Page 8 of A Heart Too Tender

Alist of names arrived at dawn, clutched in the beak of the witch’s raven. “Her magic is very thorough,” I mused.

“Yes, well, marriage is to be handled with the utmost of care.” Mother didn’t lift her eyes from the short list—a mere four names. “Did you want to invite them all?”

I shrugged as she slid the parchment over to me. The raven chortled its response and it sounded like agreement.

“I don’t see why not. We don’t want to interfere with whatever magic is afoot.” My gaze slid from mother over to the raven, its feathers gleaming an iridescent midnight black. “Her instructions said to give the summons to Kalanv and he’ll deliver them.” Mother tapped her nails against the marble table as I gently stroked the bird’s head. “Kalanv is such a regal name for a very majestic bird,” I tutted as Kalanv leaned into my touch.

“Very well, then.” Mother snapped her fingers and a servant brought a stack of envelopes to her at once. She counted out four and then began scrawling out the invites for the four selected Princesses. I hadn’t recognized any of the names, except one—Colette of Silver Hill.

Anxiety and arousal coiled in my chest like a dragon’s flame, as I slid the potion back and forth on the marble table. Colette hadn’t recognized me under the mask, and she definitely wouldn’t once I took a sip from the vial. It was a wonder that our short time together left a mark on me. Thoughts rolled and repeated in my head of our banter and her laughter—everything was easy with her. Conversation aside, she was breathtaking. Golden brown hair that appeared kissed by the sun, and full red lips I couldn’t stop imagining the taste of.

“We’re going to host them in the Summer Palace,” mother laid out the plans, interrupting my daydreams of her. “With a selection of four, smaller quarters will do to keep an eye on everyone.”

“Must I take this?” I grumbled as the potion swirled like a tempest sea storm.

“Yes!”

I heaved a sigh, uncorking the vial and swallowing it all in one gulp. Fortunately, it tasted of sugared plums and nothing dreadful like rotting fish or troll boogers.

“How long until it works?” I asked, feeling a sudden tightness across my face.

Mother stared at me in horror, the color leaching from her face, as her jaw dropped open.

“I-immediately,” she spluttered, covering her mouth with both hands. “Don’t panic. It’s not permanent.”

It wasn’t apparent if she spoke to me or herself. As I raised the silver spoon beside my hand, I froze. Gone was the face I’d known my entire life. It appeared that the right side of my face had been attacked by ferocious beasts. Scars ran vertically from my hairline to well past my jaw, tugging up my lip in a half-sardonic smile, and pulling down my right eye. The left side remained untouched, thankfully. But my eyes were no longer the shade of the sky. Now they were a dark brown, like the color of rich soil—of life.

“That’s … unpleasant,” I muttered. Even my voice was distorted.

Mother clutched at her diamond and ruby necklace. “You are utterly unrecognizable.”

“That’s the point,” I grumbled. “I’ve been thinking about my role in these trials, and I think I should be some sort of overseer.”

Mother, eyes still wide with horror, nodded. “Wonderful. And your name?”

I hadn’t thought that far in advance. “Gus?”

She shook her head, and the ringlets of her dark hair bounced. “Too close. What about Arthur?”

I pursed my lips and struggled to get the scarred half of my face to cooperate. “No—what about Julian?”

“That’s your middle name,” she said blandly.

“Exactly. It’s also a common name, so no one will put the pieces together and I’ll still answer to it.”

Mother nodded as she clasped her hands together. “Perfect! Oh and there’s one more thing you should know about the potion …”

“What?”

She pursed her lips as she squinted her eyes. “You won’t be able to tell anyone who you are, not until you share true love’s kiss.”

I tilted my head back to the ceiling and took a deep breath. “Are you saying I’ll be stuck like this? Until I find the one?”

“No!” she shrieked. “There is a potion to undo it, but if you find yourself … in the moment … you won’t be able to confess—until she kisses you.”

I slipped the empty vial into my pocket as I rose, and pressed a kiss to my mother’s brow. “I’ll see you at the summer palace.”

She gripped my hand before I could flee. “You’re not riding out there alone, are you? There’s a storm.”