My chest ached under the strain of the pale blue corset—another gown provided by the High Court.
Cora bit into a plump strawberry. “Maybe we should go for a walk. The gardens here have the most beautiful blooms.”
I forced a bite of eggs onto my tongue, but my stomach churned. “Fresh air sounds nice.”
“I’m glad you’re finally eating something. You had me worried last night.”
Cora’s life would always be free. She would never understand the pressure of a pact, made on her behalf.
I tugged at my braid as I caught my reflection in the mirror. A princess stared back at me, but I didn’t recognize her anymore.
Ladies, lords, servants, and guards filled the courtyard—each one staring at me as I passed. Fyn shadowed us. He came as soon as Cora called for him.
A winding path led us to a garden enclosed by stone walls,slender chambers with methodical arrangements of flowers on display.
My fingers lingered on a sunflower’s petals—it wiggled in response. Light whirled at my fingertips, kissing the tops of closed rosebuds until new blooms unfurled.
The onyx chilled at my chest as Thalen watched me from across the enclosed space. He leaned into the stone wall, entranced by the blooms beneath my fingertips. Thalen shifted his weight, and then slowly sauntered in our direction.
Fyn placed his hand on my back. “We should go.”
“Your Highness.” Thalen stopped before me. “I was hoping I could get a moment with you—to explain.” Hesitancy lingered in his words.
“We were just leaving.” Cora’s body angled between us.
Only Thalen stood before me, but still I clung to my dwindling hope that Lioran would intervene.
“Fyn, Cora, you can go ahead. I’ll be with you shortly.”
Fyn’s hand gripped mine, his eyes pleaded with me, but I slipped my fingers from his.
“You don’t have to do this.” Cora’s fingers trailed my sleeve.
“I will call for you the moment I need you,” I whispered to Fyn.
“I’ll be right over there.” Fyn pointed to the wall where Thalen once stood. “If you do anything to harm her, I will not hesitate to intervene,” he growled.
Fyn hovered for another second, his eyes threatening Thalen, before Cora wrapped her fingers around his arm and pulled him away.
Thalen extended his hand to me, but I did not move. “You are never without a crowd.”
“Why didn’t you come for me sooner?” I don’t know why it mattered, but his words hung over me still.
Thalen stepped closer until his arm brushed mine. “You leftme on our wedding day.” He swallowed hard. His jaw tightened. “If I had just gone to you, you wouldn’t have given me the chance to explain.”
“You accused me, embarrassed me in front of everyone. Did you think I’d go with you then?” I seethed.
“I was desperate. He will ruin you.” He was unraveling with each word he spoke, as if it pained him to even think about us together.
I glared at him. “And you came to save me?”
His head held high as he scanned me. “I came to free you from him, Aelira.” He said my name like they did in Bailoc—shorter and less melodic.
“And the men you sent after me in the woods? You risked my life.”
“I instructed them to find you and bring you back safe—unharmed.”
“One of your men tried to use me as a shield to ward off a sylkren…and another almost killed your future king.”
