Page 102 of A Court Bright and Broken

Stellon’s expression was impossible to read. “Yes well… you need to get some sleep, and so do I. I have much to do tomorrow with the investigation and my duties around the Assemblage.”

“Of course. Thank you for your help tonight with the bath.”

He nodded and turned to go but turned back when I called his name.

“Stellon?”

“Yes?”

“I know you’re busy, and having me here crowding your suite and stealing your bed was not in your plans,” I said. “Don’t feel like you need to spend time here entertaining me. You’ve been far too good to me already. And my ankleisfeeling much stronger. Soon I will be out of your way.”

He huffed a little laugh. “Good night, Firebug.”

The next morning, I woke to find the room filled with crates of books.

And candles.

Chapter 26

Four P.M.

Raewyn

Each morning Stellon left the suite to attend to his duties.

Each night he returned to spend hours here with me, talking and amusing me with tales of the visiting Fae lords and ladies, all the eager parents attempting to force their daughters on him.

“One mother, Lady Patrice of House Balderill, tried to entice me by telling me her daughter was ‘obedient,’” he said with horror. “Like a hunting hound or a horse.”

Then he laughed. “I’d probably behappierwith a hound. Though my horse Maloisexcellent company.”

“Any word of your betrothed?” I asked. “Or perhaps I should say ‘former betrothed.’”

Whenever I could, I tried to get updates on the investigation.

“Nothing. I fear she is truly gone, and I will never know what happened to her.”

Out of morbid curiosity, I asked, “What was she like?”

Stellon’s eyes lifted, and his gaze softened as he stared off at nothing, remembering. His eyes came back to me.

“You know what’s strange? I can hardly even remember her now,” he said. “I truly must have been under a spell—I didn’t drink that much at the ball,” he said.

And now I was weirdly disappointed. Ithadbeen just the Earthwife’s beautification spell after all.

“When I think of her now, it’s vague and hazy,” Stellon said.

“Even the way she looked is starting to fade. What I do remember is her sweetness. She seemed to have an…”

He paused to think of the words he wanted. “... inner light. Yes, that’s what it was. I know she was beautiful on the outside, but what captivated me was what she was like on the inside.”

Myinsides were soaring. It felt like the ankle would no longer hinder me from traveling because I could simply lift off and fly out the window all the way home.

Because what was on the inside of Lady Wyn wasme. Was that truly what Stellon had fallen for?

He shook his head as if to clear it. “Of course, I read her all wrong. Nearly dead wrong, if the assassin theory is correct.”

My favorite activity during the long days I spent alone was reading.

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