Page 7

CHAPTER 6

T HE TIME HAD FINALLY come. Twirling a pink frilled flower between my fingers, I strolled on a grassy path in the garden with Lux by my side. Last night’s coming-of-age ball was just the beginning of my search for a husband. It hadn’t been a day yet, and I already needed a break—no, I needed to escape.

I passed a sly glance over at my companion. “What gift do you possess?”

Lux stopped mid-step and cocked his head. “We’ve known each other since we were born. How do you not know?”

“You’ve never talked about it. I know it has something to do with the way people see you. You used to have a deep scar down your cheek, and I don’t see it anymore.” I squinted at him, sun blazing in my face.

He closed his eyes while taking a long breath of sea air. In a blink, a scar stretched from his eye, down his cheek to his jawbone, and disappeared again.

“You can change your appearance any time you want? Can you change your skin color or the length of your nose?”

“Yes, yes, yes. You’re right about my gift. I thought I had mentioned it before.” He bent over a hibiscus shrub and plucked a giant pink flower. He handed it to me casually and kept walking. “I know you’ve only had a night to consider your options, but who is the lucky lad you’re thinking to marry?”

I tucked the new flower behind my ear, readying myself to hear another speech about the good qualities of such and such suitor.

Laude asked me the same question this morning. Mamá and Papá cut the list in half for me. They all had opinions. Laude swooned over Sir Lucas. Papá thought Duke Marden served our purposes well. Mamá thought I should spend this week getting to know each of the suitors better, though she, too, spoke generously about Duke Marden. My brother laughed about it all and left on his voyage.

I crossed my arms. How does Lux not see that he’s the only man I’ve ever dreamed of marrying? A knot formed in my heart. Should I make my declaration now? My mouth went dry.

I scuffed my feet along the gravel. “I don’t want to marry any of them.”

Lux laughed. “You can’t remain unbetrothed forever.”

“That’s easy for you to say. Doesn’t Princess Alexa of Aldrin wait for you to set a date?” I said sardonically.

“Touchy, touchy. Why don’t you like Princess Alexa?”

“Pshh. What’s not to like about a snotty, green-eyed goddess? I love it when she flaunts her gift. Like when she made it rain at my beach party. What a perfect present. All was forgiven, of course. She’s got that thing that makes every man’s head turn—even on her worst day.” A quiver of anger vibrated in my chest at the mere memory of my parents forcing me to accept her apology.

“I sense jealousy.” The way Lux wagged his brows made me want to slap him.

Why did I waste my time with him? I started walking back toward the terrace.

He caught my wrist. “Don’t be like that. You are the Princess of Giddel. The most esteemed kingdom around the Agata Sea. Every other girl, including Princess Alexa, would love to be in your position.”

“No, they wouldn’t.”

“Yes, they would.” He lifted his chin, examining me. “You have your mind set on needing your gift.”

A lump formed in the back of my throat. I would not cry. “You would too if everyone constantly reminded you of how useless you were.” I looked down at my feet and drew in a deep breath. “Lux, I have something to tell you. I—I made an oath to go visit my whyzer, and I think I’m running out of time. Please tell me there’s a way out of this.”

Lux’s eyes flicked wide open, and then his expression softened with compassion. He drew me in a hug. His warm embrace melted my body. He smelled of sweet flowers, seawater, and sun-warmed skin. I’d be chastised for this hug if any of Papá’s advisors saw us. He pulled back a bit. “Why don’t you go to Valle de los Fantasmas right now?”

“Is this another one of your jokes?”

“I’m serious.” He cocked his head with a gleam of something mischievous. “Didn’t the young boy tell you to go to the valley when the time was right?”

“But Lux, no one who goes in comes out. My uncle, for one. Many others have washed up dead on the shores of the river. Are you trying to get rid of me?” I swiped his hands off my shoulders.

“I don’t know of any loopholes in making an oath. There may not be any.”

“Then what do I do?” I pinched the bridge of my nose.

“You, Beatriz, are stubborn. You should have gone on this expedition years ago. That boy gave you directions on how to get your gift. You tell me you have nightmares about this regularly. You mope and groan about how you need this gift to be happy. Stop your whining and go get it.”

I swallowed hard. He was right about me always complaining. Could I go through with such an expedition? Did I even have a choice? “My papá and mamá would never approve of such an excursion.”

