Chapter 24
Twenty-Four
ALLETTE
Everything happens at once.
Braith calls my name, and I respond automatically, completely forgetting about my false Nimbiss accent.
Before I can say anything more, Senan tears off my hood.
My mask slips, the tie at the back comes loose, and it falls right off. And now it’s lying on the ground between us, and if he raises his head, he’ll know the truth and?—
I shriek and throw my hands up, hiding my face. The dishes I’d been holding crash to the floor and shatter.
Senan can’t see me. Not like this.
Not after I was forced to stand in this dining room and watch him fawn over his princess. From my position in the alcove, I couldn’t hear their conversation properly, but from the way the beautiful young woman blushed, she clearly enjoyed every whispered word and stolen glance.
And who wouldn’t? To have the undivided attention of a charming, handsome prince is a dream come true.
Does he tease her the way he used to tease me? Does he love her laugh as much as he used to love mine? Does he love her more?
He must, otherwise he would’ve come back for me.
At least no one witnessed my horror when I watched Senan take the princess’s hand in his and lead her out of the dining room or the tears cascading down my cheeks as I bent over the place where he’d sat and cleared the goblet that had touched his lips.
He is a liar.
He abandoned you.
He is in love with somebody else.
Those phrases have become my mantra since I saw him in the guest room yesterday, and yet my heart still feels as if it has been shattered like these dishes all over again. For all those years I believed him dead, I never stopped loving my mate.
And love isn’t something that vanishes overnight.
“Your hair is black,” Senan whispers. He drops to his knees, keeping his head bowed as he collects my mask from between shards of broken porcelain. “I’m so sorry. I…I don’t know what came over me.” With his head still lowered, he holds up the mask. I twist away from him to replace the covering, fastening it tighter around the back of my head before tugging my hood back into place.
Only then do I manage to take a breath.
Senan stands, wiping a tattooed hand down his face, the word LOST inked on his knuckles. That is exactly how he looks when his eyes finally lift to mine. “I had no right to do that. Please accept my sincerest apologies. It’s just…” His gaze drops. “Your hands…”
I force my hands to my sides. “What about my hands?”
“The way you twist them. I thought…” He closes his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose. A mirthless chuckle escapes. “Gods…I thought you were someone else.”
The pain in his voice gives me pause. Gives me hope. “Who did you think I was?” Say my name. Tell me that you didn’t forget me. That part of you still cares.
“Someone you cannot possibly be,” he mutters, stumbling toward the balcony doors. His wings appear at his back, catching the door frame as he falls out.
Two hands land on my shoulders. “What happened? Are you all right?”
Braith. It’s only Braith.
No. I’m not. Not at all. Senan didn’t recognize me—is it any wonder? My hair is black. I’m a servant. He doesn’t remember you.
“Wynn?”
“I’m fine,” I whisper, even though it’s a damned lie. I’m not fine and I’m not sure I ever will be.
Braith turns her head toward the balcony, presumably to check for the prince. “Did you say something to provoke him?”
“Of course not.”
“I didn’t mean it as an accusation. I’ve just never heard of a member of the royal family attacking one of the staff like that. But he is an awful duster.”
I knew that, didn’t I? Saw the evidence myself the night I arrived back in Kumulus. Still, hearing her confirm it aloud makes me want to leap to Senan’s defense.
Only there is no need because Braith drops the subject and squats down to pick up broken shards, piling them atop the lone plate that survived. “Hurry. We must get this cleaned before anyone else sees.”
Stars, I made such a mess. I can’t afford another mark on my second day here. I kneel beside her to scoop up bits of food and porcelain, adding them to the pile.
“Be sure to throw all of these in one of the rubbish bins right inside the doors,” she says, returning to the table to collect a silver tray laden with goblets. I follow her through the servants’ door to where a handful of people are huddled together on the other side. Their harsh whispers cease the moment we enter.
So much for keeping this a secret.
A tall man dressed in all white pushes forward. “Why is everyone standing around?” Jeston clips from behind his mask. “Back into the dining room. Now!”
The servants jump and clamber for the door. I try to hide behind Braith, but Jeston catches my arm and pulls me forward. When he tugs down his mask, revealing his pinched, disapproving face, I have a sinking feeling this isn’t going to end well for me.
He picks up one of the larger shards, turning it over in his hands. “Did you break all of these dishes, Goldie?”
Braith steps forward, her rigid shoulder bumping mine. “Leave it off, Jes. It wasn’t her fault.”
His gaze flicks to my protector. “I didn’t ask whose fault it was. I asked if she broke the damned dishes.”
All I can do is nod.
“Jes—”
“Bring her back to her room,” he cuts in, taking the dishes from me and depositing them in the bin. “We’ll finish without you both.”
Braith keeps an arm around me the entire way down to the servants’ quarters, holding me close as I choke back tears. When we finally reach my room, I want to scream until my lungs give out, except this infernal bloody mask is cutting off my air. I rip the thing off and hurl it across the room.
“Why are you so upset?” Braith asks.
Because I am still hopelessly in love with a man who has fallen for another . “Because I can’t… I can’t be here anymore.” I was a fool for coming to the castle in the first place. If Senan truly loved me, he would’ve come back for me. The sooner I get out of this place, the better. I rush over to the dresser to find something to wear besides this damned uniform.
“Woah, woah, woah.” Braith closes the drawer before I can pull out my dress. “Wynn, you need to take a breath.”
How can I breathe when it’s all gone?
My love.
My friend.
My wings.
My magic.
I press the heels of my palms to my eyes, willing these blasted tears to stop. Braith’s hands fall to my shoulders, rubbing reassuring circles until my breathing calms. “Listen to me,” she says softly, soothingly. “I don’t know what happened, but I do know that if you leave, you will be replaced before the day is through. People would give anything for a chance to work here. The situation in Kumulus City is growing more dire by the day. Outside of the factory, there are almost no respectable jobs—and finding one that pays a decent wage is nearly impossible. The shelters aren’t safe for single women, so you’ll have to pay for housing as well. All I’m saying is that you need to really think about this decision instead of letting your emotions get the better of you.”
She is right. Of course she is. If I lose this job, there is no telling where I’ll end up. Although, if Jeston reports the broken dishes, I may not have a choice. “If the House Master finds out what happened, that will be my second strike. One more, and I’m gone.” Will they give me my wages before I leave or withhold them to cover the cost of the broken dishes?
Braith’s arms slip around my back, pulling me in for a tight hug. “You forget that I saw everything. I’ll make sure Jeston knows this wasn’t your fault. This won’t get back to the House Master, I swear it.”
Does she really have that sort of influence with Jeston? For all we know, he could be talking to the man right now.
She presses a hand to my hair. “I’ll go sort it out for you, all right? Will I come back and stay with you tonight?”
Yes. Please stay with me. I don’t want to be alone anymore. “No. I’ll be all right.” I can’t lean on her, not when I don’t know how long she’ll be around.
Braith gives my shoulder a final pat. “I’ll be right down the hall if you need me. Try to get some rest. Tomorrow will be better. I promise.”
While I appreciate her optimism, she doesn’t have all the facts.
Nothing can make this better.
Nothing at all.