“When do you intend that return to be?” Kieran asks.Castor clenches his jaw. Some expression flickers across Estrella’s face and away again, too quickly for me to read, but the stab of pain in my chest tells me the question isn’t a pleasant one. Automatically, I start to share the information with
EstrellaTess pulls swaths of fabric out of my trunk, sorting through party dresses and everyday dresses for anything suitable to wear through the halls now that I’m Luna.Luna. Fuck.“I’ve always liked this one,” Tess says.I glance at the blue and purple damask over her arm. “I don’t want to wear
“I spent it with—” My tongue sticks stubbornly to the roof of my mouth. I cannot say the words, cannot admit my sickening betrayal.I spent the night in Prince Anwen’s bed, I tell her.Tess’s mouth tightens in a way I know means she’s biting the inside of her lips to keep from having a reaction. My
AnwenDays pass in a blur of activity. Every one is exactly the same and just different enough to drive me crazy. I wake up reliably with the sunrise, something I’ve never done before in my life. My steward, Frazier, is shocked the first time he comes in to wake me up and I’m already half-dressed wi
He simpers. “Apologies, Your Highness, but my magic simply isn’t powerful enough. There is no way for you to inspect the king’s body without disturbing the ice, which—”“Will damage the body before they can get it back to Sundrop Gem,” I snarl. “I’ve heard the speech before. Just”—I shake my head—“k
EstrellaIn a break between meetings, when Castor reports Anwen is shut up in his office with orders not to disturb him, I creep through the halls of the castle to visit Father. My dress, a re-dyed version of the purple and blue Tess offered is now purple and deep, dark red that reminds me of blood
In some ways, I could. I could brush my fingers over his ruined cheeks and return color to them. But with my weak abilities, I could do no more.“Would you like that?” I ask anyway. “Then, we could change you into something a little more comfortable.”I wonder if Floyd can hear me through the door.
AnwenI tap my feet against the solarium floor, fighting an instinct that demands I pace.She’s coming, Baz reminds me without looking away from the spread on the table in front of us. I called him back from the chase leading ever closer to the castle because there’s no one else who could sit at my
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