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When the sunfaded over the knolls, Prince Destin insisted a revel of wine and mead, dancing and celebrating, was to begin.
The bloody glow sparked like a flame through the trees as I let my hair fall down my back in a thick braid.
Time was strange here. It felt as though I’d always been in this world of magic with its hum of power in every breath of wind, every step onto the spongy grass. Then, I’d witness a woman summon ewers from nothingness, or a man snap his fingers and lanterns across the palace grounds would ignite in strange, colorful flames, and I would remember how little I understood.
Eight sunrises. I’d ticked each one on a parchment on the desk, uncertain how else to keep time. They did not seem to use calendars. Most mage folk often looked to star positions or shifted strange bone beads across posts that seemed to mark seasons.
Foreign and strange and wonderful all at once.
More and more, I was accepting this was not a dream.
This place burned within me, spoke to me, yet I could not answer. There’d been a shift in my body, a new sort of weight in my blood, as though something built inside that seemed more suited for this realm than that of Las Vegas and cars and greasy pizza.
I studied my palms. Magic. It hadn’t revealed itself, and I wasn’t certain if it would.
A throat cleared at my back. There, in the doorway, stood a woman with soft brown skin and long, dark braids holding a wrapped parcel. On the top was a golden ribbon.
“From the crown prince,” she said. “Commissioned your gown for tonight’s revel.”
I leaned back in my chair, eyes narrowed. “Well, that answers my question.”
“What question is that?”
“Who the woman was in Prince Kage’s little band of thieves.”
I thought she might freeze, maybe tremble. I did not expect her to throw her head back and laugh. “Recognized me from such a brief word? I’d say that is a delightful talent you have, Lady Ravenwood. Hone that, and no secrets shall pass you by.”
Another soft laugh and she placed the gown on the bed, grinning as she stepped back. “Need help dressing?”
“From you? No.”
“Oh, don’t be a child.” She tilted her head. “You roll with Prince Kage after he altered your fingers and took your bag, yet all I do is tell them to leave you be, and I’m shunned?”
There was an odd tug to trust the woman, and I desired nothing more than to adamantly refuse out of pure principle.
“First, I did not roll with the prince.”
“You were in his bed.”
I tossed my hands up. “He had a nightmare.”
“It’s rather sweet that you held his hand through it.”
With a groan, I let my head fall back. “You’re as frustrating as him.”
“Oh no, My Lady. I am much worse. Now, if we’re through with grudges and you accept that there are dreary goings on here that might persuade a prince to take on the life of a highwayman for an evening, perhaps I may help you dress foryourrevel.”
Heat flooded my cheeks. “I feel stupid, but there are so many laces on these things, so . . . fine.”
The woman snickered and set to work helpingme into the stardust gown. Silver and ebony scattered across the silk bodice. and the skirt was made of descending cascades of crimson. As though hemmed in blood.
The neckline plunged in the front and back, revealing the serpent on my spine, and my arms were free to reveal the ink on my fingers and hands.
“Thank you,” I said when the woman finished stitching me into the dress. “What’s your name?”
“Gwyn,” she said. “Are you ready?”
“No.”
