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The sky lightens as we walk back to the village, passing the early morning fishermen on the river. We climb the stone stairs before reaching the armory. I turn my eyes away. I don’t want to see the remnants of the carnage from our fight with the Miscretes. We walk across the square to the inn, confident in the story we’ve developed to tell the others.
The door to the inn creaks open. Katiana looks up from stoking the fire in the hearth as we enter and tries to suppress a grin. “You never change.”
Bastian ignores her, taking my hand and leading me up the stairs. After my night with him, I try not to think too deeply about her comment either.
He turns the knob and opens the door. All three of our siblings are out of bed and dressed, loading their cloaks with their weapons.
“Where have you been?” Evie crosses the room, hands on her hips. She looks down at our clothes, covered in the remnants of the blood we couldn’t wash out in the pond. “Was it you?” Her eyes drill into Bastian’s. “Katiana told Gray this morning what happened in the armory after the dance floor collapsed. I knew this had you written all over it.”
“They were tracking Mari.” Bastian crosses the room and pulls off his shirt, then digs through his bag for a different one. “I kept her away from the inn last night in case there were more.”
“But we could have helped you,” Levi signs. He hasn’t taken his attention away from me since we entered the room. It’s as if he can read the lies between Bastian’s carefully crafted lines.
“Leave them alone.” Grayson flips a dagger and loads it into a compartment inside his cloak. “They’re exploring each other for the first time. It’s obvious she’s just been f?—”
“Gray,” Evie warns, throwing a shoe across the room at him.
“Like I said.” Bastian yanks his fresh shirt over his head. “Miscretes. That’s all. It was safer for everyone if we were outside the village.” He tosses me my bag. “There’s a washroom down the hall. Go get dressed.” His commands are so different from the soft caress of his voice the night before. It’s a way for him to throw them off our scent. And his scent is still all over me.
An oversized basin sits in the room filled with suds and a bit of murky water. Though someone has used the tub, it must be cleaner than my body. Thankfully, the water is still hot as I sink down to my shoulders and let it calm my nerves. Today, I will face King Cirrus with little knowledge of the Unseelie Court or the fae and operating on less than two hours of sleep. Levi will protect me. I close my eyes to block out what’s coming. Levi will protect me.
But what if I need to protect him?
I stand up in the tub, water cascading from my body as I shiver in the cold air. Levi put those thoughts in my head. In the preparations for going to Frostacre, I never once thought I’d depend on Levi for physical protection. He knows a lot more about his ancestors, so his knowledge of customs and tricks will help, but I will have my daggers with me. I have every intention of leaving with all my siblings and the prophecy.
I settle back into the suds and wash my hair and body. When I’m done, I step out of the tub, pat myself dry, and pull my clothes from my bag. Someone packed me a green velvet dress and boots with dagger sheaths built into them. An envelope is on top of the dress. I open the seal and pull out the note.
Mari,
I can’t have my little sister facing the fairy king without the proper attire. Show them what you’re made of.
Evie
Her note makes me smile. It’s not just me and Levi entering the court. I have the full power of the Kindred Few behind me.
There’s a knock on the door, so I gather a towel around me to open it. It’s Grayson, looking sheepish and older-brotherly. He blocks his eyes with his hand as he enters and holds his other arm out, swinging it wildly so he doesn’t bump into anything. I lead him to a bench and help him sit down.
“You don’t have to cover your eyes.” I sit beside him and look at my puckered toes. “I’m fully covered.”
He drops his hand. “Trying to show an inkling of respect. As the only other Avrenian, I feel responsible for you.” He clasps his hands between his knees, his fingers forming a steeple. “But that’s not why I came in here. I want to talk privately.”
“Does this have to do with where Bastian and I were last night?” Suspicion runs deep over each of my siblings’ faces.
“In a way.” Running a hand through his hair, he sighs. “Be careful with Bastian. I don’t want to see your heart broken.”
“And what would he think if he knew you were in here talking to me about this?” I cross my arms, appalled Grayson thinks he knows what is right for me. “You know about as much about our life in private as I know about yours with Evie.” He said he loved me, and it wasn’t the same with other women.
“There are things you don’t know about him—beyond his sexual exploits—that garner my concern. Just be careful.” He lays a hand on my arm.
“What things?” I don’t understand why people are so damn secretive around here. “He’s your brother. Why are you so concerned?”
“They aren’t things I know, only things I sense based on observations.” He gives me a lopsided smile and ruffles my wet hair. “So, you can take it or leave it, but I’m usually pretty good with my intuition.”
He leaves me alone again, not nearly as happy as I was when I first sank into the tub.
I enter the room barefoot; the skirt of the green dress sweeps over the floor. All eyes turn to me, taking in my formal attire for my appointment with King Cirrus. Levi adjusts the cuffs on his button-up shirt. He looks handsome in black pants and shiny dress shoes.
“Are we distracting Cirrus or going to a ball?” I tug at my sleeves, the material tighter than I had hoped.
