted on keeping either of us company.

Cosme closed the space between him and me, blocking Lux out of the conversation. “I’ll accompany you to your room.”

Why did my brother need to be so hateful toward Lux? Hadn’t we all grown up together? Cosme nudged my back toward the stairs, walking alongside me. I took one last peek at Lux, who mouthed beach and pointed toward the sea.

Cosme arched an eyebrow at me. Whatever playfulness had been there a couple hours before had disappeared. I hurried up the staircase beside Cosme. Our footfalls echoed through the spacious stairwell.

Once the main floor disappeared from our view and we started up the next flight to the third floor, Cosme sighed with exasperation. “Why is your friend hanging out at the door? He will ruin your reputation.”

“Stop being a wet rag.” I lifted my dress skirt higher and marched ahead of Cosme. “You are not Papá.”

“Beatriz,” he caught up to me, “there’s a lot you don’t know. If you paid closer attention—”

“I pay attention.” My boot stomped onto the top step, and I swirled around to fix a glare on Cosme. “Why do you think I agreed to this ridiculous ball?”

“Hush now.” Cosme lifted a finger to my lips while his eyes focused behind me.

Footfalls approached. An older woman and a young man descended the staircase. The older woman wore a long, lacy mantilla held up by a tall comb at the top of her head. The young man started to turn his gaze toward me, but I fled, cheeks burning.

“Sis-ter.” Cosme elongated each syllable.

I strode around the corner into a dim corridor lined with portraits of the ancient stories. The gifted children passing from the old world into Valle de los Fantasmas. The dispersion of the gifted. The lost relics. The cursed northern kingdoms. The grand alliance. My boots tap-tap-tapped steadily with another set of boots thump-thump-thumping at my tail.

Cosme had been Papá’s greatest supporter in keeping me from getting my gift. Had he ulterior motives like Lux supposed? Or was my older brother simply overbearing? I turned the corner and followed the corridor to my room. Only landscape paintings of beaches lined this space.

“Brother,” I said tersely. “You’ve accompanied me. Thank you.” I pressed the latch, slid into my room, and pushed the door shut. But Cosme blocked the door with his muddied boot.

“Listen.” His grimace deepened. “You might regret associating with Lux. Don’t do anything stupid.”

A pang of guilt stabbed into my heart. One part of me needed to rush downstairs to the beach to meet Lux. Another part of me stung with Cosme’s expectation that I would do something irrational. I loosened my fists and peeked at my nail beds. The metallic line along my fingers seemed to creep a hairbreadth further along my markings. Cosme’s warning about poor decisions had come too late. But his warning about Lux set my blood boiling.

I pursed my lips and steeled my emotions. “If you’d like me to smile and find a suitor tonight, you ought to let me rest.”

Cosme stepped back, and I slammed the door with a thud. He was the last person who’d help me fulfill my oath. I stormed around my bed and into my dressing room. Three angled mirrors stood against one wall while trunks and shelves lined the opposite wall. I flipped open a trunk and yanked out my swimming dress.

Peeling my sleeves off, I let the outrage Cosme inspired drop with my blue gown. I set aside my chemise and put on the suffocating swimming material that buttoned at the nape of my neck. How dare Cosme ask me to part from the only person who understood me?

I tied my yellow dress robe tight around my body and sped out my bedroom. This wasn’t the first time I’d run off for a swim, but it might be my last. Especially if … I gulped. No, I couldn’t choose a suitor by the end of the night. Dark wood paneling lined the corridor outside my bedroom. A discreet door tucked at the end of this wing led to the servants’ stairwell. I glanced behind me. Not a soul stirred. As I spun my head forward again, I slammed into someone ahead of me.

“Ai-yi-yi!” Laude screamed.

“What are you doing here?” I demanded. I caught my breath and adjusted my robe.

“Your mother told me to see what was wrong and to tend to you. She couldn’t get away and was worried. And Princess,” she looked me up and down, “are you going swimming? By yourself? Right now?” Her eyebrows rose halfway up her forehead.

“I’m not that daft.” I clasped my hands and pulled my shoulder blades together. “Have another bath prepared for me. I’ll be back shortly.”

“Yes, Princess.” She stepped to the side to let me pass into the spiral staircase.

“And Laude,” I called as I descended, “don’t tell anyone where I’ve gone.”

She thumped her palm over her heart and bobbed her head.

I fled downward like an arrow flying toward its target. My robe flapped as I hurried. I shot prayers to the Ancient One. Please let there be no more servants in this back stairwell . Please give me more time with Lux.

