Chapter 24
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
FYN
Icouldn’t look at Ashlyn long in that dress.
Ashlyn looked up at me when Novena slipped away. I looked everywhere but at her.
“Can I help you with something?” I swallowed every word.
“You hate it, don’t you?” There was something different in her tone.
“You don’t want my opinion, trust me.” I wasn’t talking about the dress.
I patted my hand against my pocket. The slimy liquid from the awful cucumber slid down my palm.
Ashlyn rolled her eyes. “You smell absolutely atrocious.”
“That’s what I was going for.”
“You have to get rid of the pickle.”
“Where exactly?” I would have been happy to. “I will dispose of it outside as soon as I’m able.”
“Well, it can’t be soon enough.” She pointed to the dark ring that had embedded itself near my pocket.
I pulled at the cuffs of my sleeves, feeling the sweat thicken beneath them. “Why did you ask me what you did?”
She smoothed her waves over her gown. “About the—”
“You needn’t say it here,” I said. “I need to know why.”
“What do you know of it?”
“Only what I’ve been told. Aelira described it as a rising warmth in her veins—Lioran has said similar things.”
She wrung her hands together.
“Are you trying to tell me something?”
“Fyn.” She paled as she said my name.
Whatever made her look like that—it couldn’t have been good. If the starlight altered her… “We need to leave,” I blurted the words before I could stop myself.
“I’m not leaving.” She pivoted away from me as Novena and two ladies walked past. “I will be just fine.” She flinched again.
For days she had been flinching.
“Princess Ashlyn, I want you to meet my friends, Lady Yvonne and Lady Gabriella.” Novena gestured to each lady.
“We are most delighted to meet you, Your Highness.” The tallest one said as she eyed Ashlyn’s gown. “Your gown is stunning, Princess Ashlyn.”
“Thank you,” Ashlyn said as she fell quickly instep with Novena.
They crossed over to another stall where colorful crystal bottles sat. The merchant lifted each one for Ashlyn and Novena to smell.
In the next alcove they looked at jewelry. I couldn’t tell if Ashlyn was interested in any of it.
But as she spoke with the ladies, her shoulders were no longer stiff. Her laughter flowed freely. It had been months since I had heard her laugh like that.
This was what she wanted.
This life.
It was everything I could never give her.
“Soren is hopeless when it comes to Ashlyn. The moment he saw her, he spoke of nothing else the rest of the night.” Novena clutched Ashlyn’s hand as they walked toward the next display.
Ashlyn stared at her. I had seen her look that way more than once since we arrived. She said nothing afterwards.
Golden chains adorned the tables. Novena pointed to one that was quickly handed to her.
“Where will you go if the pact doesn’t come to fruition? Will you return to Bailoc?” Lady Yvonne asked.
I hadn’t allowed myself to think about what would happen if she didn’t choose it.
“Yvonne.” Novena nearly snapped, but somehow still maintained her control. “We needn’t bother the princess with such things.” She motioned to her guard who paid for the necklace too.
“I haven’t decided yet,” Ashlyn said.
“Was there anything else you wished for, Ashlyn?” Novena asked.
“No, the dress was already generous enough.” Ashlyn’s words grew softer.
I had expected that she wanted the luxury that came with this life, but she seemed uncomfortable with the excess.
Novena clasped the necklace around her neck. A single gem lay embedded in the chain.
It seemed excessive with all the jewels she already wore.
“She is most curious, isn’t she, Lord Fyn?” Novena stepped in front of me, her tone sharpening as she said my name. “Soren can give her anything she desires and yet she acts as if she wants none of it.”
Ashlyn’s eyes narrowed.
“She is a woman of many surprises.” I had spent months trying to figure her out.
“It is even more curious that you would know that,” Novena said.
“I know the entire royal family well. It’s part of my job.” I ran my fingers through my hair. “Her sister is most protective of her.”
“It is wonderful to hear that they’re close, especially now that Estlen and Nythrel have started such a prosperous relationship.” Novena turned from me.
There was something seriously wrong with that woman.
Her calm was chilling.
Her words were laced with something.
“If we’re going to get our hair done, we should go do so. The princes will expect us back by the afternoon.” Novena gestured toward a billowing white tent in the middle of the marketplace. “Lord Fyn, you will wait here with the men. It is a ladies only space.”
I watched Ashlyn walk off without me.