Page 72 of Ruby & Onyx

“Liliana,” I say, confused. “What are you doing here?”

“Prince Allwyn requested that I escort you to the ball tonight, given his regrettable absence. He so desperately wished to be here, but the safety of this kingdom will forever be his priority.”

Liliana’s entrance deflated the energy in the room. Gemma and Viola set down their glasses and busy themselves by cleaning up the room, starting with the puddle of spilled bubbly.

“What was so important that he couldn’t wait until tomorrow to leave?” I’m unfairly directing my frustration toward her, and I know it. It is Olly that I’m frustrated with, not her. Still, my words are hitting a hard edge.

Truth be told, I don’t know if I can trust her fully. She’s a smart and power-hungry woman. I knew as much from the beginning. But I wonder how much of her kindness toward me is a mask crafted for her gain?

She looks at each of the twins before saying, “Shouldn’t you two be getting ready? I wouldn’t want you to miss out on this very special evening.”

They nod in agreement, looking slightly abashed.

“You look stunning, Radya.” Viola waves as she shuffles out of the room.

“We’ll see you tonight,” Gemma adds, falling in line behind her sister.

Once we’re alone, uneasiness creeps up my throat. I’d be a fool to think Liliana wasn’t judging my every word, waiting for me to slip up in some way. What if I say the wrong thing or come off in the wrong way? My whole body tightens with that fear.

“Now, to answer your question, trouble is closer than we feared.” My lungs deflate as the gravity of her words compresses the air around us. “The western army is moving toward the border by the thousands. I believe that capturing the men in Carcera acted as kindling to a long-dormant fire.”

Are we on the brink of war?

Through the fearful fluttering in my chest, I ask, “How long until they reach Mendacia?”

“That’s hard to say. But even if they reach the border, we are prepared to fight back. Prince Allwyn is making sure of that. If you thought that Carcera was impenetrable, just wait until you see the spells cast on our border.” She reaches for the bottle of bubbly and takes a swig, not bothering to use a glass. “Plus, any foreign magic cast within our land will be immediately detected. And once detected, the praecians are rearing and ready to go.”

“I did think that the barrier surrounding Carcera was impenetrable… until those men, well, penetrated it.” The words sound awkward on my tongue, but the question looming in the back of my mind erodes all confidence in protective spells. “If they broke the spell once, who’s to say they can’t do it again?”

“We learned from our weaknesses and improved upon them.” She rolls her shoulders back and tilts her chin up to the ceiling. “You’ve been taking lessons with the prince, correct?”

“Well, sort of. He didn’t show up for our last lesson, and we’ve only covered the basics.” I can barely do a push-up. How could I fight in a war?

“You would do well to start practicing on your own time. Even the slightest increase in strength could change the outcome when a knife is held against your throat. And remember, if anyone does find a way to capture you, they will try to fool you. Whatever they say, don’t believe them. The Umbrians are feral liars. And gods help you if the Mad King gets his hands on you. He will manipulate you in ways that you never imagined possible. Promise me, girl, that you won’t listen to them.” She sighs and shifts her weight as if the right leg is causing her pain.

Nausea turns in my stomach.

If the Mad King gets his hands on me, it’s not the lies or manipulation that I fear…

No, I can’t think about that right now.

Liliana limps toward the chair in the corner and shakily lowers herself into it. The same chair that Olly sat in the first time we met. I find myself facing a pinch of annoyance at the memory.

“Did something happen to your leg? You don’t normally use a cane.” It strikes me then that I have no idea what Liliana does. She vaguely told me about being a businesswoman, but did I ever ask what that business entailed? Could she have injured her leg while working?

“Just a little slip. Nothing to worry about, dear.” She starts to add something, but instead snaps her mouth shut and claps her hands together. “That’s enough of the serious talk for tonight. The rest of this evening should be fun. You are the belle of the ball! All eyes will be on you!”

That is the exact opposite of what I want to hear.

Liliana takes a swig from the bottle but the carbonation bubbles up to the surface too quickly, spilling all over her gloves. “Gods be,” she laughs.

As she removes the glove on her left hand, I notice something strange. I discreetly step closer to get a better look. Clouds begin to storm in my mind, swirling with confusion.

How is this possible?

The mark on her hand bears a striking resemblance to my birthmark.

“What is that on your hand?” I do my best to mask my alarm.

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