EstrellaTess laughs and pats my arm. “Now, you’ve shown everyone the real abilities of Sundrop.”“The real abilities to stumble all over each other?” I smile.“Excuse me,” someone says behind me.I don’t know who I think I’m kidding. I recognize Anwen’s voice instantly, and even if I didn’t, Tess’s
AnwenA scream splits the air. If I wasn’t already watching Estrella like a hawk, I would still look over just in time to see King Isai touch one finger to the arrow through the center of his chest, then slump. Estrella tries to catch him, but she’s not strong enough to support his bulk, so they go
“I was in the hall,” he whispers. “I didn’t—”“We have to move him,” I say. “Now or never.”Queen Suniva smiles softly down at her husband. “I’m afraid, Prince Anwen, that we have already arrived at never. There’s nothing your healer could do for him now.”Estrella closes her eyes, and fresh pain te
EstrellaMy heart stopped in the moment Father’s did. I have a vague and distant sense of being moved—someone says Father may be crushed if we don’t—but no idea where I’m being sent. The noise of the ballroom dampens. There’s less screaming, or at least, less outside of my head.Father is dead. Not
‘I’m going to look into the matter myself,’ I tell Mother and Castor. ‘You will know what I do.’Before we reach the voices, Anwen leads me into a passage behind a tapestry which releases us into an empty hall I’ve never seen before. For a moment, I consider that Anwen is actually part of the plot,
AnwenI blink awake the next morning, sore and scraped. For a second, I stare at the ceiling, trying to remember who I fought. Then, someone shifts in the bed beside me, and everything snaps into place.The assassination of King Isai. Estrella yelling at me. Falling into bed with her. And collapsing
I blink. “What?”“It’s an idiom.” She flips her hand dismissively. “I mean to say you have nothing, and you’re pretending otherwise.”I swallow. In that moment of hesitation, a lance of pain rips through my chest, nowhere near my mark. I put my hand to it.“Did you feel that?” I ask.“Feel what?” Sh
EstrellaI scratch at the second plain, shapeless Dun’s Crossing dress I’ve worn in four days and try not to cry. My gown lies on the floor of that ridiculous room Anwen took me to, and as much as I’ll miss it, I think I’ll be happier if I never see it again. My scalp aches from leaving the braids a
When he brings a hand up to tease my other nipple, I remember I can actually move my arms. One hand, I thread instantly into his hair and tug. The vibrations of his grumble ripple through me. The other, I slip down his back, nails out, scratching red lines I can’t see. I need to mark him as much as
CandaceI trail after Hollis through the dark halls of the castle, my heart pounding. If Finn didn’t talk to me after the meeting, I would’ve let Hollis whisk me on whatever adventure he had planned for today. I never would’ve heard the story about his mother—and he wouldn’t have told it. Judging by
“Long story short, I pitched a fit.” I shake my head. “She finally told the painter she’d sit with me in the room, or not at all.”Candace giggles. “Don’t tell me that’s when you gained your taste for paint thinner.”“No, but I did eat a fistful of blue paint I’ve never seen come back out.” I stare
HollisI take a full step back from Candace before my brain catches up with my body. We were supposed to go try to get some of the staff on our side today—and if the idea appealed, maybe have a private lunch in the kitchen, without all the pressure of a formal meal. Talking about Mother is… not exac
Maybe I don’t have to. Hollis and I made it into town the other day, and it’s really not far from the castle. If Kieran paid for my accommodation in an inn there, that might go some way toward easing the tension. Maybe mine and Kash’s. He’s still enjoying the palace far more than he has any right to
Candace“King Andri has refused my latest meeting request,” Kieran says.Taner groans. Finn rolls his eyes. Ingrid cracks her knuckles and glares at the portrait of the king that hangs over the small sitting room they’ve been granted to use for their meetings.I scratch a line through the bottom ent
Open the east gate, I call through the mind-link to the soldiers that should be on guard there at this time.They do as they’re told, and metal whines in the distance. Candace pricks an ear then picks up speed. Fuck. I can’t explain to her that’s just my orders being followed. She doesn’t even know
HollisMy first plan didn’t work out. Hell, I haven’t seen paw nor tail of Kash since that disastrous conversation with him. I have no idea why it went to shit. It really seemed like we were onto something, like Candace was about to unearth some big secret… and then he just shut down.I roll out my
Kash frowns. “Then how’d she find out? See a mark?”“In effect.” Hollis stares at the rocky floor.“He’s softening it.” I bite my lip. “We didn’t not pursue as much as we intended to, and she caught us. We made a terrible, selfish mistake that’s caused a lot of problems, and we just want to fix them