I didn’t mind her honesty. ‘He thinks he can keep me safe from my mother, but—’
‘And he will,’ his grandma interrupted. ‘That boy will sooner burn this witch’s whole kingdom to the ground before she takes anything else from him.’
The words made me hyperventilate. My mother’s cruelty echoed in them, and I hated how easily fire could mirror ice.
As time trickled by and negative thoughts clouded my better judgement, I didn’t realise when I had got drunk enough to be carried to bed.
Arm flapping around, I relaxed at the familiar softness of my cushions. They carried a fresh scent of cherry blossoms and coconut, though a faint trace of oak moss and citrus lingered in my room. It was the focus of my dreams that night, as it kept invading my senses.
Hard knocks echoed through my room as I forced one eye open to track the source of the disturbance. Not finding anything improper, I closed it, only for the banging to resound once more.
‘Ough,’ I sighed as I noticed the sound was coming from the door.
Was the world spinning? No, it was the fae wine River’s grandmother had fed me. How did people drink this stuff recreationally?
‘Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.’ The dragon’s smug snort echoed in my ears as I cringed.
‘Ava!’ Emily’s shout rang out, fists pounding against the wood. The door rattled, the vibrations making me even more nauseous.
‘Just come in!’ Not daring to stand, I barked, annoyed at her persistence.
Emily barged in without a moment’s hesitation, the definition of a woman on a mission.
‘Oh my God…’ Her nostrils flared as she regarded my form in the dishevelled bed. ‘Time to spray the room—and yourself, Ava.’
I didn’t know what she meant and didn’t care. The room smelled fine. And I hadn’t showered last night, but one night wasn’t enough to make me stink. Besides, I could still bask in the cherry and citrusy aromas, eyes fluttering closed as reality drifted away, one snore at a time.
‘Wake up!’ The raven-haired woman, whom I’d started to regard as a friend, proved a traitor, ripping the quilt off me and shattering the serene moment in the realm of contentment.
‘It’s noon already. We left breakfast for you in the dining room. Eat it and get yourself in shape for the banquet this evening.’
Oh no. ‘It’s today?’ I whined, unprepared for that level of social interaction even on my best days. And today was far from one.
Emily ignored me, setting a big cardboard box on the other side of my vehement bed. ‘Here’s your dress, altered and ready. I’ve stocked your wardrobe with enough shoes that you don’t need to wo—’ she hissed, slapping her hand on the box to make noise. ‘Ava! Are you listening? God, how much did you drink?’
‘I don’t even know…’ I murmured, covering my eyes and thoroughly disliking the state I was in. I would never drink again.
‘Yeah, yeah. Just be ready by six, and one of the drivers will take you there. Don’t be late.’ Emily shot me a stern look. I suspected she often used it on her little princess.
‘Am I going on my own?’ That was new. Was it my newfound power that granted me such privileges?
‘I need to be there earlier; it’s business for me. River too, obviously. And Michael oversees security. So, unless you wantto leave now and help with last-minute preparations, just be ready at six.’
The door closed before I could answer. It was noon, which gave me a few more hours of much-needed rest before the inevitable socialising spree, one I wasn’t sure I would ever feel ready for.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Avari
By the time I forced myself out of bed, it was already four o’clock. The low grumbles in my stomach, paired with the hollow ache, told me one thing: I needed to eat.
As I descended the stairs, a prickling awareness settled over me. The staff’s eyes, too many and too prolonged, followed my every step.
It made my skin crawl.
What had I done last night, drunk and untethered? This kind of attention wasn’t flattering; it felt like a warning.
‘Lady Ava,’ the kitchen assistant greeted, stepping closer with a smile that lingered too long. ‘Enjoy your dinner. We had it made just for you.’
