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“Very well,” she said.
The innkeeper bowed low and rushed from the room as if he were eager to be anywhere else.
Mareleau repeated her question. “What are you doing here?”
Teryn gave her a bewildered look. “What areyoudoing here? Ulrich has you staying at an inn? I thought you’d be hosted by nobles.”
She crossed her arms. “You don’t need to rub it in. Besides, I asked you first. I am your queen, remember?”
He glanced around the empty room, then released a heavy breath. “I’m heading for Ridine to speak with Princess Aveline. I’d meant to follow behind your retinue and arrive afterward, but it appears I’ve caught up too quickly. Promise me you won’t tell your uncle I’m here.”
“Why shouldn’t I? I was ordered to go on this journey against my will, and you were told to remain at Dermaine. Why should I, the queen, follow orders while you get to break them? Why should I be separated from my husband—” She cut off as her voice broke on the last word.
His face softened. “Larylis wishes he were with you, trust me. I haven’t seen him so morose, since…ever. He doesn’t want to risk going against your father. I, on the other hand, have less to lose. For now.”
She averted her gaze. “It isn’t fair, you know.”
“I know it isn’t.” He took a few steps closer. “I also understand why you resent me. If I’d known about you and Larylis…” His lips quirked into a wry grin, one that reminded her too much of his brother. “Please don’t take this the wrong way, but I never wanted to marry you either. I found the prospect just as awful as you did.”
She was overcome with a sudden urge to bark a laugh. Her animosity softened at the edges, making her wonder if Teryn hadn’t been her enemy all along.
“Can we be allies? We are brother and sister now. Plus, you owe me.” His smile turned devious.
She could tell he was teasing, but she didn’t feel generous enough to play along. Instead, she pursed her lips and burned him with a scowl.
He wasn’t the least bit cowed. “Don’t you agree? I helped you marry the love of your life.”
That managed to weaken her resolve.
“Can I count on you to keep my presence here a secret from your uncle? I promise not to show up at your next stop. I’ll simply stick to far finer establishments.”
She snorted a begrudging laugh at that. “That will certainly keep you from wherever Ulrich has me sleeping.”
He raised a brow, reminding her she had yet to answer his question.
She rolled her eyes. “Fine, I won’t tell Ulrich.” It was almost painful to say. Everything inside her wanted to see him punished as badly as her. But she reminded herself of what he’d given up. He’d abdicated, set aside his crown, his birthright, for Larylis. To clear the final obstacle that had kept them from being together. Uncrossing her arms, she let her shoulders relax and tried to smile. All she managed was a grimace. “So…I have a brother now?”
“Unfortunately for us both, you do.”
“Ugh. I never wanted one.” She brushed past him and ascended the stairs. Despite her abrupt last words to him, she was surprised to find the aching void in her heart had lessened. Whether it was due to reading Larylis’ letter or entertaining the prospect of having a new—albeit unwanted—brother, she knew not. All she knew was that, as she climbed back into bed between her annoyingly peaceful lady’s maids, she felt a little less alone.
13
Cora wasn’t sure why she chose to return to her childhood bedroom. She could have had her pick of rooms, ones that didn’t bear memories of the last time she was here, dressing in a gown in preparation to meet her brother for the first time in six years, only to find him controlled by dark magic. Nor the time before that, when she’d pouted on her bed after pretending to curse the queen. The queen who’d later died…
She shook the morbid memories from her mind and returned her attention to the present. She sat at her vanity while Lurel brushed her hair. Even after two days back at the castle, she still wasn’t used to being waited on like this. Dressed. Brushed. Bathed. Forced to sit idly while others served her. It aggravated her, reminded her that this princess persona was all an act, made her want to flee the confines of the castle walls and leave this curated world of cruel politics and false politeness behind.
This is all for Dimetreus, she told herself.It’s for the sake of Khero.
Lurel continued to comb Cora’s hair, a task that seemed endless despite the girl tending to it twice a day. Cora’s eyes darted toward the window and the glow of the setting sun. It was a most welcome sight, for as soon as night fell, Cora had plans to escape the castle and throw off the guise of princess. Temporarily, of course, but the thought had her antsy with anticipation.
She was desperate to be surrounded by trees, close to the elements the Forest People had taught her to revere. To feel her magic buzz around her so she could embody the witch she was. It was a part of herself she couldn’t fully let go of, only hide, betray, and publicly refute. All for the sake of being a princess and proving to those who distrusted her that she was nothing like Morkai. If only she could trustthemto understand that there was a stark difference between witch magic—quiet magic—and the sinister sorceries the duke had dabbled in.
But no, they did not understand. Which meant if she wanted to utilize the Arts in any obvious way, she needed to do it where no one would see her. That was exactly what she intended to do tonight. Once she was in the woods, she could perform a clearing ritual on Morkai’s crystal.
There was an additional reason she was eager to sneak out tonight: to see her unicorn friend again.
Her knee began to jiggle, and she sat on her hands to keep from fidgeting. What she really wanted to do was shake off Lurel. The sooner the girl bid her goodnight, the sooner Cora could proceed with her plan. Still, she knew her maid was ordered by her father to keep a close eye on her. The last thing she needed was to cast herself under a suspicious light.
