Page 65 of Wings of Starlight

“A lot of things! For example—” Petra cut herself off. “No, don’t distract me. If you’re leaving, I’m going with you.”

“No,” Clarion said hastily. “I mean…no, you don’t have to do that.”

Petra regarded her suspiciously. “Why?”

“Because…” She groped for an excuse. “I just want to get some air for a few minutes. You should stay and enjoy the party.”

“Enjoy the—Enjoy?” Petra spluttered. “You know I don’t enjoy parties. What is really going on here?”

Clarion laughed, a brittle sound even to her own ears. “Nothing is going on.”

“Oh, really?” Petra planted a hand on her hip. “Then why are you trying to run away from me?”

She could be so stubborn sometimes. “I’m not,” Clarion said, trying to keep her mounting frustration out of her voice.

Evidently, she failed, because Petra regarded her with a somewhat stung expression. “Have I done something?”

“No, of course not.” Clarion glanced over her shoulder fretfully. She really needed to go. “I just want to be alone.”

Color rose in Petra’s cheeks. “I can’t apologize to you if I don’t know what you’re upset about.”

A few nearby fairies cast curious looks their way. Clarion grabbed Petra’s wrist and steered her toward the very edge of the Fairy Circle, where the shadow of the woods reached between the archway of the mushroom caps. The light from the party glittered on the pixie dust on the bridge of Petra’s nose and set her red hair ablaze. Yet here in the near darkness, Clarion felt oddly chilled. She wrapped her arms around herself and fixed her gaze on the ground. Clearly, she was not going to escape without being honest.

“I’m not upset with you. It’s only that you didn’t want me to talk to you about Winter.”

Petra took a reflexive step backward. “This is about Winter? What business do you have there? The attacks have stopped.”

“But no one has woken up,” Clarion countered. “And Elvina showed me what you made for her.”

“Oh.”

Oh.Was that really all she had to say? When Clarion looked up, Petra was staring back at her, her face as pale as Winter.

“I told you how I felt about her plan, and I thought you agreed with me.” Clarion’s voice wavered with an emotion she hadn’t realized was so close to spilling forth. There were so many things she wanted to say, but she did not want to lash out when she was hurting. It was not Petra’s fault. Her obligation was to the Crown, not to Clarion. Even so, Petra’s involvement had made things quite difficult for her. “It doesn’t matter. I’m doing the best I can to solve the problem my own way.”

Slowly, Petra’s wounded expression morphed into one of determination, but the flush did not fade. High emotion always stained her face bright red. “And that’s really what you’re planning to donow?”

Clarion did not appreciate the judgment in her voice. Guardedly, she said, “I’ve done everything expected of me tonight. I’m trying to keep Pixie Hollow safe.”

Petra let out a soft, frustrated sound. “In a ball gown, Clarion? I’m not naive. You’re not going to investigate a cure. You’re going to see the warden.”

Clarion reeled back. Did Petra resent Milori for taking up Clarion’s time, or did she truly think Clarion lovesick enough to put a boy over her duties? Either way, she bristled all over with indignation. “And what does it matter if I am?”

Petra stared at her disbelievingly. “Your coronation is in a week.”

“Which means I must stay inside until then,” she replied bitterly, “and speak to no one you disapprove of.”

“No. It means you need to be more responsible. It’s too dangerous to play these games!” Petra’s glow intensified, burning orange at the edges. “You’ve already gotten hurt because of him. You’ve become distant, and you’re exhausted all the time. And sneaking off tonight, when everyone is looking to you to reassure them that things will be all right? It’s a bad idea. But you haveneverlistened to me. Then again, who does? No one takes me seriously, because I’m just the one who’s afraid of everything.”

The pain in her voice doused the hottest flames of Clarion’s anger. But Petra’s words had cut deep.

You think I’m being selfish. You think I’m not taking my role seriously.

Clarion held those words behind her teeth. She could not remember the last time they’d fought like this. As much as she was burning to defend herself—as much as she wanted to fix whatever had broken between them—she did not have time for this. No matter what Petra wanted to accuse her of, this was about Pixie Hollow as much as it was about her feelings. She did not owe her an explanation.

Clarion squeezed her eyes shut, as if that could prevent her tears from falling. Furiously—and as carefully as she could—she swiped them away. She could not reapply the gold to her eyes, and she could not meet the winter fairies looking as though she’d just been crying. “I have to go.”

“Clarion,please—”