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But it was merely a kiss, not magic. When she pulled away, the burdens that lay on my shoulders returned with brute force. The fleeting moment of solace evaporated like morning mist, leaving behind the weight of reality.
As Mama's lips left my forehead, I wished for a world where her love could indeed work miracles, where a single kiss could banish all worries and fears. But life was not a fairy tale, and I knew that challenges were not so easily dispelled.
I forced a nod, grateful for that brief respite.
"Thank you, Mama."
She nodded, returning to the mantle to pour herself another glass of wine. Her cheeks retained a deep flush, and I knew she was only a few glasses away from blissful sleep.
“Do you have the list of attendees from last night’s event?” I asked as she gulped from the glass in a distinctly un-lady-like manner.
She nodded, cradling the crystal against the crook of her neck.
“In the drawer, darling.”
It was obvious that she had no intention of retrieving the document for me. My fingers fumbled on the dainty handles as I struggled to grip the thin brass.
When the drawer slipped open, I took a moment to marvel at the mess inside. Papers, pens, and various odds and ends were haphazardly strewn about, making it clear that organization was not a priority in this particular drawer.
A deep leather-brown edge peeked out of a corner, and I wiggled it free of debris. Mama had carried this ledger around formonths,trying to finalize the guest list with the council.
“Do be careful, Zoei,” Mama said, sitting heavily on the seat I had vacated. “I know it wasn’t Olympia that tried to take your life, and I shudder to think the real conspirator is still out there. Promise me you’ll be safe.”
“Of course, Mama,” I replied absently, flipping through the ledger to scan the names.
A soft snore reached my ears. I turned to find her slumped in the chair, the crystal glass balanced precariously on her lap.
She had succumbed to exhaustion, her graceful facade giving way to the weariness that she carried around all the time.
I tucked the ledger into my tunic and retrieved a throw from a chest in the corner. Mama didn’t stir as I took the glass away and tucked her in, making sure she’d be comfortable through the night.
*
When the hovercraft docked in the gravel adjacent to the tower, midnight had come and gone. The forest lay still under the watchful eyes of the twin moons.
The buttress trees, my would-be adversaries in different circumstances, shimmered under a light breeze.
I wiped a lick of sweat from my brow.
Nightfall hadn’t brought any reprieve from the heat, and my leathers had turned stifling. I longed to rid myself of the day’s sweat and immerse myself in a cool bath, but that luxury would have to wait until Olympia negotiated to keep her head again.
The guards were silent, staring straight ahead as doors were unbolted and latched again once I had stepped into Clair Castle.
The tower at night was remarkably serene—patterns from the cut-outs in the woodwork danced under the solar lamps, casting enchanting shadows on the stone tiles. A welcome breeze wafted through the foyer, and shadows danced and leapt as the lamps moved under the gentle persuasion.
“I’ll be in the library if you need me, Your Majesty.”
Cam’s words were met with a curt nod. He departed from my side, boots soft on the tiled floors. He wore his weariness like a cape, his scent rife with it. While it had not been a particularly tiring day, it had been more than twenty-four hours since either of us had rested our heads.
The spiral stairs disappeared quickly beneath my feet, and soon I found myself staring down the heavy, hand-carved doors at the top of the tower. A streamer of orange light drifted through the narrow slit under the doorway, and with it came the unmistakable notes of Alpha.
I nodded once, and the locks were pulled back with an ease that indicated they had been oiled while I was away.
One hand lay cautiously on Amnesia, while the other gripped the leather-bound ledger. I would not put it past Olympia to rush an attack as I stepped through the door, intent on maiming me and finishing what her assassin had failed to do.
The muscles along my shoulders tightened in preparation to thwart a swift, brutal blow.
I stepped into the belly of the tower, breath paused on an inhale.
