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‘Put on the slippers and then sit there,’ she orders brusquely, her wings seeming to shiver as she walks quickly to the table where a bag sits and pulls out a row of hairpins.
I sit where she tells me to, and she begins to pull and twist my hair, sliding the pins in and along my scalp painfully. Her movements are fast, and it only takes her a few minutes before she stands back and nods with approval. My hair is up in some sort of coif that cleverly hides my human ears.
‘He awaits her in the balcony room.’
Grith opens the door and beckons me. ‘Come on. He’ll be angry if you’re late.’
We walk together through the wide stone corridors to a part of the palace I’ve rarely been to.
‘You’re growing quickly,’ Grith remarks as we go.
My cheeks heat. My belly coils unpleasantly at his odd words, and I say nothing, but I’m sure I hear him mutter ‘soon’ as he pushes open the tall wooden door in front of us.
Grith doesn’t come in with me, though. His eyes flick over me a final time, but thankfully, he stands at the door.
When I go into the room, I see the tall, slim form of Varrik waiting for me on the balcony, and I pause as the door behind me closes. His long, white hair is tied back, and he’s dressed in clothes of deep red gossamer and silk with a cloak of black and gold. When he turns, his slow smile when he sees me is charming and disarming, and I find myself relaxing in his presence. He’s told me to call him Father, but I haven’t yet, the loss of my actual da still too new and raw.
‘Are you ready?’ he asks.
I nod hesitantly. ‘Will I find out what I can do tonight?’ I ask.
He nods. ‘Yes, and afterward, you’ll be put in the correct house with the others of your level.’
I grin in excitement. I haven’t been permitted to mix with the others of my age here outside of lessons. Maybe I’ll make some friends, and Fiana and the others will leave me alone if I’m housed outside the keep as well.
‘We’re going into the Breach tonight. Have you been through before?’
‘Only when you brought me here,’ I say, and he nods.
‘When we get to where we’re going, I’ll release your binding, and your skill will make itself known. You’ll do as I say, won’t you, Thalia?’
I nod quickly. ‘Yes.’
He frowns. ‘You must. Things could get dangerous if you don’t.’
I nod again. ‘I promise.’
‘Good. Come.’
He leads me to the middle of the room where the smallish, upended circle stands. It’s less grandiose than the one that brought me here after the river.
The river.
I shake my head to get rid of the memory, focusing on the Gate in front of me. The one before was huge enough for a giant to pass through, whereas this is only just big enough for him and me to comfortably enter side by side. He presses a button. There’s a roar, and I gasp as I watch something slice through the air, making a bright gash that widens to the shape of the circle that’s containing it.
‘I thought you had to wait for the Breach to open before you could travel by Gate,’ I whisper in awe.
‘Not on my Gate, child,’ he says with a slight smirk. He takes my arm, his long fingers gripping me gently, and pulls me so we’re directly in front of it.
‘Do everything I say, Thalia,’ he warns again.
I nod, and he pulls me through.
We emerge in a huge marble room with music and lots of light bouncing off golden decorations all around. There are fae everywhere. Couples whirl around a dancefloor, laughing and talking. I stop and stare at the finery and their graceful movements as Varrik walks on, and as I go to follow, I spy something on the floor by a table. A large, yellow ring. I pick it up and hold the carved stone, realizing it’s a bracelet. I intend to put it on the table, but Varrik turns me around roughly by my shoulders, looking angry that I fell behind. He pulls me along behind him quickly, murmuring that we aren’t there to spectate.
There are humans here, I realize as I slip the bracelet into the pocket of my skirts, but they’re all dressed in blue uniforms and carrying trays piled high with food.
I gasp as I feel something unfurl and rise inside me, the others of my kind forgotten for a moment in its wake. I close my eyes and lose my footing as I feel energy coursing through my veins for the first time.
