Chapter 2
Arson
Evelyn returned to her room after dinner and opened another window. The ocean had been beautiful in the sunshine but was absolutely dazzling in the moonlight. She couldn’t see anyone on the palace grounds or the beach.
I’m not staying inside all night when there’s a warm beach right there. I’ll make sure no one sees me. I don’t need a lecture from Father about wandering around unsupervised.
Evelyn changed out of her heavy gown and into a lighter dress. The gauzy, dark blue fabric was perfect for not drawing attention to herself and drying quickly. She also decided to leave her shoes in her room. The click-clacking of heels on the marble floors would echo and get her caught.
She slowly opened her door, grateful it didn’t creak like in the castle back home. The hallway was empty. Instead of going to the main staircase, Evelyn found a narrow set of stairs for staff at the far end of the hall. She tiptoed all the way down, then cautiously opened a door that led outside.
“That’s disgusting!” a male voice said.
Evelyn froze, the door only open a few inches.
“It’s not that bad,” another man replied.
“It’s got their spit in it!” the first man said.
What in the world?
“Only a tiny bit.”
“That’s enough to make it gross.”
“A drop of spit doesn’t ruin wine.”
“Yes, it does! And it’s more than a drop.”
The men were about twenty yards away on her right, standing guard at the doorway between the patio and the ballroom.
“But the royals drink the good wine. It’s worth it!”
“If you get caught drinking the king’s leftover wine, you’ll be lucky to keep your job. Or your life if they send Fontaine after you.”
That’s what this is about? A guard drinks wine that’s left on the table after dinner?
The men continued their argument, oblivious to Evelyn sneaking out. The light pouring through the glass doors illuminated them, while she was hidden in the darkness.
But they’ll be able to see me once I reach the path to the beach.
Past the guards, Evelyn spotted a tall arched trellis covered in vines that led to the royal garden.
She waved her hand and the whole trellis went up in flames.
It took the guards several seconds longer than it should have to notice the large fire.
Once they did, a percussion of footfalls and swear words was Evelyn’s cue to continue her mini adventure.
Evelyn hurried to the beach and relaxed when her toes curled in the sand. Heading toward the water, she veered to the left so her silhouette would not be dead center in view from the palace.
A light breeze pushed her curls back from her face. The fresh air was intoxicating. The water was much warmer than Evelyn expected. The Kingdom of Gryon made up the lower half of the continent, and this palace was at the southernmost point.
I know I’m practically standing on the equator, but I never believed an ocean could be anything but freezing.
The waves flowed around Evelyn’s ankles. She stared at the full moon, entranced by its glittering reflection on the water’s surface.
“Are you the arsonist?”
Evelyn jumped at the man’s voice, then nearly tumbled into the water as she spun around to face him. “Where the hell did you come from?”
The man was tall, lean, and dressed in all black, including boots that weren’t meant for sand. He had high cheekbones, a dimple in his chin, and dark brown hair long enough to curl at his shirt collar.
Just because he’s handsome doesn’t mean he can sneak up on me!
“The palace,” he replied, grinning at her. “But someone tried to burn it down.”
Did the fire spread? Did I actually damage… no, there isn’t any firelight coming from the garden.
She glared at him. “The palace is fine!”
“But you are the one who started the fire.”
“Prove it.”
The man laughed, and the genuineness of it felt as warm as the water. “You haven’t even been here a day and you’re already causing chaos. No wonder Elemental fae are so rarely invited this far south.”
“Are you going to have me arrested?”
“What fun would that be? I want to see what you do next.”
“Who are you, anyway?” Evelyn asked. “Do you work at the palace?”
The man’s brows rose at the question.
Is he surprised? That wasn’t a strange thing to ask.
“Something like that,” he said. “I’m on guard duty to protect against arsonists.”
Evelyn put a hand on her hip. “I haven’t been impressed with your colleagues so far. The guards were too busy talking about stealing wine to notice me slip past them.”
“Guards are stealing wine?” The man’s tone became serious.
“Well, kind of. One of them was saying he drinks the leftover wine from royal dinners. Like, straight out of the glasses removed from the table.”
