Excitement starts to overpower my fear, and I take a small step back into the sun. When I don’t burst into flame, I begin to wander the grounds, enjoying the tranquility and quiet after the hustle and bustle of the preparations for tonight’s ball. I almost want to cry.
I need to tell Father immediately! But no . . . Father is supposedly consummating his marriage. My entire body shudders at the thought.
Considering I have nowhere to be and no one demanding my time for a few hours, I choose to enjoy this moment of solitude and awe. Perhaps Galyna, the goddess of healing, finally answered my pleas and I no longer need to spend my days in the dark.
My skin prickles once again, and I get the feeling someone is watching, but when I look around and no one’s there, I shake it off. Must be my overactive imagination playing tricks on me . . . not that I don’t have reason to suspect anything. After the break-in the other night, I keep wondering if the masked man will return to continue his search for whatever it is he was looking for. I never did tell Father about him, and the more time that passes, the more I worry he’ll be angry about the omission. For now, it’ll remain my secret.
A sudden rush of energy bursts through my body, and a laugh bubbles out of me. I find myself running. Exhilarated, I race down the path, tiny stones kicking up beneath my feet. The heel of my shoe snags on a rock, so I kick them off and keep running in my stockings.
The new Lady Astoria would be aghast, but I can’t bring myself to care. I’m so tired of her and her demands already, and it’s only been a couple weeks; I hate to think what she could possibly do once this wedding is over. I’m slightly worried, but for now, I’m running. My hair trails out behind me, and for a second, I wonder: if I leap, could I possibly fly?
All too soon, the sun dips below the horizon, and a chill breezes through me. Time has flown by, and I’m a complete disaster. I have no idea where my shoes are, and my stockings are in ribbons. Wrapping my arms around myself to keep warm now that the rush of adrenaline has faded, I trudge back to the manor.
What felt like the most refreshing run of my life has been reduced to aching feet and my heart beating frantically in my chest. Gods, I hope nothing is wrong with me.
I turn a corner and bump into Sera.
“Raelyn! I’ve been looking all over for you. Where have you been? You look like a mess.”
I smile sheepishly. “I kind of went for a run. The house was overwhelming and I needed some fresh air.”
Sera’s eyes dart around frantically, as if looking for someone. “Have you lost your mind? It’s not safe! You can’t be seen like this. Your father would have my head.”
I frown at her worry. Surely my father wouldn’t blame her for my jaunt around the grounds.
“Come, come. Let’s get you inside before anyone sees you.” Sera practically drags me through a side door and up the servants’ stairs toward my room.
When we finally make it inside, she helps peel me out of my sweat-ruined dress and stockings and into the quickest bath of my life. She frets over my hair, but there’s no time for it to fully dry before the ball is to begin.
Wringing her hands, she looks me up and down as I stand before her in my frilly undergarments.
“Gods, what am I going to do with your hair? I spent so much time on it earlier.”
“I’m sorry, Sera. I don’t know what I was thinking. I made it outside, and I just found myself running and running and couldn’t stop!”
Sera frowns and turns away so I can’t see her face. “That is strange.”
“Sera, what aren’t you telling me?” I demand. Her anxious behavior isn’t making sense.
She turns around but won’t meet my gaze, keeping her blonde head down. “It’s nothing . . . I’m just under strict orders to keep you confined to the house, and I failed. Your father will punish me if he finds out.”
I balk. Orders? The rational side of my brain says that it’s only for my safety, but why can’t he trust me to do so on my own? I’m aware of my condition. And yet . . . didn’t I do exactly what he feared and run outside without thinking? But nothing happened. Wouldn’t he be thrilled to learn that the sun had no effect on me?
“Listen, Sera, the last thing you need to worry about is me telling on you to my father, but it irks me to no end that he has given you orders I knew nothing about.”
“Yes, Raelyn.” She bows meekly, which is so unlike her.
“I would love it if you could inform me of any other orders my father has given you regarding me.”
Sera’s skin blanches, her posture tense. “You know I am loyal to you . . .”
“But?” I bristle.
“But . . .” She struggles to get words out before finally shaking her head. “Your father gave me this position, and I need the coin to help take care of my family. I can’t risk that.”
I soften. I truly don’t want to do anything to harm her, but the betrayal stings.
“Perhaps this is not the time, but we will revisit this later.”
