Page 32 of The Court of Truth

“Addi,” she whispers, but I shake my head.

“You can walk, Nora. That means you can dance. That means you can dream big again for no one else but yourself. You deserve that. I want you to have the opportunity to explore every avenue before you make a decision. If sitting on my council is the happy place you find at the end of that path, then I will announce it immediately, but deep down, as it stands right this moment, I think you’re way too creative for that shit,” I admit, and she smiles through the tears.

“Language, Addi,” my father murmurs teasingly, and it eases the tension filling the room.

Running my thumb over Nora’s knuckles, I clear my throat. “If you need to use your mind magic to delve into my head and confirm it, then have at it. It’s the truth.”

She shakes her head instantly. “I know it is. I can see it in your eyes,” she admits, sagging in her seat like she’s used all of her energy storing that pain. Now that she knows the truth from my end, she’s exhausted.

“I love you, ladies,” my father declares, expanding the warmth exuding from my heart as Nora and I reply in sync.

“We love you too.”

A ring of laughter echoes around us as we release each other’s hands before Nora tilts her head at my father. “So, what’s going to happen with Julietta now that you’re here?” she asks, referring to the woman he seems to be fascinated with back in the kingdom of dragons.

He blushes instantly, waving a dismissive hand at her as he looks anywhere but at us. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Are you sure?” she pushes, a hint of mischief in her eyes as she laces her fingers together on the table. “I could have sworn I saw you two kissing when?—”

“Please stop,” he pleads, hiding his face in his hands as the two of us giggle. Apparently, teasing him is fun. Dealing with Nora on a permanent basis must be exhausting for him.

“If you like her, you can make it work, Dad,” I state, assuring him that there’s no objection from me if this is something he wants to pursue. He nods, a soft smile stretching his lips.

“Maybe, but that’s not a conversation for now,” he replies, nodding at the door. I follow his line of sight to find Flora leaning against the door frame.

18

ADRIANNA

The bedroom door clicks shut behind me and I sag against it. Taking a moment to connect with my magic helps to settle the adrenaline coursing through my body.

Today has been a mixture of emotions that have been nothing shy of a vortex, but I’ve made it to the end. Now, I have to embrace my new room. The room that was once my father’s. Despite Nora’s efforts to convince him otherwise, my father insists that the royal quarters are meant to be mine.

I didn’t pay much attention earlier, but now that it’s just me, I can take it in.

Soft beige walls are complemented by a sand-colored carpet beneath my feet. The most enormous bed I’ve ever seen in my life is centered against the wall opposite me, framed by stained glass windows on either side. An ensuite is to my right, a dressing room to my left, leaving little other furnishings in here, which somehow makes it feel calm and serene.

A tall lamp sits in the far right of the room offering a soft glow throughout the space, but despite how cozy it feels, being in here alone only serves to remind me how much I miss my men.

Eager to wash the remnants of a strained day away, I head for the bathroom, gaping at the grandeur that awaits me. Beige marble tiles line the walls and floor, creating a warm hue around the entire space, and my eyes dart to the huge sunken bath in the middle of the room.

It’s tempting,reallytempting, but I don’t have the energy to draw this out. I want to shower, get in my pajamas, and snuggle under the bedsheets. Maybe hiding under them is the correct term, but I refuse to delve downthatparticular rabbit hole.

Instead, I draw my attention to the shower straight ahead. It’s big enough to hold at least three people behind the glass, with multiple shower heads hovering above and jets coming out of the side.

Damn.

It’s weird to think that this was once where I lived as a child because now it feels almost overwhelming with how opulent it is. Thankfully, the dial is simple enough and water cascades from the rainfall shower heads a moment later.

Stripping out of my clothes, I toss them in the laundry chute on the other side of the bathroom, stowed beside the vanity and large mirror with a light that softly glows around the edge of it.

I grab a plush towel from the cabinet beside it before stepping under the hot stream of water. I let the spray hit my face as I tilt my head back, relishing in the warmth. Using my magic, I loosen my braid until my hair falls languidly down my back.

With my mind occupied by the task at hand, I methodically run through the tasks of washing my hair and body as the sound of the falling water soothes the tension that lingers in my muscles.

I know I’m done the moment my mind starts to wander back toward the problems I’ve faced today. Mainly the ones that remain unsolved and surround the fact that Clementine is causing additional issues, so I shut off the shower, bundle myself in the thick towel, and slip over to the vanity.

A pair of pink silk pajamas wait for me, folded on the vanity. I frown at them as I gently connect with my air magic to dry myself off before discarding the towel. Slipping into the new clothing, my frown only deepens as I look at myself. Running my hands over the soft material does nothing to help, and I think it’s because they’re not something I would pick out for myself. They don’t feel like me, but they’re comfortable at least. I just don’t actually know where they came from.

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