AnwenThree days later—four, if you count the fact Estrella and I didn’t go back to her palace until morning—I lean over the bow of The Lady Suniva and watch the towers of Solberg Castle rise over the horizon.Baz claps me on the shoulder. “Someday, I’ll get you back for only staying a day in that p
“No, there isn’t.” I lean my shoulder against hers. The rocking of the boat might’ve pushed us together. “Are you ready?”She chuckles nervously. “It may be a bit late for that as well.”The tattoo on my finger catches the light. “We hid our marks for weeks.”“No.” She shakes her head resolutely. “I
EstrellaQueen Raven raises a slow hand to cover her face. King Kieran’s sharp mouth turns down slightly at the corners. My pulse beats a warning in my ears. I trust Anwen. I want to trust Anwen. The stories he tells make far more sense with the woman who found me at the top of the dungeon stairs. B
“Our father—”“Is dead,” Anwen says coldly. “A devastating loss, and one I intend to revenge as much as I can. What does that have to do with our relationship?”“You were involved!” Castor bellows, his hand going to his sword.Anwen tenses. My heart leaps into my throat. They are going to fight, and
AnwenKieran leans back in the chair at his desk. “To get the sort of turnout the two of you are looking for, I’ve scheduled the wedding for the next full moon.”I suck in a deep breath and rub the pale tattoo on my pinkie. “Three weeks?”“I know.” He shrugs. “But everyone just went home after the p
“It might,” I grumble.But the place it’ll get us is having to clean the whole room back up or ask one of the staff to do it. It’s the easy way.“Fuck, all right. Where haven’t we looked?” I ask.He stares around the room for a moment. “Top of the canopy?”“Stupid place to keep something.”Baz shimm
Estrella“Thank you,” I murmur as one of the Dun’s Crossing seamstresses pins another fold of my skirt in place.After a few days of what Tess deemed arguing, though I would more rightly call it standing my ground, the flock of women assigned to make my wedding dress have finally understood that I w
Nessa’s mouth falls open, and there’s a beat of silence. I meet Tess’s wide gaze. Both of us have been watching them go back and forth like expert kras players, and my neck is beginning to hurt.“Apologies,” Princess Candace says. “I haven’t been sleeping very well, and my tongue got away from me. S
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