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
AnwenKieran and I walk through the castle side-by-side, talking about the wedding. There’s nothing else to talk about anymore. I swear to the Goddess, I heard a couple of maids chattering about it when I walked by the other day.“Remember, there are still two weeks left,” he says. “This likely isn’
“No fucking way,” I spit. The only good thing about any of this is how it’s forcing Estrella and I together. Sure, there’s a bunch of political crap to wade through, but at the end of it all, I get to spend my life with her. If we could have the wedding without any of the scheming, I’d do that in a
Estrella“At last.” I smile across the table at Anwen. “We’re alone.”He kisses the back of my hand. “Tonight, but probably not again until this is over. The other kingdoms’ delegations arrive tomorrow.”“And a week still separates us from the wedding.” I groan in a very un-queenlike way and slump s
Exhaustion drags on my limbs. So many weeks of running around like chickens with our heads cut off, stealing moments together when we can, and we spend nearly every one of them discussing the investigation. I want to discuss it—I want to know what is happening, how close we are to catching Father’s
AnwenI rap on Estrella’s door, the hallway behind me humming with activity. All the delegations are here—including Snowcrest—and the servants race around like ants in a colony, completing final preparations before the welcome ball just getting underway downstairs.She opens the door.“Fuck,” I mutt
She giggles, a sound I can’t wait to hear every day. “I’m certain that made a good impression–at his wife’s funeral.”“Hey, I think he smiled,” I say. “Or ordered me to stay quiet for the rest of the service.”She giggles again. My heart’s going to beat out of my chest and move into hers if she keep
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