28. Raven #2
Lucas wagged his eyebrows. “And none will be taken until you’re ready to slay a royal with a single glance.” He covered his mouth with a fist and coughed, “Or slay a secret suitor.”
My eyes widened before I could control my reaction, and Neive giggled.
Myla elbowed Kira in the side.
“Ow!” The twin rubbed at the hurt, glanced at her sister’s fierce stare, and smiled. “Right. I almost forgot.” She stepped beside me, raised her small hand to my ear, and whispered for only me to hear, “Myla drew some pictures she wants to share with only you.”
Kira straightened and twisted in place, looking from the picnic group to her sister and back again. A bright smile and twinkling eyes dressed her expression.
I leaned close and dropped my voice low. “When can I see them?”
“Mom is on her way to deliver your dress straight to your room.” Kira linked her arm with her sister’s. “We’re going to help her.”
The two turned and dashed away.
“Odd children.” Lucas stared after them.
“Guess that’s why you never had any,” Neive retorted.
I ignored them and dug through the picnic basket. I gingerly grabbed a handful of sandwiches and uncurled to my feet. “Mind if I take these?”
The volley of words ceased as both servants turned their gazes on me.
Neive beamed. “Of course not.”
“Great. Catch you later.” I sauntered off, albeit much slower than the twins, toward my room before Lucas and Neive could stop me, attempt to accompany me…or ask any further questions.
I passed Valen on my way to the palace entrance, and my attention snagged on his―once again―too-straight nose. The nose his coreaper Chiara supposedly cracked with the blunt end of her travel scythe.
He gave me a curious smile.
Wonder how long he’s been watching?
I’d think on that later…along with the often-changing line of his nose.
Camilla’s little seer had drawn some pictures just for me. I needed to see those creations.
“What happened?” Kira asked.
Each twin lightly held one of my hands, turning them to study the bandages.
“Hurt myself, but don’t worry. I’ll be fine. I’m a quick healer.” I turned in a circle, taking in the dress Camilla had made from every available angle.
The gown was divine. Perfect, really. My only concern was mobility. How well would it fare when truly put to the test?
I’m going to a ball, I reminded myself. A glorified party inside the castle.
The Killian couldn’t come on the grounds, so I needn’t worry about any fighting breaking out.
“I know how you heal,” Kira replied.
Myla was Camilla’s little seer, and Kira was the healer. She had helped me recover from some grievous wounds, and in the process (based on her comment), she must have familiarized herself with my own healing abilities. I didn’t know how I felt about that.
I graced her with a soft smile, then turned my attention to Camilla. “I can’t imagine a more perfect gown with a more perfect fit.”
“I’m thrilled you like it.” Camilla trailed her fingers over the flowing skirt. “And we can get some satin gloves to cover your bandaged hands. That way, no one will be the wiser.”
She breathed in deeply through her nose and then relaxed, but something about the action appeared forced, and the narrow set of her eyes betrayed the image of peace I suspected she was trying to exhibit.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“Fine. Fine.” Camilla turned her gaze away in a flutter of lashes and busied herself straightening the dress bag. “Winter is going to have trouble keeping his eyes in his head.” She dropped her voice to a mumble. “So much like his brother in that way.”
In what way? Do I even want to know?
“And Chace, Mom,” Kira interjected with a snicker. “Chace is going to go all doe-eyed.”
I swallowed a chuckle and rolled my eyes, but I didn’t think I’d mind if Chace did go all doe-eyed. In truth, I rather relished the idea.
“I’m sure many will find you breathtaking in this outfit.
” Camilla unzipped the dress and helped me extricate myself from the folds of fabric.
“This dress was a joy to design and create, and the girls were a huge help.” Camilla placed the dress back in its bag and hung it at the back of the room.
“If you’d like, I’d be happy to come early the day of and help you get ready. ”
“Oh.” I hummed. “You don’t need to do that. Won’t you have a bunch of preparations to do for yourself?”
“We can get ready before we come.” She tugged her twins to her side and gave them a snug hug. “And the girls would so enjoy helping you and being in the castle before everyone else.”
I could only imagine what it must feel like to be young and walking into a magical, royal birthday ball. “When you put it that way―”
“Fabulous.” Camilla clasped her hands. “Then it’s decided.”
Kira grabbed her mom’s hand. “You know what else is decided?”
Camilla’s brow rose.
Kira tugged her mom toward an empty chair and then pushed her into the seat. “That me and Myla need a few minutes alone with Ms. Raven. You wait here.”
“Yes, child,” Camilla humored. “I’ll be right here, waiting.”
With a skip and a conspirator’s grin, Kira ushered me and Myla into the bedchamber and shut the door. I took a seat on the bed as Kira placed her ear against the door to verify her mom stayed put.
“Okay,” she whispered, turning toward the room and nodding at her sister.
Myla pulled several drawings from her cloth satchel. Laid them flat in my lap.
Kira bellied up to my side. “I’m going to translate for her, okay?”
I’d watched the girls interact and had a pretty good handle on their dynamics. Myla didn’t speak, or at least I didn’t think she spoke, but through their twin connection, Kira knew what Myla wanted to say. Just like Myla knew the places Kira visited when Myla stayed at home.
Kira nudged me in the thigh, prompting me to sit on my knees beside the bed. The twins flanked my sides and spread the pictures out in front of us. Five drawings in total. A female reaper, a specter (drawn like a ghost), a symbol, the palace tower, and a chair bound with chains.
I sucked back a breath and soaked in the images.
“This is the lady.” Kira pointed to the reaper. “Some believe the curse began with her. Because of the way she snagged Dad’s interest.”
This big, ugly curse all because of one reaper? I didn’t believe it.
“She took our dad and now governs the specters.” Kira shifted the images, pulling another one forward. “She sometimes uses the chair…mostly on me.”
Why you? I thought, recalling my dream of the underground caverns where the lady―Watcher―had Kira wound in chains, sitting upon a chair much like the one in the drawing.
Before I could ask about that experience, Kira shoved that picture aside and pulled forward the ghost. “These guys are bad for the people. Always hurting them. Making them forget themselves.”
“I want to stop them,” I said. “I’m looking for the way—”