Page 1 of Voices in the Stars (The Lost Witch #1)

Birds soared across the orange sky.If wishing on stars worked, I would’ve been up there with them. Our wings flapping through the changing sky as the sun rose behind us.

They could travel anywhere else in the world.

Not stuck on the roof of my house while people got the garden below me ready for my engagement party like I was now.

I crinkled my nose at the thought as I grabbed one of the cookies sitting on the large blanket underneath me.

The small rays of light shimmered along the metal band on my finger.

Most of this still didn’t feel real. An engagement to a friend I’d known as long as I could remember. Sounded like a dream come true, marrying a man who understood me better than myself. I snorted at the thought. This just meant he knew how to hurt me worse than anyone else.

With a huff, I laid down on the blanket spread out underneath me.

Tiles dug into my back from under the soft fabric.

I shifted until the sharp pains were gone.

My eyes slid shut as the birds chirped somewhere nearby.

Horse hooves clopped down the cobblestone streets in front of the house.

Metal clanked together as a carriage wheel bounced in the giant hole that was worn into the street.

Curses sailed up from the coachman as the horses whinnied.

Without much thought, my hand found the scar on my chest. I ran my fingers along the raised skin as I enjoyed the silence. The smell of freshly cut grass wafted up to me as the faint slicing of a scythe replaced the horses as they traveled further into Donnaway.

Moments like this had me questioning why no one else wanted to come up here. It’d always been the perfect escape. Maybe that’s what made it so wonderful, having a place that was completely my own.

I got lucky, spotting this flat part of the rooftop. Even luckier that my bedroom had the window that was directly below it. All it took were a few blankets wrapped around the chimney stacks behind me, and I had the perfect rope to climb whenever I wanted. Which was most days.

Above the other bedrooms, the roof peaked, leaving this small flat section I was laying on.

The rusted sections of twisted pipes that a ladder would perfectly hook onto, making me think this is where chimney sweeps used to climb up.

I couldn’t remember ever seeing anyone come up here, though, so I made it my own.

Now, blankets and pillows covered most of the landing. There was a chest pushed against the section of railing where I kept everything when I wasn’t up here. One blanket sprouting mushrooms was all it took for me to quickly learn the importance of putting them away.

A smaller box next to it held old toys and games I used to play with many years ago.

Most of them broke long ago. They stayed hidden out of fear of what would happen if I brought them back into the house in such conditions.

Even the blanket I was sprawled out on had holes covering it; its pink color turned into a faded brown just from the time I sat outside with it.

The pink and blue hues were fading from the sky as the world woke around me.

As I sat back up, a low fog darkened my view of the ground below.

There was enough light to make out small shadows moving below me.

A hedge maze stretched as far as I could see.

It was the product of many generations and something my family was proud of.

In a few hours, this place would be brightly lit by the summer sun and filled with guests.

“Cece, did you have to make people mad this early?”

My body flinched at my sister’s voice. Her head was peering up at me from the window in my bedroom. I simply waved at her, a smile spreading across my face as she started climbing. I ignored her question and instead held out one of the stolen cookies for her to grab as she settled in.

She crawled to the center of the roof, carefully tucking her legs underneath her.

Fly away, black hair stuck out of the bun it was twisted into as her green eyes glanced down at the cookie I was holding out.

We stared at each other before bursting out laughing.

Her hand shook as she grabbed it from me.

“Mother is pissed,” she spoke around a mouthful.

I shrugged. There wasn’t anything new there. Nothing I did made her happy, so I might as well have some fun while I could.

“Maybe you should try it sometime,” I offered her instead, the smile twisting on my face as the tension grew as I spoke.

“There are way more important things to be doing than purposely upsetting her.” Josi tried to laugh it off. Her shoulders were tense as she looked everywhere but at me. “Like planning a wedding.”

My gaze snapped away at her words. Birds kept singing as people brought the outdoor seating out. The right side of the lawn was filled with tables and chairs while the rest would be used for food and music.

“You know,” Josi continued, tapping her fingers against the roof, “you might want to start planning yours, as well.”

I snorted, ripping at another chunk of the cookie.

“I’d rather not do this today,” I said instead of the many other comments that were circling my mind. There would never be a day I wanted to have this conversation, no matter who it was with, be it my mother or Josi.

“You need to figure this out,” she argued. “This is happening whether or not you like it.”

“Stop trying to make it sound like some great thing,” I snapped. “We had both of our weddings arranged for us. You’re seriously okay with that?”

“That doesn’t matter.” She raised her voice. “This is just the way it’s done.”

