Page 97 of Of Glass and of Gold

Melody rose from the ground beside me to fetch the drink and brought it back. I took tiny sips, not wanting to be without air for more than a couple seconds at a time.

My hand shook.

If he had chosen, he could have ended my life. I had no way to fight back, no control. Tears pooled in my eyes as the rest of my body began shaking.

“Come, you should rest,” Melody said, aiding me up the stairs.

“Nora, I think it’s time you tell me what’s going on. What was that about?” Melody said, stroking my hair as we cuddled together in her bed. After she’d led me in here, I’d broke down. Her pillow still held dark stains from my tears. Only after a few moments of silence, evidence that I’d gathered my composure, she insisted I give her information.

I had lost control of the situation. Of all the situations, actually. And I’d grown tired, so very tired of being so many different versions of myself to so many different people. I didn’t have it in me to assess if it was the right time or not, or what I should continue to keep secret. So, I told her everything.

I told her about training with Odion, about sneaking around at night. About running into a masked man, seeking the same justice I was. Told her all that we’d seen and learned about the kidnappings, why I’d snapped at her for using her magic in public. Telling her about the group with the baker to assassinate the prince filled me with more shame that I’d let myself believe I carried, but I shared anyway. I explained why Caine had been so aggressive. Even about the amazing sex in the trees with a man I hardly knew.

“It was only yesterday that I found out who that man really is.” I hesitated, knowing this would rock her world. “It’s Nicholas. Prince Nicholas.”

From where my head lay against her chest, I felt the moment it stopped moving. “Nora…” she said my name, near breathless, and I waited for whatever reaction was brewing. I didn’t have it in me to decipher if sharing all of it had been stupid or selfish. All I knew was that finally saying it all out loud, sharing the burden, made me feel a little less alone.

“You are badass.”

I had never heard a curse pass from her lips, and I sat up, staring blankly into her sparkling blue eyes. “Did you just swear?”

“Yeah,” she nodded, eyes wide, voice deep and equally as surprised.

A smile twitched on my lips. “That might be the most shocking thing said this evening.”

“No wonder you thought I was naïve when you had all that going on, and I had no idea.”

“Hey, don’t you dare sell yourself short, Miss Took-down-a-human-smuggler-with-her-magic-without-hesitation-and-saved-our-asses.”

She giggled, slapping her hand over her mouth, then brushed back the hair from her face. “Who have we become?”

“Who we needed to,” I said, letting my voice fall somber. “Melody, I don’t know what to do next.”

She sighed, bringing her hand over mine in her light and lovely way. “Then let’s figure it out.”

47

Nicholas

The guards nearly trembled with confusion when I marched up to the castle gates, unescorted, with no security detail. No doubt fearing they’d somehow missed the prince walking right past them and now questioned their job security. Ignoring their fumbling attempts at greetings, I entered through the gate.

When one of the battalion leaders ran toward me, offering a horse to take me up to the castle, I accepted, dismounting after I’d crossed the drawbridge. Those guards stirred, just as panicked. Their greetings also fell on deaf ears. A pulsing anger radiated from my presence, keeping anyone who considered approaching at bay.

Eventually winding through some corridors, Ricks scrambled to chase after me. “Sire! Sire, if I could have a moment of your time…”

I halted, pivoting to face him as he approached. He repeatedly adjusted his tiny circular spectacles, pushing them up his now perspiring nose while huffing and puffing. “I couldn’t find you last night, Your Highness. I meant to discuss that I’ve sent out the final invitations for the dinner in three days’ time. There will be nine ladies, three from each—”

“You know I’ll be in attendance. I don’t want to hear one more word about planning or events or any of this nonsense. Tell me a time, and I’ll be there. Until then, you will not speak another word of this to me. Understood?” If there was any chance of misconstruing my seriousness, my domineering glare clarified.

The poor man’s already reddened face deepened its vermillion shade, but I had no patience left. This was the last business I wanted to discuss right now. Before he had a chance to comply, which he would have, I stormed down the hall, heading toward the guest wing.

Marco’s posted guards nodded in greeting. They remained at their posted positions, even after I slammed open the bedroom door. Marco looked up from where he sat at the desk in his room going over correspondence.

“I’m going to give you one opportunity to tell me the truth, or you’ll never be welcome back to my kingdom again,” I snarled, chest heaving, heart racing. My hands flexed at my side, curling my strained fingers.

He creased his brow, setting down his pen and standing. “What is it?” Not a whisper of jovial prowess emanated from his person, reading me correctly.

I halved the distance between us and yelled for his guards to shut the door. They obeyed after receiving an approving nod from Marco. When the door clicked, my anger vented in a whisper.

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