Chapter Thirty
“ I can’t do this.” I storm into our chambers, not caring when the doors slam open with force and then shut right behind me. I enter the room as Licia prepares for the evening. Her gown tonight is intended to make the newly arrived King of Etos jealous of the slimmer, courtlier sister, for sure. She sparkles from head to toe in an emerald velvet—Marlys’ small effort to ward off the hint of southern chill. She drips with diamonds and pearls and her shining blond hair piles in curls upon her head.
“You can, and you will.” She spins, heavy velvet swirls licking her heels. After seeing my reflection, she shrugs and continues. “Or you won’t. Have you seen him, though? He’s tall, dark, and mysterious for sure.” She licks her lips as she recounts her first impressions. Apparently, they were much closer and positive than my own.
“It’s too soon.” I’m almost frantic, but not because my betrothed has just arrived. Or perhaps that’s exactly why. I can't envision what’s next. His arrival sets things into motion I can’t even fathom, could not have even imagined until days ago.
“Your sex hair would beg to differ, dear sister.” Licia moves away from the mirrors as Marlys huffs behind her to lounge on the small sofa. She sinks neatly into the pile of pillows, like a perfect, pink lily among lily pads. “I don’t think it's too soon; I think you’ve become too attached to the bard—”
“Thaddeus—”
“Like I said.” She shoots a pointed look my way. “Too attached for your own good.” She closes her eyes as if I’m too much to bother with, but I know she loves this scandal—this is what she lives for.
“I have. Grown attached I mean, but that’s beside the point.”
“Is it, though? Weren’t you hoping the bard would whisk you off to the most romantic parts of what’s left of our magical realm?”
That hits a little too close to home. My skin heats, remembering days ago when I so naively thought he was preparing to do just that.
“You did!” She sits up at this, her voice echoing off the tall ceiling. “He’s a bard!” I watch her features, wondering if she believes what she says or if her flitting birds have told her otherwise by now. I know Thaddeus has kept his identity close and I have no idea how connected Licia is to what goes on outside of the family. “You’ll do better than a bard, and I’m not saying the King of Etos has to be the one, but there’s more out there than him.”
“I don’t understand what your problem with Thaddeus is. So, he can play the four-string, I think it’s attractive.” A blush warms its way up my collar bone, when I think of all the other benefits of taking a musician to bed. But I turn my attention back to Marlys’ ministrations, frustrated with the way Licia keeps picking at who I choose to spend my time with. We’re both adults here.
Marlys claps her hands to stop our bickering, but also to signal she’s done and I may move freely now. She’s certainly done it again. Gone is the sex hair and reddened skin from where Thaddeus’ clean-shaven skin roughened my own. In its place, is someone fit for the throne. Now, my eyes are lined heavily with kohl giving the impression I have a secret. My hair, like Licia’s, is piled high with curls, but she’s carefully woven a few braids throughout. I feel like a shifter warrior with the way the sides are braided close and the curls rise high, giving me an extra inch at least.
I can tell she’s taken careful consideration with the dress. It still has hints of mourning black, but the dress itself is silver. Simply cut, the intricacy is in the layers, which curl and float all around me cascading to the floor. Mixed in with the silver, is the mourner’s black but also a bold blue, which is the color on Etos’ banners. “It’s beautiful, Marlys.”
“You’re beautiful, your grace.” She bows, and leaves me with Licia, who’s sat up enough to see over the sofa’s back and is now fanning herself.
“Well. That's an improvement. You ready for yet another night of dancing?”
“Never one to honey-coat it.” I roll my eyes at her; my frustration momentarily lifted, and in its place, uncertainty weighs heavily.