Wells folded his arms, glowering at Uncle Jerran.
Feared and respected—or resented.
“Zander’s son,” Uncle Jerran said fondly. It was too late to warn him; the court was watching. “Thank you for your service to my niece.”
Wells opened his mouth, but to Kalie’s eternal gratitude, he looked at her before he spoke. He schooled his face into a calmer expression. “I did what I had to do.”
“Mm.” Uncle Jerran tapped his ivory cane against a flat stone. “You look so much like your father. He and your grandfather were two of my greatest allies in the war, you know. The day Madeleine invaded Avington, it was my troops that arrived to stop her. Your mother had already fled with you. I don’t blame her.”
Wells kept his face impassive, but his lips flattened and a muscle in his neck twitched. “Thank you for trying.”
Trees rustled above them as a breeze swept through. It sounded like the distant waterfalls, rushing towards the lake hundreds of feet below the Bridge of Destiny.
“I sense a chill coming on.” Mother tucked her hands in her velvet sleeves. “Perhaps we should head inside. I’ve prepared a feast for this evening to celebrate your return.”
As Selene glowered at her, Kalie clenched her teeth. “How kind of you. Please, lead the way.”
Mother led the welcome party up the cobblestone path, past guards dressed in navy blue. Selene strutted after her, but Kalie doubled her pace and leaned in close to her sister’s ear.
“Lusting after my crown, are you?”
“You’re supposed to be dead,” Selene spat.
Her heart twisted painfully, but she flashed Selene a gloating smirk. “And yet, I’m not.”
She marched ahead before Selene could spew more venom at her. As she approached the towering bronze pillars flanking the entryway, a chill swept past. Wind tore into the sparse leaves clinging to the weathered branches, carrying a few of them away. A delicate leaf swirled around her and landed at her feet. It was brown around the edges, moth-eaten and decayed.
Kalie cringed.
She didn’t need an Azurian priestess to tell her it was a bad omen.
As a never-ending stream of nobles ambushed her in the sunny entrance hall, she vanished to a closed compartment in her mind. She accepted their condolences, expressed her appreciation when they wished her a long reign, and thanked them for their promises of loyalty. After an eternity, Uncle Jerran dismissed them with the announcement that she had to prepare for the ball.
She glanced over her shoulder. Wells was wedged between some of the nobles, scowling as always.
“Guardsman Wright, show him to his quarters,” Kalie said, motioning to a stocky man she vaguely recognized. The man saluted and led him away.
Curling his arm around her shoulders, Uncle Jerran led her away. Finally. She felt like she was going to pass out. Mother moved to follow them, and Kalie stifled the urge to scream.Leave me alone, she wanted to shout, but she conjured a smile. “Thank you for your concern, but you must’ve been up all night planning this dinner. You should both get some rest.”
“Oh, please don’t worry about us. We’re just so glad to see you safe.”
Mother laid a hand on her arm. Though her fingers were icy, Kalie found herself leaning into her touch. But Mother’s smile was fake. The warmth didn’t reach her cold eyes. More manipulations, more games. Wasn’t that all it ever was? Setting her jaw, Kalie turned away.
“Let me walk you up to?—”
“I insist. Go rest. I’ll see you at the ball tonight.” Kalie lowered her voice for Mother’s ears alone. “Drop this ridiculous act. I’m tired of it.”
For the sake of the court, she didn’t let her smile waver, and Mother didn’t either. Kalie spun and marched away. She’d understood Mother’s motives perfectly.
Strangely, the realization didn’t make her feel as triumphant as she’d thought it would.
She followed Uncle Jerran out of a lift, then slammed to a halt in a corridor of gold and marble. They weren’t going to her suite of rooms.
“No,” she whispered, backing towards the lift. “No. I… I can’t.”
Uncle Jerran gave her a sympathetic smile. “You’re going to be the Duchissa, my dear. These rooms are yours.”
“But I don’t want them. I—I won’t…” Kalie choked back a sob.
