Page 9 of Hallowed Games

I rose from the bed, running my fingers through the frizz.

“But you were supposed to marry Anselm,” he said. “And when he sees you, he should remember that. Is it too late for you, do you think?”

My smile disappeared. “How did you know that, Leo? That was all a long time ago. You weren’t even born then.”

He shrugged. “Everyone talks about it in the kitchen. Everyone knows. And we all think you’re prettier than she is, even if she has pale hair.”

“Don’t say that. She’s beautiful. And she’s very clever, too. And you know why I can’t marry anyone.” I sighed. “But I don’t really care, darling. Having a husband would probably be tedious, and I’ve got you instead. You’re much more fun.”

“So you’re not sad?” he asked.

A hollow ache opened up in my chest.

“No,” I lied. “And you’re right. We should make a flower crown. The Archon’s temples are always somber and depressing, and we’ll need to liven it up.”

* * *

Holding Leo’s hand, I walked past the crooked-stone cemetery to Briarvale’s village temple. Gravestones radiated out from all sides of the dome, the earth piled high with bodies over the years. Budding trees arched over them, and honeyed light streamed through the branches onto our path. White petals littered the ground.

We crossed inside, blending into the crowd. Our village temple was like a mini version of Penore’s—just as ornately carved, with gargoyles jutting from the interior walls and effigies spread out over the floor. Light streamed in from the oculus in the roof.

With Leo’s hand in mine, we found a spot in the circle of guests that crowded the temple.

My chest went tight as I waited for Anselm to arrive. In the past nine years, I’d done my best to avoid him. Why had they even invited me today? I’d hardly spoken to either him or Lydia.

Leo tugged at my arm, and I leaned down so he could whisper. “You said there would be sweet buns and cakes.”

Is that why he’d been so desperate to come?

“After,” I whispered back, and I put a finger to my lips.

The wooden door on the eastern side swung open, and Anselm crossed inside. Immediately, I felt my heart crack. He’d grown his hair long, and he looked like gorgeous royalty in his purple brocade doublet and fur-lined mantle. His gaze slid to mine, lingering. I felt like my heart was going to leap from my chest. I couldn’t breathe.

Before the curse, Anselm and I could almost speak without words—just a look or a smile or a brush of fingertips on my arm was enough to say everything we’d needed to say. And that one little look he’d given me just now told me he’d searched the crowd for me.

Leo tugged my sleeve, and I knew he wanted to tell me that Anselm had looked for me—as if I hadn’t noticed. But I was already the source of enough gossip as it was.

Anselm waited before the torchbearers as a Raven joined him, clutching the sacred codex. On the other side of the chasm, a harpist began to play, the beautiful sounds echoing off the dome. The crowd parted among the effigies, and I watched as Lydia strode in, carrying a bouquet of lavender.

Heavens above, she was made for this. Jealousy pierced me as I watched her, dressed in an ivory gown with an emerald bodice. A jeweled crown sparkled on her head, and a gossamer veil draped over her face and hair. She looked like a princess, perfectly suited for the son of an earl. She’d make a perfect noble wife.

For a moment as she walked past, I was sure her gaze flicked to me under the veil.

My heart pattered hard. Did she wish I hadn’t come? Or when she saw me here, did it feel like a triumph?

I dropped my eyes, wishing I’d stayed at the barracks. I tried not to think about the time years ago that Anselm and I had staged our own wedding under a rowan tree, with rings made of twisted dandelion stems. I absolutely would not remember how it felt the last time we’d kissed.

Because Anselm was the last person I’d ever kiss. Unless, of course, I wanted the person to die.

My chest felt tight as the Raven intoned the prayers. He spoke in the ancient tongue of the Tyrenians, so I had no idea what he was saying. Probably for the best. I didn’t want to hear about twin souls and eternal love. The Raven droned on, and my mind wandered back to the time the three of us wandered to the beach near Briarvale and we’d swum in the salty waves. Lydia had dared us to jump off the cliffs, but anyone who’d done that would have died on the rocks.

When I looked up again, Anselm was lifting Lydia’s veil, and he kissed her on the mouth. My breath stilled in my lungs. Lydia’s cheeks shone like burnished pearls as she kissed him.

At least it meant the ceremony was ending.

Despite the towering height of the dome, I felt as if there were no air in here at all.

As soon as it was polite to do so, I slipped my gloved hand into Leo’s and dragged him outside.

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