“Thank you,” I say.She strokes the back of my hand. “It’s an easier lesson to learn from the bottom.”There’s an ache in her voice as she says it, and for the first time, I wonder whether Ingrid ever wanted to inherit. But before I can ask, she says, “Would you have had the cake at your coronation?
She fans her face as she swallows. “It would certainly disguise the tears.”I glance through the window at the golden party whirling by inside. Was Kaloni thinking about those books? I heard her speech about the old traditions. She could be mourning in public, even after her mourning is supposed to
AmvalI stretch my legs in the evening gloom, grateful and nervous about the fact that the only windows into the ballroom are on the ground. Climbing the temple—and staying up there—is far from easy, but at least I have to worry much less about getting caught. Especially as the sun sets, I am becomi
I’d follow her anywhere. And I hope Amval can see that, for however long it’s going to be, his kingdom is in good hands.“By the will of the Goddess,” Halit says, “and the law of this land, I crown you Luna Queen of Lightning Cape.”The holy woman sets a white-gold tiara on Kaloni’s head. It stands
I’m probably imagining the room going quiet. A dozen women don’t care that this is the first time one of my brothers has asked me for a private conversation possibly ever. But it still feels like it as I set down the earrings I was about to offer Eva and step out into the hall with him.“We’ve never
IngridI grumble my way out of bed on the morning of Kaloni’s coronation. With everything that’s happened, I haven’t been getting nearly as much sleep as I should. Hell, I spent half of yesterday with my… uncle, Lord Faruk, trying not to roll my eyes every time he spoke.Amval might be right about h