Page 31 of Heart of the Fae King

I agreed, elated by his about-face on keeping me in the castle.

I didn’t mention what Odette had told me, that the shroud didn’t necessarily guarantee my safety from everyone and that my magic had been diminished. If he already knew, there was nothing he could do about it but ask her to remove the shroud, and if he didn’t, it might get Odette in more trouble.

She became my almost constant companion when I wasn’t in rehearsals or preparing for the main show. I found out that one of her conditions was that she was not permitted to leave her room unless she was with me or Nyx, so I made a point ofinviting her to join me on meals and walks when I wasn’t tied up with stage manager duties.

“Have you met with a midwife yet?” Odette asked about a week after she had enacted the shroud over me. My hands touched my stomach instinctively.

“I’ve met with the healers,” I replied. “The best in the kingdom. They assure me the baby is healthy.”

“Oh, no,” Odette told me. “That won’t do. You need to find a good, reliable midwife to see you through the entire birth. Can I do that for you?”

I hesitated, but reading the eagerness in her eyes, I finally relented. She was trying so hard to make things right. “Thanks, Odette. I’d appreciate that.”

“I can do a lot,” Odette reminded me, as she did every day. “Please don’t forget to take advantage of me. Consider me your personal handmaid until the baby’s born.”

“I don’t need a handmaid,” I choked, and Odette laughed. The sound coming out of the enchantress’ mouth frazzled me. I really didn’t recognize her. It was as if someone had replaced Odette with her much kinder twin sister.

The opening showwas the following evening, and I asked Tristiana to spend the night, but she was reluctant.

“I don’t know, Mare,” she hemmed. Instantly, I was on alert, wondering why she was hesitating. To my knowledge, everyone had been behaving themselves around the dancers, but I wasn’t around them all the time.

I asked her directly. “Has someone been giving you a hard time? Because we’re not allowing that at all.”

She flipped her long, blonde ponytail and grinned at me. “No, I can see that. You weren’t lying when you said things were different here,” she agreed. “No one is giving us dirty looks or anything.”

Relief surged through me. “Then what’s the problem?”

“I still haven’t seen your enchantress yet,” Tristiana admitted. “And I don’t want to.”

“Oh… no, Odette has warmed up to me, too,” I reassured her. “I have a shroud of protection over me, and she stays with me when I’m not with you guys.”

As always, Tristiana appeared dubious by my proclamation, but I nodded vehemently, insisting on proving it to her.

We walked across the main floor of the castle toward the west wing, crossing the threshold to the chillier, unkempt side of the castle. Tristiana released a low whistle.

“What a waste this section is,” she commented. “Why is it so isolated?”

A flash of pity for Odette struck me, but I made no comment as we approached her door. Her guard stood out front, immediately alert as we neared.

“Can you let Odette know we’re here, please?” I asked him.

Without a word, he pounded on the door, and it immediately swung inward.

“Miss Maren!” Odette cried, relief coloring her voice. Her gray eyes shadowed slightly to see Tristiana with me, but she maintained her smile, even when my friend offered me a surprised look at the greeting.

“Do you remember my friend, Tristiana?” I asked.

“Of course. Welcome back. You must be eager to put on your performance tomorrow, madam.”

Tristiana grimaced, clearly not liking the formality of the titles, but she nodded curtly, saying nothing.

“Should we go for a walk?” Odette suggested, scouring the ground for her shoes.

Guiltily, I shook my head. “Not tonight, Odette,” I informed her. “Tristiana is going to stay over.”

Naked disappointment crossed her face, but she held a weak smile. “Of course. That makes the most sense. You should be prepared for tomorrow,” she agreed, her voice cracking slightly.

“Maybe you can join us for breakfast tomorrow,” I suggested, feeling sorry for her.

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