34

I pressed my lips together. If only it were that simple. If Elias had worked everything out, he would’ve told me. His continued distance made it clear the two kingdoms had not come to an agreement.

The girls didn’t know that without one, we would be doomed to war. Was that going to be my first real action as Queen of Frasia? Drawing our nation into a conflict we couldn’t win?

“You’ve got that look on your face again,” Fina said.

“What look?” I asked guiltily. I tried to focus on my two friends. There wasn’t anything they could do about this situation—the least I could do was give them my full attention when they were trying to make me feel better.

“That bored-sad look you get when you’re trying to solve some unsolvable problem in your mind without telling us about it,” Adora said.

My face heated. “It’s not—”

Fina waved her hand. “Don’t worry,” she said. “I know there’s a lot of royal stuff you have to deal with that we don’t. I don’t expect you to tell us everything.” She sighed. “It’s just… I wish there was something we could do to help.”

A surge of gratitude finally put an end to my spiraling thoughts. “I’m sorry,” I said. “You’re doing more than you know just by being here.”

Adora smiled. “Good,” she said. “Now look at this gown we had ordered at the tailor.”

I blinked. “You had something ordered for me?”

“Of course,” Adora said with a laugh. “We had it made that day you were all wrapped up in the bookstore. It came out gorgeous. Amity, is it ready?”

“Sure is,” Amity said. She hurried out of the ensuite with a dress box in her arms. She set it on the bed, then slowly removed the gown. Fina and Adora giggled in excitement as my jaw dropped.

“This is gorgeous,” I said. “You had this made for me?”

“Do you like it?” Adora said.

“I love it,” I said, and I meant it. The dress was black organza, but embroidered with silver that shimmered like the golden fabric the royal dragons wore. It looked as if the tailor had reached up to the night sky and cut the fabric from the stars. It was gorgeous, and it perfectly represented Nightfall.

“It has pockets, too,” Fina said. “You know. Just in case.”

I smiled at her. “You really thought of everything.”

“I do try.”

Fina guided me behind the dressing screen. “This really is a remarkable gown,” she said as she helped me into it. “The tailors here are truly remarkable.”

“Shianga is an amazing place,” I murmured.

I hoped I wouldn’t have to get used to it here.

Fina tied the ribbon on the back. It was mostly a wrap dress, comfortable and soft against my skin, and as promised, it did have pockets perfect for a small knife.

As Fina was smoothing out the skirt, the door to the bedroom opened.

“Oh, Your Highness!” Adora chirped. “Pardon us, we were just helping Reyna try on the gown for the ball. I’ll get out of your hair—I’ll meet you in our quarters, Fina—see you tonight, Reyna!”

The door closed.

“I didn’t mean to run her off,” Elias said softly. Then he sighed. “I was just coming to get ready for the ball myself.”

I was still behind the dressing screen and couldn’t see him, but the gentleness in his voice made my heart leap into my throat.

Fina stepped out from behind the screen first, and murmured a brief greeting to Elias before she left us alone in the room, scurrying out just as quickly as Adora had. I lingered for a moment, still concealed from Elias, taking a few steadying breaths. I felt dangerously close to tears, but why, I wasn’t sure.

I just had a feeling something was going to change at this ball. I didn’t know what—but my wolf’s instinct knew. Nothing was going to be the same.

I stepped out from behind the dressing screen. Elias was at the dresser, fastening cufflinks into the sleeves of his shirt. He looked exhausted, especially with his shoulders curled forward and his hair tied back. Even his fine ball clothes, made of dark silk, couldn’t mask the distant look in his eyes and the furrow in his brow.

He glanced up, lips parted like he was about to say something, but then his eyes widened. “Reyna,” he murmured. “You look gorgeous.”

I swept my hair over one shoulder and smiled gently, directing my face closer to his feet than his eyes, as I wasn’t sure I could meet his gaze and maintain my composure.

“I had nothing to do with it,” I said. “Fina and Adora had it made for me.”

“Well, they did well,” he said. He crossed the space between us, then stood in front of me, all square shoulders and serious expression. “Reyna.”

I kept my eyes down. Or I tried to, but then his forefinger was beneath my chin, gently tilting my face up to meet his. Those brown eyes were warm, but concerned. “Is everything okay?”

I didn’t even have the energy to be mad. “Okay?” I asked incredulously. “What do you think?”

“I know I haven’t been around much this week—”

I laughed, but there was no humor in it. I placed both hands on his chest, feeling the warm familiar muscle under my palms, the steady beat of his heart. “That’s an understatement.”

“I’m sorry,” he said.

“I just wish you would talk to me,” I said. “You haven’t told me anything about the negotiations in days. About what Draunar demanded.”

His expression darkened. “There’s nothing to say.”

I took a step back. “That’s what I mean,” I said. “You’re keeping me out of this.”

“I’m trying to keep you safe.”