“It sounds lovely.”
“What would you do without the weight of the court on you?” Lord Thalen asked as he tucked a loose curl behind my ear.
I didn’t know how to answer. No one had ever asked me what I wanted before.
“I’m not sure if I would know what to do with myself.”
“Well, we can figure it out together,” Thalen whispered.
I closed my eyes, daydreaming of life away from here—a home I could make my own. When my eyes opened, Thalen was closer—a warm smile spread across his face.
“Why do you want to figure it out with me?”
“The feeling I got when I met you…” He trailed his finger down my arm and my breath caught in my chest. “It’s different than I’ve ever felt before. And from the look in your eyes right now, I think it’s something more to you, too.”
“I’m not easy to figure out.” I didn’t know why I said it.
“Oh, you’re a challenge, then?” He grinned. “That’s even better.”
An unspoken calm settled between us as the stars glittered above. His eyes locked onto mine. “Let’s return to the celebration.” He extended his hand back to me.
My father bowed his head to him as he watched from the grand hall.
Chapter 3
Milana tugged the corset ties, freeing me from their hold. The gown dropped, and Milana laid a silk robe over my shoulders. I never wanted to trade it for another corset.
“The stars are shining brightly tonight.” Milana gestured to the book, set out on my nightstand, before she slipped out of my chambers.
My thumb caught one of the rough edges of the paper as I stepped out on the balcony. The night sky glittered as if the stars had assembled only for me.
A gust of wind blew the pages before they settled—blank parchment lay unmarked.
Inky swirls danced across the pages.
My breath stilled until words formed.
It is time you knew who you truly are, Aelira.
The message vanished the moment I read it.
A lump settled in my throat, rigid and heavy. My nameappeared on the page as if by magic, but that wasn’t possible. The human realm held no magic.
Magic was forbidden.
It belonged to the fae.
I should have hidden the book away and pretended I never found it, but I couldn’t look away. New ink settled deeper into the parchment.
Your story is written in the stars.
Ice ran through my veins. The leather book bent beneath my grip.
Time will reveal all.
Why would my mother want to give me this book?
A loud thud echoed as I slammed the book shut.
