Page 72 of A Court Bright and Broken

“Yes, I know your clan is a reclusive one. But you’ll getused to it because you’ll have lots of practice,” he said.

“And we’ll have time to get more comfortable with one another before the wedding,” he added. “The ceremony will take place in a fortnight at the end of the Assemblage. If my brother manages to move past his grumpy sulking and select a bride of his own, it’ll be a double wedding.”

I swallowed hard. “Sounds wonderful.”

The music ended, and other couples joined us on the dance floor. Stellon appeared to want to continue dancing, but I had no time left to waste in getting out of this place.

“I’m exhausted,” I told him. “It’s been quite an emotional night. I wonder if I might be permitted to make my exit now?”

He gave me an indulgent grin. “You are a future princess. You don’t need anyone’s permission to go and rest. I’ll escort you to your chambers.”

Placing a hand on my lower back, he began steering me off the dance floor. My feet skidded to a stop.

“My chambers?”

“Yes, of course. You didn’t realize you’d be moving into the palace immediately?”

Stellon’s hand slipped around my waist, his arm at my back like iron as he compelled me forward. “As my betrothed, youmust be protected around the clock. The crown has enemies, and you’re now part of the royal family.”

“But my family—”

“They’ll be informed,” he told me. “It’s too bad they’re not here tonight to celebrate with us, but one of our palace Auspexiates will send a Swift bird first thing in the morning to Altum and notify your father of the good news. Your entire household will be welcomed here as honored guests.”

This was bad. So, so bad. My ruse was falling apart in every possible way.

Darting a glance at the ticking clock, I walked faster. Could I excuse myself to the washroom down the hall and sneak out before my twenty-four-seven “protection” began?

When we reached the grand hallway I said, “I need to use the washroom, if you’ll excuse me for a moment.”

Stellon’s pace didn’t even slow.

“There’s one in your suite. It’s much nicer than the ones on this floor for the guests,” he said. “I’ll give you a tour of your chambers. They’re right next to mine.”

Was it warmer out here in the hall or was it just me? My dress suddenly felt too tight, and a trickle of sweat ran down between my shoulder blades.

Everything was happening so fast, and it seemed I had no control over any of it.

To underscore my thought, a pair of guards appeared from a side corridor, falling into step behind us.

“This is Ser Quillen and Ser Keane, your new personal guard,” Stellon said as both men nodded their heads at me. “They’ll go everywhere you go and keep you safe.”

As well as keep me trapped.

This was really,reallybad. How would I escape now?

Stellon led me across the wide marble-floored entrance hall to an intricate door that appeared to be made of solid gold. It slid to one side, revealing a tiny room.

Not even a room really, more of a box. There was a man standing inside. Stellon began to step inside as well, but my legs locked.

“Have you never seen a lifter before?” he asked. “It’s quite safe, I assure you. I thought it would be easier on you to take this up to the third floor instead of you having to climb several flights of stairs in those shoes.”

“Oh. Thank you.”

I followed him into the golden box, as did my guards, and stood, looking around at its interior. When the contraption began to move, I clutched Stellon’s forearm.

He laughed, covering my hands with one of his. “There arequite a fewthings you’ll need to get accustomed to here.”

Riding the mechanical lift was the weirdest sensation I’d ever experienced. Actually the second weirdest—being transformed by Sorcha’s spell took the top spot. But this was close.

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