Lux snorted. “When did you start asking permission? As I recall, your parents told you after our boating incident to make your fanciful ideas less noticeable.”

A smile spread across my face. “If you hadn’t been so keen on swimming, we wouldn’t have gotten caught.”

“Exactly! Take a few of your servants and tell your parents you’re heading over to picnic in the mountains. They wouldn’t be the wiser of your true motives.” He pressed his lips together.

“Only if you break your betrothal with Alexa.” The words had sprung out of my mouth, and there was no going back. I held my breath and pouted my lips. Feigned confidence was the only way to proceed.

His gaze softened my heart like butter on warm toast as he drew nearer. He leaned into my ear, his breath brushing against my neck. “I’d break the betrothal for you.”

A tingle of glee spread from my neck all the way to my toes. I stepped away, searching his turquoise eyes to make sure I had not just imagined this moment. Did he feel the same way about me? A muscle in his jaw tightened, and I followed his gaze toward the terrace doors. Sir Marcoin, in all his pomp and sense of propriety, glared at us.

Bells of warning shrieked in my mind. Coming out here with Lux may have been a mistake . My chances of finding an acceptable match were slim, especially if the other suitors took offense to this intimate conversation like Sir Marcoin. Well, that is if I planned to find another suitor.

Taking in the question quirked his eyebrow. I pressed a fist to my lips. Why was I flirting with danger? The markings on my knuckles glistened with a metallic sheen. My stomach clenched.

“I need to go.” I whipped around, my heart buzzing louder than bees around a hive.

Lux called out, “Bea, I’ll be here when you get back. You deserve more.”

I took one last peek at him. He watched me, so refined in his white doublet. I found myself hoping against hope that I would be able to call him more than a friend when I returned from my quest.

“Princess Beatriz, do you need anything?” Laude huffed, racing to catch up to me as I strode to my room from the garden, head spinning from my time with Lux. She shut my bedroom door upon entering.

I paced the hardwood in front of my four-post bed and considered her question for a minute. There was so much I wanted, but could Laude help me? The ripples along my bed canopy reminded me of the many mountains around Giddel. I needed to go before the oath consumed me. Laude could accompany me along with my other maids. Mamá would not oppose a picnic in the mountains. She, of all people, understood the stress of choosing a suitor.

“Yes, I doneed something. Could you prepare for a picnic in the mountains tomorrow?” I stopped to study Laude’s reaction.

Her head cocked to the side, but no suspicion shone in her gaze. “Of course, Princess. Who will be joining us?”

“Only me and you and a couple other maids and drivers and a coach. No, make that a wagon.”

Laude’s blue eyes widened. “Should we wait for your brother to come back from his voyage?”

“My brother won’t be back for another weekor so. Yes, get the drivers, food, and other details arranged. I need a change in scenery.”

“Of course.” Laude bowed her head and twisted around to exit.

“And Laude,” I called before she turned the door handle. “Keep this a private affair. I wouldn’t want any of the suitors following us on our trip.” I winked.

Laude’s playful smile accentuated her freckly cheeks. “Of course, your Highness. One can never be too careful with so many handsome fellows about.”

“This has nothing to do with those nobodies.” I pressed my fingernails into my palm. Could I trust her? If she didn’t understand my need for secrecy, she’d surely slip and tell Mamá. She had to know the truth.

My shoes tapped as they crossed the space between her and me. “Laude, we won’t be going on a picnic.”

“We won’t?”

“No.” I exhaled. “I … I sealed an oath to go to Valle de los Fantasmas.”

She yelped, chin quivering.

“Shhhh! Now you understand. We can announce to the others our true plans mid-trip or … you and I can take a walk alone and end up in the valley.” Blood pulsed in my temples.

Her face paled, and for good reason.

“You’ll wait for me outside the valley while I go in.” I swallowed hard, burying doubts threatening to emerge. “We leave before first light. Arrange the details.” I flicked a wave of dismissal.

She opened her mouth but snapped it shut. Seconds passed. Then she slipped out of the room, gnawing on her bottom lip.

Could I pull this off? I plopped down on plush white covers. Did I have enough courage to follow through with this plan? I pushed out the air in my lungs to try tocalm the knocking against my ribs.

As my plans came together, the vines on my arms loosened their grip, but the metallic coloring spread up to my wrists, twisting my insides. Lux was right. I complained too much about my predicament. If I wanted a life worth living, I needed to pursue my dreams. No matter the risk.