“Boyfriend?” Mother asks, arching a slim eyebrow at me. “You have a boyfriend?”
I turn to look at Aric, and he shrugs. “Poppymighthave mentioned something. But don’t tell her I told you. She didn’t mean to let it slip.”
Of course she didn’t. I can picture her in my mind, accidentally telling Aric, then slapping a hand over her mouth as her cheeks go bright red.
“I won’t tell her,” I say. Then I face my parents. “And I don’t thinkboyfriendis the right word.”
My stepfather cants his head. “Girlfriend, then?”
Smiling, I shake my head. “No.”
They look confused, but I don’t offer any further explanation. I’m not sure I could. Because I know Severin isn’t my boyfriend—our blood bond far supersedes that—but I’m not quite surewhatto call him. My partner? My lover? My future?
There isn’t a word that feels quite right; but whatdoesfeel right is the sensation in my chest right now, the ever-present hum of awareness, the knowing that wherever Severin is, I’m connected to him and he’s connected to me.
I’ve not told anyone about the permanence of our bond, nor do I feel the need to. For now, it’s ours.Justours. And no one else needs to be part of that.
By the time we reach the castle, the sun has begun to slip toward the horizon, the evening light stretching long and inviting dark shadows to cling to walls and corners. I’ve been to the castle a couple times now, but it still causes me to look upon it with awe as I step out of the carriage.
“I can’t believe Alina and Raelan get to live here,” Aric says behind me, looking up at the dark purple flags twining through the air on the highest towers.
“I can’t imagine,” I say back as my mother and stepfather alight from the carriage.
The big entrance doors are already standing open, with knights in shiny armor standing to each side. Music and candlelight drift out into the courtyard, beckoning to us.
“Ready?” I ask Aric.
He offers me a big arm, and I thread mine through his, resting my hand in the crook of his elbow. “Born ready.”
We lead the way inside, followed closely by our parents. The entryway is bathed in candlelight from the gigantic chandeliers overhead, and a few people mill about, wearing crispsuits and beautiful glittering gowns. A servant flits up to us, a silver tray balanced in her hands.
“A drink?” she offers.
Aric and I each take a long-stemmed glass of wine, and he looks down at me.
“Congrats, sis. You’re the most badass storm witch Coven Crest ever saw. And you’re going to do amazing things at the collective.” He smiles at me, his tusks gleaming in the candlelight. “I’m proud of you.”
When he offers me his glass, I clink mine against it gently, and then we both drink. The wine is sweet and cool, and it glides right down my throat, giving me the sneaking suspicion that Alina’s going to have some inebriated guests to manage tonight.
“Oh my,” my mother whispers behind us.
I turn to look at her, but she’s busy taking in the castle, her eyes wide, mouth parted just so. My stepfather has one hand draped along her waist, and he sips his wine while looking at the paintings hanging on the tall walls.
“Maeve!”
I glance to my side to see Lyra standing in the doorway leading to the ballroom, wearing a gorgeous green dress that makes her red eyes and hair even more vibrant. Cairn stands behind her, his hulking form dwarfing hers, his wide horns casting shadows across his shoulders from the chandeliers overhead.
Looking back at my parents again, I say, “Will you be all right if we go?”
My mother gives me a small smirk. “Despite what you may think, wearecapable of handling ourselves.”
I roll my eyes at her, then give Aric’s arm a tug. “Come on. Poppy’s probably here already.”
“Yeah, Layla was making cupcakes for the party.” He smiles down at me. “I helped taste test the frosting earlier.”
When we make it over to Lyra and Cairn, Lyra wraps me in a big hug. Her skin is warm, and when I pull back, I notice it’s dusted with gold glitter. And on closer inspection, so is Cairn’s suit.
“You two look... sparkly,” I say, lifting my wineglass with a smile.
