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Tarlia then curtsies. “A pleasure to meet you, your highness. I’m Princess Driziely.”
Princess. Of course. And she looks the part, with a silver tiara framing her perfect auburn curls. Her makeup is subtle, but I notice that her lashes are longer and darker, her eyes brighter, and her cheeks rosy. Her dress is dark blue with embroidery on the chest and a straight cut, much simpler than the dresses used in Krastel ceremonies, and yet perfect for a fae coronation.
“And Astra’s friend,” Marlak says. I can feel his chest moving behind me. “I’m glad to meet you.”
He doesn’t extend his hand this time, but keeps holding me tight in what could be a pleasant embrace if it didn’t make me feel trapped. I’m also aware that he never holds me like that.
I brush all these thoughts aside and ask, “How’s everything?”
“Good.” Tarlia glances between me and Marlak, her tone cautious. “Big plans for my birthday party.”
That’s the party I heard Otavio mention. I have so many questions to ask her, so much to say, but it’s hard to do that when she’s pretending to be someone else.
I’m about to ask a vapid question, when Marlak says, “We could go upstairs. So you two can talk.”
Tarlia nods. Marlak pulls my hand and we climb the stairs, then walk to an alcove. Tarlia and Ziven are right behind us.
Marlak turns to me and her. “You two go in, and I’ll block the entrance so you aren’t heard.” He turns to Ziven. “I suppose you can keep me company.”
Ziven glares at him. “Sounds delightful.”
“It does,” Tarlia says, as if to end any argument, then walks inside.
I’m about to follow her, when Marlak pulls my hand, then leans down, so that his lips are almost touching my ear.
“I trust you,” he says, and kisses my temple like he did at our wedding.
The gesture feels tender, even if it might be a warning, or maybe part of his pretense. And yet he moves away and I can still feel his lips against my skin and his warm breath in my ear, bringing shivers down my spine.
I dread meeting his eyes, as I’m not sure what I’ll see in them—or worse, what he’ll see in mine, but I need to look at him, if only to let him know he can trust me, and that I’ll never reveal his secret.
When I look at his face, I try to tell him that, but all I see is a turbulent darkness hiding something deep within. And yet it’s a familiar darkness.
I don’t know how I feel, just that I need to gasp for air.
Quickly, I turn and follow Tarlia inside the alcove. A single sconce with a lightstone illuminates delicate flowering plants climbing along the stone walls, two benches on the sides, and pillows on the floor on the back.
I hear a cracking sound, and turn to see a wall of ice enclosing us in that small space.
Tarlia approaches the ice wall and runs her hand over it, then turns to me. “Impressive magic.”
“Yes, but—” I almost say that Ziven can also do it, when I realize he might not have told her about his powers. “I can’t believe you’re here. You and Ziven!”
She waves a hand. “We were worried about you. You think we wouldn’t find you?”
Her words take a while to sink in. “You—came for me?”
“Of course! We wanted to see you.” She chuckles. “Poor Ziven, I think he wanted to rescue you. I can see now that it’s not necessary, but at least I know you’re well.” She then lowers her voice. “You love him, don’t you?”
That’s… a bizarre assessment. Extremely bizarre.
I always thought she was quite observant, but perhaps I was wrong. “Ziven? I barely?—”
She punches my arm. “Don’t be silly. Ziven! Why would you care about Ziven? I mean your fiery fae husband.”
I feel like something hits me hard in the chest. It’s strange to have someone I trust voice so clearly a thought that terrifies me. But she’s wrong.
“He’s not fiery. And I don’t… I mean, I won’t say he’s terrible, but we don’t get along well.” I’m struggling to find the right words. “He’s… I’m his prisoner, actually, and he doesn’t like me. Humiliates me, tells me I’m pathetic and unattractive. And he’s in love with a fae princess.” I know that’s not exactly true, but I need Tarlia to understand that there’s nothing between me and Marlak. “She’s too important for him to put her at risk. Me, he doesn’t care.”
