ZOEY
I wake with a start,and for one disorienting moment, I can’t remember where I am. Only that I’m not at home. Not surrounded by the normal world I once knew.
I’m quickly reminded of reality when I catch sight of the painting Aerix altered for me. His generous “improvement.”
I slip out of bed, cross the room, and kneel in front of the canvas. Then, slowly, I trace my finger over where he signed his name, his handwriting unsurprisingly elegant.
Prince Aerix Nightborne.
I focus on his title, remembering what he told me about Kallista. How he wasn’t always a prince—just a regular soldier in the Winter Court.
It’s a welcome reminder that in this world, anyone can move up.
When I arrive in the dining hall for breakfast, I’m greeted by the usual scene: humans sitting at our assigned round tables. Some seats are empty—the ones who are having breakfast with the royals—Victoria included.
She’s with Aerix.
The thought shouldn’t make my chest pang with longing, yet, itdoes.
But I need to focus. I need to figure out who my allies are around here. And I can’t do that if the only thing I’m thinking about is Aerix.
So, I sit and observe the others.
Katerina refuses to glance in my direction.
Henry notices me watching Katerina and lifts his eyebrows in smug amusement, like he knows a secret about me. But as much as I want to glare at him to make him stop looking at me, I force a casual nod. I willnotgive him more reaction than necessary.
Sophia’s kind, but guarded, as she’s always been lately.
Then, halfway through breakfast, Matt walks in.
He’s paler than he ever was back home. But compared to the way I found him in his room a few days ago, there’s a certain vitality to him now. Like maybe the queen decided to lighten up on the feedings. His eyes don’t look quite as sunken, and while they still have that unsettling empty gleam in them, it’s less severe than it was before.
He doesn’t look at me.
So, I approach him in the courtyard after breakfast and drag him to an empty table off to the side.
“Zoey,” he says, giving me a once-over. “You look tired.”
“Seriously?” I bristle at the comment. “You’re hardly one to talk. Aren’t you supposed to be half-dead in the queen’s bed right now?”
His mouth twitches in what might be a grimace—or a smirk. “She’s with the king today. So, I got some time off,” he answers flatly, although a familiar look crosses his eyes. One that I saw a lot when he watched men check out Sapphire at the Maple Pig—jealousy.
“Sounds like a real dream,” I reply, rolling my eyes.
“At least I’m not pretending to be something I’m not.” He eyes me pointedly. “And by the way, you look like you haven’t slept in days. Maybe you should rest. You don’t want to end up like Sapphire, always looking run down from late nights at the bar.”
I stiffen at his casual insult of Sapphire.
“First of all, Sapphire never looked tired,” I say, leveling my gaze with his. “Second of all, leave her out of this.”
He leans in, lowering his voice. “Why should I? You know she used to be mine.”
I grit my teeth, anger flooding through me at the fact that even though we’re here, needing to survive this together, he’s still resentful about Sapphire’s rejection. I thought he’d moved on to the queen, but apparently, he can’t handle blows to the ego now any better than he did back then.
“She was never yours,” I say, loud enough that a few heads turn our way. “She’sfae,Matt. She belongs to this realm. Not to you.”
“You say she’s fae like it’s supposed to be a surprise?” he asks, raising a brow.
