My mother’s two primary focuses in life are one, to worry about her children and two, make sure my brothers and I are married off and produce heirs as soon as possible.
While I have every intention of meeting a woman and marrying one day, I would like to do it on my own terms and in my own time. Not by selecting one from a room full of strangers, in front of my mother nonetheless. If it was up to her, she would arrange a marriage for me herself. But just as my parents married for love, they vowed to let us do the same.
As soon as she began interviewing each of the girls with pointless questions, I took it as an opportunity to get away and snuck out when she wasn’t paying attention. I give her a few more minutes before she sends Esha after me.
I can now see why Deean wants to leave so badly. This is the first time she’s pulled something like that with me, and I can’t imagine how manycoincidentalrooms full of womenDeean has had to endure. Although, something tells me he fancies the opportunities more than I do. A room full of women who would do anything for the opportunity to be close to the crown, and him at the center of it all.
Passing through the kitchen, I pocket some cheese and bread. Right before I reach the exit, I spot a bottle of apple bourbon next to some mini tarts. Both placed there with temptation.
A drink isn’t usually what I resort to when stress arises, but what could it hurt? I snag the bottle and a few tarts before making my exit.
The hall is quiet. The only sound that drifts my way is the distant music from the ballroom. It’s another thing I’m glad to be getting away from.
Finding the stairs, I make my way up. A few guards stop and bow, but none of them dare question where I’m going. I pass thepainting of explorer James Iann Venark, the very explorer my name derives from, and continue my ascent.
Walking in the opposite direction of my room, I follow the golden carpet to the end of the hall. Verging right, I come to a hidden set of stairs behind a large statue of one of the divinities. Unlike the other set of stairs, these are crafted of stone instead of wood and allow the coldest air to bounce between the narrow hallway’s walls.
As a child I was terrified of coming up here, but the older I got, the more I realized that its seclusion and mystery were the best parts.
Darkness greets me when I open the door. “I’ve missed you,” I whisper into the room. It’s the first time I’ve been up here since being home and what better time to visit than when my family is hosting a ball.
Cautiously making my way to a table in the dark, I set the bourbon and food down and proceed to stumble a few more steps to a fireplace.
Along the mantle I feel for the two nille stones—stones taken from deep within the Kryten Mountains—they cause massive sparks when struck together. They also work well when struck with iron, but I find the best results are with two of the same stones. Their smooth exterior rests in my hand as I bend down and hold them over pieces of wood in the fireplace. It takes no more than two scrapes before sparks shoot out and ignite the top log that quickly spreads to the others.
Light stretches out over the darkened room, and I use the fire to help me light lanterns and candles. If I wanted more light, I could ask some servants to help with the candles on the chandelier, but that would disrupt the solace of this place. It might also alert my mother, so no, thank you.
If I’m going to hide away, I might as well make my time useful. Snacking on the bread and cheese, I wander to mybookshelves. There aren’t a lot of books on the Ivian Flower, but I do know of a few that mention it.
I takeThe Forbiddenby H.R. Loving. It’s not so much about the flower but his attempts to study plants native to Farella Isle. Then there isEverlastingby B.E. Quinn, which documents accounts of people who have claimed to be immortal. The last book, and the one covered in the most dust, isPetals of Timeby Donohue Stephens, which is a children’s fictional story about a boy and his mother who get stuck on the island because of a shipwreck and discover an edible flower that gives them remarkable powers. The author completely made it up, but I grab it anyway, secretly hoping it might hold some truths.
With the dim light from a lantern on my desk and bourbon in hand, I dive in withThe Forbidden, marking anything about the isle that could be helpful. The parts about the plants are most interesting. It’s been years since I’ve read this book and I’ve forgotten a lot of the specimens he documented. Some are even located here in Saden, ones I use for my own apothecary purposes. I’m not nearly as good at apothecary as I am at being an explorer, but it’s still a passion of mine.
An hour later, I slam the book shut. There is no mention of a mysterious flower or details about the island. Judging from the pages’ contents, he didn’t even make it far enough onto the island to discover anything worth mentioning. Stayed near the shore and left before fate could get the wrong idea. Smart, but unhelpful.
Defeated, I move on, but as I reach for the next book, a creaking sound from across the room pulls my attention. My head flies up to see a shadowed figure and my hand drifts to the top drawer where I keep a spare dagger, unless someone has touched things in my absence.
As the figure moves closer, I stop the pursuit of the blade and any short-lived fear begins brewing with anger. Light cascades around curves, curves I once knew all too well.
Thana.
Her dress is composed of a tight, copper corset that makes up the top half. Extremely fitted. At the hips, the material begins to puff out and there isn’t much of a difference about it compared to all the other gowns the women in court wear.
Reaching my desk, she curtsies but never severs our gaze. “It’s good to see you, my precious Iann. Thought I’d find you hiding in here.” She strolls leisurely to the other side of the desk, approaching my seat. “You know how I always get so worried when you go on yourlittleadventures.” The belittlement strikes a small nerve, but I don’t stop her from moving nearer. “Why didn’t you send word you were back?”
“Didn’t realize I was supposed to,” I say, pouring myself another glass. “I certainly don’t know your whereabouts. Why would you want to know mine?”
She falls into my lap once I have my drink. Her brown skin glistens with tiny gold particles that she has applied, and I wonder if they can be found on every inch of her body.
The thought of tearing off her dress crosses my mind, but I keep one hand gripped around my glass and the other on the arm of my chair. She is no longer mine and I’m assuredly, not hers.
“We can change all of that,” she whispers into my ear while playing with my collar. The scent of jasmine and musk sends my mind into a frenzy. She moves her hand to my face and cups my cheek while her thumb faintly brushes over my bottom lip. I fight the temptation not to nibble at it. “What do you say, my precious Iann? You and I were great together. I know I made mistakes, but I promise to give you everything you desire.” Shemoves my head until I’m forced to look into those soul-sucking hazel eyes. “And I meanwhateveryou desire.”
Pulses tap throughout my body and my heartbeat knows no end, or a steady speed for that matter. Between my father’s impossible request, Deean’s demands to join in on said impossible request, and my mother’s constant push for marriage, my nerves are spiked, making me realize why I prefer to stay away from Saden. But what if, for one night, I bury all my worries in her?Just one night.
Once upon a time, all Thana Hagens had to do was look in my direction, and I would have given her my father’s kingdom if that’s what it meant to keep her. But pain hardens one’s heart and time may not always heal, but it definitely makes me more skilled at recognizing one’s deceit. And Thana was, and still is, full of it.
I could have my way with her, she and I both know that. Satisfy that ever so small craving and be done with her—tossing her aside like she’s done with countless others.