Perhaps, Cosme had a strange disdain for Lux, but he was right to be concerned about Lux and I being seen alone, especially on the day of my ball. My reputation could be tarnished if anyone got the wrong impression.

I sped into the undercroft. Though voices echoed from the kitchen, I turned left and hurried through the servants’ corridor to the back doorway. The moment I made it outside, sunlight poured over my head. No one had seen my escape. I climbed up a set of steps and walked through a rocky path toward the private royal beach below. A rock barrier encircled the beach space along with palm trees.

On the shimmering sand, Lux sat with elbows propped on his knees. Should I tell him about my oath? Could he do anything to help me?

The closer I got, the more my insides twisted into a knot. Would Lux think me a fool for promising to go to Valle de los Fantasmas?

I galloped the last couple of steps and removed my boots to walk on the sand.

Lux caught sight of me. “Bea.” He stood and wiped the sand off his pants. “I wasn’t sure you’d make it.”

“Of course I’d come. I just had to throw Cosme off our trail.” I glanced over at the enormous castle above. The only windows to catch our swimming expedition were on the top floor. Only soldiers patrolled the back corridor, ready to ring the enormous bell in the front tower or light the logs in the back tower should an enemy arise. Their mischievous princess taking a swim with a friend wouldn’t be anything new, nor would they gossip about it to the suitors.

“Come on, Bea.” Lux stepped into the surf, letting the seawater rush around his ankles. “One last swim before you’re a nearly married woman.”

Why did he have to say something like that? It made this moment feel like the end. I let my robe fall from my shoulders and stepped next to him, hot sun rays kissing my forehead and shoulders. Warm water bubbled at my feet and pulled back into the sea. My eyes instinctively closed, soaking in the moment. This was my happy place.

“Good thing you got away from the party. You looked like you were walking through a living nightmare.” Lux’s tone held a sort of amusement to it.

“It wasn’t as bad as the nightmare I had last night.” I squinted at him, needing to gauge his response.

“What was it this time?”

“I had tentacles like an octopus and drained the life out of people from afar.”

Lux pressed his lips together. “It’s too bad you haven’t a gift. You might be a formidable enemy.”

But now I’m barely a bargaining chip. Useless. The words poured through my mind, stilling my tongue from speaking about my oath, about the ball, about Cosme’s warnings.

“I’ll give you a five-second head start,” Lux said, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I smiled as a surge of energy rushed over me. I ran into the water and swam. The waves beat against me, but I lifted one arm up and then the other, inhaling every other stroke. The constant drum of my thoughts was swept away in the activity. Adrenaline pumped through my blood. Before I knew it, I reached the rocky barrier between the royal beach and open sea.

Lux laughed, a deep, rich sound. “You almost beat me. Six-second head start?”

“Never.” I crouched to dive.

“Wait.” Lux pushed himself onto a rock. “It’s the redheaded dolt. She’s waving.”

I lowered onto my bottom and perched on a giant rock next to Lux. “Why so soon?”

Laude’s squeaky voice cut through the rumbling of the sea. “Lady Myla’s searching for you.”

My heart sank a fraction.

“What’s that on your fingers?” Lux asked. “Did you paint them?”

The metallic coloring glowed in the brilliant midday light. I splayed my fingers over my lap. This was my chance to tell him about the oath. To ask him if retrieving my gift could change our futures. If I wanted to have more days out swimming and racing and talking to Lux, I’d have to risk his good opinion. Why was this so hard?

“We don’t have much time!” Laude’s voice cracked. She waved an arm and pointed to the palace with wild enthusiasm.

Lux chuckled. “You better go before she faints from overexerting herself.”

“Promise me you’ll rescue me at some point during the dance.”

He met my gaze, a sober expression sliding into place. “Of course, Bea. You know me.”

“Good.” I scooted into the water and swam to shore, remaining under the surface for as long as possible. The undercurrents tugged on my swimming dress. Pressure from the water hugged my body from every side, offering its condolence for a lost opportunity. My fingers brushed against the sand, and I righted myself.

“Princess, Lady Myla threatened to tell your mother about your little escapade if you do not come in right now.” Laude gnawed on her top lip.

My feet propelled me up the beach, up the rocky path, and to the servant’s entrance into the palace. I wrung the bottom of my dress, squeezing out the heavy seawater. My eyes automatically drifted toward where I left Lux, but he was gone. I strained to find him in the shallow water, but no signs of a human could be seen. My gaze darted to the rocky hedge to the east and then to the west. I caught sight of Lux’s back, walking over the giant rocks between the royal beach and the rocky shore.

An ache overwhelmed my heart. “Goodbye,” I whispered.