EstrellaI cling to the side of The Lady Suniva, listening to the birds’ jagged calls and the rhythmic thud, thud, thud of the various ropes and riggings against the wood of the boat itself on the final day of our journey home. On the ride over, I was horrifically seasick. The waves are so much larg
“I’m sorry,” he mumbles.I glance at him. “Why?”“I may not understand it, but obviously that… place meant something to you.” He shrugs. “So I’m sorry their betrayal hurt you.”That comes the closest in the three-day journey to coaxing a smile onto my lips. Castor hates apologizing, mostly to me.“D
AnwenThe day after the Sundrop Gem contingent leaves, I sleep in for the first time in days. When Frazier shakes my shoulder, and I open my eyes into the damn near midmorning light, pain rips through my chest.Hers? Mine? Is there any point in asking anymore?“Get the fuck off me.” I rip Frazier’s
Well, I’m fucking tired of it.My nails sharpen into claws, and I tear the bar from the doors in a flurry of violence. One of them swings open, loose on its hinges. Father’s smell wafts out. And I stare at what lays inside.The office I spent my whole life jealous of is in tatters. His desk is half-
EstrellaI smooth my hands over the fabric of my soft, golden coronation dress, shot through with strands of color. Purple for the sky at night. Rich brown for the sand of the desert beyond our little oasis. Gray for Father’s eyes. Red for the heart of our people.The heart I hold in my cold hands.
“Oh, my dove.” Mother cups my cheeks, and I watch hesitation flicker in her eyes. I’ve asked her a question she doesn’t quite know how to answer. “Didn’t you listen to me? You’re never truly alone in Sundrop Gem.”The bite on my neck itches. I scratch at it absently. In Dun’s Crossing, I thought tha
AnwenMy mouth falls open. Estrella’s whole body is consumed in that light, the glow I saw the night her father was killed. She tilts her head back with a beatific smile, and something in my ribcage heals too. I knew she was going to be beautiful. But the dress, her hair, the smile… it’s all too muc
That’s what I need. A single moment alone with Estrella. A second to tell her it’s not true and have her listen.No, a second to tell her I’m sorry. That I know I can’t live without her, and I’m willing to do whatever she needs—even sail across the sea on a stolen boat—to be with her.From the shado
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