Royal Secrets

Sarah

The atrium is on the smaller side, built onto the far back side of Sydney’s manor. Snow glides off the domed glass ceiling, falling in giant piles along the exterior glass walls. 

Beyond the glass, the world is cast in silver as the clouds choke the sun and cloak Shadowcrest in darkness. 

Cosette was right about a storm coming. Wind rattles the walls of the atrium as I walk through the maze of plants planted directly into the ground, where a stone path gives way to patches of raw dirt and soil. Blake is fast asleep in a sling against my chest, my shirt clutched in his tiny fist. 

“Does Sydney take care of these plants?” I ask, running my fingers over massive leaves belonging to tropical plants that definitely wouldn’t survive, even in this humid, deliciously hot atrium, without delicate care. 

“Oh, Goddess no,” Cosette snorts, shaking her head. We meet up again, having take