52. Chapter Fifty-Two
Chapter fifty-two
Ifeel the color drain from my face, and my steps wobble. "You know my sister?"
"I do."
"How did you know who I was?"
Making it seem like part of the dance, he pulls our joined hands up and holds them to his chest. "The rings are a bit of a giveaway. And I recognize you from the pre-Trials meetings, even with the changes to your hair."
This man, a member of another realm's royal family, knows Bri well enough to recognize her ring? How is that possible? Unless… "Wait, holy fuck. Are you… Is she–are you together?"
He flashes a grin, and I have my answer. Bri isn't involved with some noble from Orz. She's with the gods damn heir to their throne. "Is she here?" I look around frantically, as if she's going to materialize in front of me. "Can I see her?"
"We shouldn't talk about this here. Nobody can know.
" The prince's voice is low and urgent. "When the song ends, I'm going to suggest we relocate to the balcony for some alone time.
" He cringes apologetically, adding, "Gods, that sounds messed up, especially since you're sisters.
One-on-one time together is the only way I'll get people to give us enough space to bring her down here. Getting you upstairs will be impossible right now. As soon as the fireworks start, we’ll have decent cover. "
My heart frantically thunders against my ribs.
She's really here. I found her. "Is that ok?
Promise I'll behave like the brother you likely never wanted.
It just can't look that way to anyone watching.
" His grin is warm and the charm is back, this time without any flirty undertones.
I can't help laughing at the suggestive look he gives me before dipping me almost to the floor as the music finds its crescendo and comes to an end.
When he pulls me upright, he openly declares he'd like some quality time with me out on the royal terrace.
His voice is husky and a touch too loud.
"I would be honored, Your Highness. Although it’s a little chilly this evening, and I'm not exactly covered up.
" I bat my eyelashes at him and have to bite my gloss-swollen lip to keep from laughing at the absurdity of this situation.
Like the gentleman he promised to be, he shrugs out of his sleek green jacket and drapes it around my shoulders.
"I'll go get us a bottle of something expensive," he purrs, inclining his head so his blond hair falls across his forehead.
"Meet me on the couches outside, and don't get lost along the way. The show's about to start."
He disappears in the direction of the bar, and I find the balcony he pointed to, sitting to give my feet a few minutes of respite after briefly scanning the crowd for Zenn, knowing I won't spot him or the others, unless they want me to.
While waiting, I admire the miniature versions of the famous Orz torchera shrubs in tall terracotta pots along the railing.
In the daylight, their distinctive, brush-like flowers attract hummingbirds and bees, but after dark is when they really shine.
The crimson, amber, and gold spikes illuminate like flickering flames, providing a low glowing light and giving off a crisp citrus scent, keeping the bloodsucking bugs at bay.
Prince Errik joins me in the crisp evening air, making a big deal out of greeting whoever's on the neighboring terraces before coming to sit close to me on the lounge chair, hidden mostly in shadow.
I take a chilled flute of sparkling wine from him, grateful for something to soothe my dry throat.
He shifts even closer, his arm brushing mine as he angles his body to make it look like we could be talking, or about to kiss.
The second the sparking explosions of color detonate overhead, he whispers, "She's on her way. I couldn't risk telling her it was you, so be prepared for shock."
I turn into him. "I have to know: how is it even possible you two are together? How have you seen each other or even communicated?"
"I guess I can tell you this now, since you’ve obviously snuck into my realm too.
I’ve quietly visited Zel more than once or twice in the last few years, mysteriously coinciding with your sister's foraging trips into the forest. And you know she spent a month in the Grotto after the Renewal last year, so that came in handy too. "
I let out a small, surprised laugh. Bri’s foraging trips, the ones she insisted on doing by herself with only Dexil to guard her..."And as for communicating in between stolen visits," he continues, "your sister managed to convince your queen to allow her access to their paperbark tree."
"What? How? They're so highly controlled." No way the Queen knew she was using theirs to send love letters to another kingdom.
"I think she said she was writing to the High Sage.
