The thought of dinner turned my stomach. I frowned. It wasn’t the nobles. Kallias made it clear I had nothing to fear from them. I just wasn’t hungry.
With a sigh, I cleaned my brush, taking care not to end the night streaked in paint again. While my dear husband manufactured excuses for me, I knew the nobles waited far too long before we finally joined them the night before.
The painting began to take shape. Forms settled where they belonged, details waiting to be drawn out. I refused to rush it, fighting the urge to finish before the wedding. The gift would come later—once he returned safely from disposing of Tallon.
“Your Majesty?” Freya’s voice cut through the quiet as the door creaked open.
I glanced toward the window. The sky had darkened. Hungry or not, duty waited. Radaan needed to see her queen. Consistency. Faithfulness. Those proved stronger than any promise.
Once the paint lids were secured and the brushes clean, I rose. A servant could have handled it, but the simple, repetitive task brought me peace. Not everything had to be passed to staff.
We entered our chambers where Edith had already laid out my dress. Kallias sat at a small table in his receiving room with Greaves, both bent over a map. He glanced up as Freya closed the door, a familiar smile flickering across his face before he returned to the discussion.
The dress was pale blue, like a warm summer sky. Gold edging softened it, warm and delicate. I scowled at the high collar. It hid the bandage, but it chafed.
“Please bring something with a lower neckline,” I said as I passed into the bathing chamber.
She curtsied without comment, clearly having reasons of her own.
The woman staring back from the mirror wore a smear of green paint across her cheek, but nothing more. I frowned, scrubbing it away with a rag. It must have happened while painting the tree. I had no memory of fumbling the brush.
I washed my face and hands before returning to the dressing room. Kallias had joined me, straightening his things before we presented ourselves.
“Did your fitting go smoothly?” I asked, studying the dark blue gown Edith set out. Fabric gathered over one shoulder, leaving the other bare.
Of course it would cover my bandage.
“Only needs some minor alterations,” he said.
Greaves caught his scoff, choking on a coughing laugh. I spun, expression contorted with mocking disbelief. He thumped his fist against his chest and shook his head.
“Mind that cough, or you’ll find yourself with the healer,” Kallias warned, fixing him with a glare before turning a teasingsmile on me. “It had to be let out, and he finds it endlessly amusing.”
“Oh, so did mine,” I reassured with a laugh.
Shock crossed his face. Real fear. Gone so quickly I blinked—then frowned, searching his expression. The easy grin had returned as he adjusted the collar of his overcoat.
“Bodies change. It doesn’t mean I’m growing lax,” he muttered, eyes cutting toward Greaves.
I must have imagined it. Why would my dress needing alteration unsettle him? Weight gain? Radaan’s tables overflowed. My home survived on fish and thin broths. Here, meals swam in fat and gravy. It was only natural.
Exhaustion clouded my thoughts. Rest would come after the wedding—after Tallon. Then I would sleep for an entire day. Nothing short of dragonfire consuming the Golden Palace would rouse me from my bed.
“Obviously not.” I sniffed, casting Greaves a sideways look.
He scoffed and adjusted his bandolier.
The men withdrew while I changed. Edith secured the dress at my nape. Fabric fell in soft folds, washing over me like waves against the shore. My hand rested on my stomach, already imagining the Radaanian feast that awaited tonight.
A savory root vegetable soup, followed by a plate of fresh greens. Then came the meat. Beef slathered in—my skin flushed hot as nausea surged.
My breath hitched, and I braced myself against the dresser.
Edith caught my arm, steadying me. “Your Majesty?”
I clapped a hand over my mouth, forcing the thoughts back. My palms slicked with sweat. My heart skidded, then raced as I gathered slow breaths.
Then the wave passed.