“Let’s make a deal.” I could feel my anger rising to meet hers. “I’ll help plan a wedding when I get a say in it.”

I could tell that part of her wanted to understand.

Her green eyes were wide as she stared me down.

Anger and sadness sharpened her gaze. Guilt immediately twisted its way through me.

Our lost choices weren’t Josi’s fault, like how she couldn’t be blamed for this conversation either.

No, our mother sent Josi up here because she knew I wouldn’t be upset with my sister, who was stuck in the same position I was in.

Last time any of us talked about my wedding, it ended with me shattering glasses against the floors.

My gaze found Josi. With her fingers wringing together in her lap, she stared intently at the tiles. Occasionally, she shifted closer to the middle of the roof.

“It’s just weird.” I fell into the routine argument that I thought worked the best. “We’ve known each other since we were children. He’s essentially been my brother until recently.”

“He’s not your brother, though.” Her voice softened.

“No, just a man dangling a higher social status over our family,” I snapped.

This was the argument that no one else wanted to have with me. My family knew I was right. Years ago, we never would’ve had this many people helping us or be able to throw the yearly parties we have currently.

As one of the few farming families here, we never struggled—but we certainly never had servants waiting on us, either.

Any celebration was a small occasion with cakes baked that morning.

Now, our family invited the entire town to celebrate with enough food to feed an army.

No, those small cakes used to be something my mother would be so proud of.

She used to be so happy with all the things she could do for us, from making our favorite meals to sewing new dresses.

Now, with our engagement having been announced to me and Adrian a few days ago, our house was filled with others to do those things for us. I wasn’t even allowed to dress myself anymore. Instead, his family hired Marie to live with us and ensure I was presentable at any moment for my fiancé.

“Cece.” Josi’s hand against mine pulled me from my thoughts.

I moved my hand away from hers before she could finish.

Something in my gaze made her stop. We both stared at each other for a moment.

There were only a few years separating us.

From the stories I had been told, Josi was so excited to be a big sister.

Now, I could hardly tell we were related.

Our eye colors were the only similarity we shared.

Her dark hair was such a harsh difference from my much lighter, blonde strands.

Even our height was so different. Josi stood almost half a head taller than me, and our parents were both taller than her.

“Go see your chambermaid before people show up.” Her words were slow and soft, like she was parenting a screaming child.

I clenched my hands. My life wasn’t something to just be disregarded. It wasn’t a pawn for my mother to use, either. I needed to get everyone else to understand that.

“I’ll leave soon,” I said instead, shifting my gaze from her.

There was a huff as she left. My body sagged forward at the sound of her sliding down the rope. I braced my hands against the edge, knuckles turning white as I focused on my breathing.

Any pink in the sky had been replaced with pale blue.

Voices from below carried with the wind as the party was being assembled.

Josi knew nothing. My fiancé, Adrian, certainly didn’t know me.

Not anymore, at least. A few years ago, he might’ve been sympathetic.

Though, that Adrian would be just as disgusted by this union as I am now.

His family were our neighbors. We became inseparable the moment we learned that the only thing separating us were the hedges.

Then his family changed. His mother started making dresses for a duchess.

They stayed next to us for another year before they moved closer to the center of the city where the elite lived.

Our mothers still had lunch once a week, sipping tea and gossiping about the clients.

Next time I saw Adrian, he wanted nothing to do with me.

He sat as far from me as possible. Anytime I tried to talk to him, he would just sneer down at me; looking at me as if I was nothing compared to the life he had now.

At first it felt like a dagger to the chest. Someone I cared about deeply simply ignoring my existence as if I meant nothing.

After years passed, the feeling eased until I stopped caring.

All his actions did now was seal the fact that the moment our vows were finished, any remnants of my life would be gone.

I’d officially be his property. Just the thought placed a heavy weight on my chest. He’d expect me to keep up with high society with him.

I tried to ignore what else he’d take from me.

He always talked about having a large family growing up.

“Cece.”

The voice from below wrenched me from my spiraling thoughts. My breathing quickened as I pulled my legs up. It was a slim chance, but maybe she didn’t see them dangling off the ledge. The tiles were warm against my cold feet. The morning sun was finally warming up the world.

“Cecelia Finch.”

There wasn’t enough luck in this town for her to have missed me.

I glanced at where my sheet rope was swaying off the edge.

She was on the lawn, yelling up at me. It would be so easy to run.

I could make it to the chambermaid’s bedroom before she made it up to the second floor.

One more call of my name was all it took to send me sliding down the sheets, running off to her room.