We swapped vials of blood every time we saw each other so we could write until it ran out and we had to wait for another visit.
" I scrunch my nose at the vials of blood, though it's the only way to make sure your letter is received by the right person.
Not exactly romantic way to finish their sporadic reunions.
Errik lays a hand on my knee and gives it a gentle squeeze.
For a second, I think it's part of our cover story, but when I look up, I'm met with a pair of honey brown eyes as familiar as my own.
"Aly?" Her pale face crumples at the same time mine does.
Tears well and fall before I can stop them, and I leap to my feet, vaguely aware of Errik doing the same.
"Ah, yes, I sent for my personal attendant.
You mentioned being cold, so I asked her to bring a few things down for you," he says, ushering me to the deeply recessed corner of the space where Bri emerged.
I throw my arms around her, hoping he'll block us from view, because there's no way I'm not hugging her.
When we pull apart, I wipe the tears from her cheeks and then my own.
Several lifetimes have passed since I last saw her; we'll likely never have enough time to catch up on it all.
"Are you ok?" I ask, right as she whispers, "What are you doing here?
" Reaching out to twirl a piece of my plum-colored hair, shock plastered across her features as we take each other in.
She looks mostly the same, bundled in a dark cloak, long, blonde hair pulled up in a sleek bun.
"What's going on?" I ask under the cover of the brightly colored fireworks exploding overhead.
"Shouldn't I be the one asking you that? What the hell are you doing here? When we were told someone from Zel would be here tonight, never in a million years did I consider it could be you."
"I was worried about you, Bri, the Sage was too. She came to see me." I quickly fill her in on our conversation, watching the shock morph into confusion and fear.
"She really thought I had something to do with that poisoned soil? How could she think so little of me?"
"So you don't know anything about it?" The words slip out before I can think better of it, and her face falls into hurt then anger. Still hiding us from any prying eyes, Errik reaches for her hand.
"Of course not. How could you even ask me that?" Bri snaps, voice cold.
"Sorry, I just didn't know what to think when I got your note.
You said you found something you weren't supposed to and had a plan to make things permanent, you mentioned the Renewal not going ahead.
I guess I just jumped to conclusions after what the Sage said.
I wonder why she was so insistent I come after you. "
Bri laughs dryly, not looking at all amused. "Likely because I broke into her personal library and stole a very important book before I left the Grotto, and she probably wants it back."
"You did what? She’d seemed worried about you, not angry. And how would doing that stop the next Renewal?"
"I think you misunderstood. When I said a plan to make things permanent, I was talking about the only thing that would allow me to stay here.
" The prince smiles encouragingly, and she pulls the sides of her cloak apart, revealing the swell of a baby bump illuminated by the softly humming lanterns strung around the balcony.
"A royal heir beats any claim Father or the King might make to get me to come back to Zel. "
"Oh my gods, Bri. Congratulations. I'm so happy for you." She's beaming with joy. Why is she masquerading as Errik's attendant while carrying his child, though? And how the hell did she get around the contraceptive shot?
"I can swear on our unborn baby, I know nothing about the poisoned soil except that it's showing up in all three realms. And that it's not the same as the damaged lands of Envenar."
"Wait, what? Is that true? You've compared them?"
"We have, just recently," Errik replies. "They're connected, not a full match."
"Why do you keep saying poisoned soil?"
The prince looks confused. "Because that's what it is. That's what's weakening the barrier. Something or someone has to be poisoning it."
A stunned silence swells between us. "There's something wrong with the barrier?" I whisper.
"I thought you knew. How else are you here? That's why we're all searching the mountains. The High Sage believes there's something in them that will stabilize the barrier while we figure out what's causing the issue."
I want to ask what else they found, what else he knows.
It can wait for the meeting Zenn is hopefully scheduling with Redson right now, though.
I wonder what he makes of all this, especially the feathers.
Now, we know why they're so important. For now, I just want to how my sister is doing.
I can't believe she's going to be a mother.
Not to mention, she's mixed a Zel golden bloodline with the royal one from Orz.
Can't wait to see how that goes down at home.