The man gaped. “That’s disgusting.”
“Obviously. You must not be paid enough if guards won’t buy their own wine.”
“I’ll let the king know of your disapproval with his employment practices,” the man said with amusement.
“Thank you.” Evelyn gave him the smallest of curtsies.
“You’re one of the Fire princesses, right?”
She sighed. “Yes, but not the important one.”
He furrowed his thick brows. “What do you mean?”
“I’m the younger sister. Hannah is the real princess.”
“You’re not a real princess?”
“Technically, I am,” Evelyn conceded. “But it all feels like a joke. I spent a century as the daughter of a lord. My father has been a king for all of five minutes and now the Ducasses give a shit about us?”
“Are you… upset? That your family was invited to Gryon?”
“I just don’t understand why I have to be here,” she complained. “Hannah is the one the prince wants to meet. She thinks all of this is so romantic. I’m sure she’s a sleeping beauty right now, not even setting one small fire.”
Evelyn kicked at a wave. Some of the water splashed onto the man’s boots, but he didn’t seem to notice.
“You don’t think the prince would want to meet both of you?” he asked.
“Who knows what he wants? He didn’t even show up for dinner tonight. The king probably didn’t bother to teach the prince any manners since he wasn’t meant to be the heir.”
The man remained quiet. Evelyn looked up at him and noticed all traces of his smile were gone.
Shit. I messed up.
“I’m sorry,” Evelyn said. “That was a horrible thing for me to say. You probably knew Prince Christopher before he died… I didn’t mean to be disrespectful.
I’m not good at shutting up when I’m supposed to.
Which, again, is why Hannah is the real princess.
She doesn’t turn into a bitch when she’s tired. ”
“It’s okay,” the man murmured.
No, it’s not. He definitely won’t want to see me again.
“I should probably go back to my room,” Evelyn decided.
“I’ll walk you up to the palace.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“What kind of guard would I be if I let a princess wander unattended? Besides, I have to make sure you don’t set any more fires.”
“First of all,” Evelyn started, voice raised, “I am not an arsonist. Secondly, you can’t be chivalrous and act like you’re escorting a criminal. Pick one.”
The man offered Evelyn his arm.
“Chivalry it is,” she muttered.
Evelyn looped her arm in his. He smelled of sweet citrus, like lemonade.
This might be romantic if I weren’t so bad at walking uphill in sand.
As they approached the palace, Evelyn glanced toward the garden. The fire had been put out and the trellis was removed. The wine-stealing guards weren’t at the ballroom doors anymore.
“Where did all the guards go?”
“Maybe your sister started a fire of her own.”
Evelyn ignored that comment.
He guided her to the brightly lit patio instead of the dark staircase. Evelyn finally had a view of him in more than moonlight.
“Why are your eyes two different colors?” she asked.
A brief moment of shock flashed across his face. “They’re not.”
“They are,” Evelyn insisted. “I thought I noticed that on the beach, but I figured it was a trick of the light.”
Indeed, his eyes didn’t match at all. The right eye was a deep, rich cobalt. But the left eye was a light, icy hue.
“You shouldn’t be able to see that,” he said slowly.
“Why not?”
“You know we play with sight here? Vision magic? Not everything is as it seems.”
“I know. But I can clearly see your eyes aren’t identical. Does that mean you’re not very good at illusions? Or is your magic wearing off?”
The man blinked at her. “I’m not sure.”
All this staring is getting awkward. I’ve read the phrase “piercing blue eyes” in books before, but feeling that gaze in two distinct colors is too much.
“Anyway,” she said. “I guess I’ll see you around? Not sure how long the prince needs to decide if my sister is acceptable, but I’ll probably be here for a while.”
“What’s your name?”
“Evelyn. What’s yours?”
He hesitated for a heartbeat. “Leo.”
“Nice to meet you, Leo. Thanks again for not having me arrested.”
“Anytime.” He bowed to her, then winked. “Good night, Princess.”
Evelyn’s breath caught in her throat. “Good night.”
Maybe Hannah won’t be the only one to find a husband here.