Page 82 of When Wishes Bleed

“Which means the most densely populated are the nicest,” Tessa added.

“Our sectors don’t have the amount of people the Core Four do, but we have enough, and our finished art earns a hefty wage. People from the Four decorate and redecorate to stay on top of trends we tell them about,” Estelle explained with a knowing smile.

“And the trends always change somewhat.” Tessa grinned to her new friend.

The countryside of Sector One was like that of the palace, with soft, rolling hills that were meticulously cared for. The enormous brick houses with wide, white columns weren’t palatial, but were certainly large and stately enough to be built around the palace. We passed a yard separated from the others dotting the land, trimmed with a small, white-picket fence. The house was immense, at least five stories tall. There were romantic gazebos and immaculate gardens filled with roses in every shade, scattered with lily pad-laden ponds with fountains of water gurgling and arcing from their centers.

“That,” Estelle said, sliding closer to the window we shared, “is Rose’s house.”

I knew she was from Sector One, but I was startled that she lived just a short ride from the palace.

Tessa snorted. “And unlike us, she knows Tauren. She’s known him since they were little.”

“They didn’t seem that close,” I argued.

Tessa nodded. “I wouldn’t say they were close. Not friends, perhaps. But certainly, she’s attended balls at the palace with her father. Tauren was definitely acquainted with her before he extended an invitation.”

Estelle shrugged. “It’s his right to invite whomever he likes.”

“Do you want to be Queen?” I asked, waiting for her answer.

Estelle looked me up and down, her eyes catching on my turtleneck, then on my gloves. “Do you?”

Tessa started laughing. “It won’t be me. I’m absolutely sure of that.”

“Why?” Estelle asked, sliding back toward Tessa, her eyes glittering with interest. She wanted to hear all the juicy gossip.

“Rose is right. I have calloused, manly hands. If I became Queen, I would never be able to do what Annalina did and leave my passion behind.”

“You would have to, if that’s what the Kingdom required,” Estelle said gently.

“Would you be able to give it up so easily? Never hold a brush in your hand? Never mix a new shade, or a familiar one? Never visit family or the sea again without a guard with you?” Tessa challenged.

“I really like Tauren, so I don’t know what I’d be willing to leave behind,” she mused. For the first time, Estelle stared out the window and was quiet.

“I don’t understand why you’d have to give up your passions just to wear a crown,” I gently observed.

The other two shared a look, but remained quiet.

We passed into Sector Two, where the buildings rose to hold the blossoming population. And then into Three, which to me, looked identical to Two. If it hadn’t been for the wall dividing them, I wouldn’t have known we had crossed over.

The carriages ambled through the streets, eventually stopping in front of a large, stone and metal building. “Do sculptors make these smooth stones?” I asked Tessa as we climbed out and stood beside the Sector Three Children’s Medical Ward.

She nodded. “Those who love the feel of working rock but who can’t sculpt, shape stone for the Kingdom. They make a decent wage.”

Tessa’s hand drifted along one of the stones as we walked forward to meet Tauren, Rose, and Leah. The crew unpacked the carriages behind us.

Tauren left Rose and Leah to speak with Estelle and Tessa, while I stepped closer to the crew, studying the faces of the three men and two women. They were rushing, gathering their things and preparing their recording devices. Each of them who met my eye looked away, as did Tauren when our gazes met.

He was still angry. I didn’t regret binding my soul to his, so we were at an impasse.

Tauren led Estelle and Tessa up the short set of stone steps and held the door of the Medical Ward open for them to pass through. Leah filed in next and then Rose, who touched Tauren’s arm as she thanked him for holding the door for her. The camera crew caught every movement. Every word.

I climbed the steps, prepared for him to leave me behind and get my own door. Instead, Tauren waited. Our eyes collided as I passed him, and though we never spoke a word, a thousand passed between us.

The crew followed us inside. Tauren shook the hand of a middle-aged woman with tawny hair, streaked gray around her face. She fawned over the Prince, thanking him for bringing us. The woman knew him well enough that I couldn’t help but wonder how often Tauren came to visit the ill children in his kingdom.

“This is Doctor Kingston,” Tauren said. “She will be giving you all a tour of the ward. Some of the children are very ill. You’ll be able to see them and wave at them, but you cannot get near them for their own safety. Each of us carry germs that could harm them. She will let you know if and when to approach or stay in the hall.”

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