Page 92 of Kingdom of Briars and Roses

The door opened, and Callan released me long enough to climb out. He reached back for my hand, and I gave it to him, stepping into the crisp sunshine. Rows of upscale shops greeted me, their window displays dripping with luxury and jewels.

The street was empty of traffic, which I found surprising, considering all the shopping choices. It took me a moment to realize our armed escorts had blocked off the road in both directions to accommodate us.

“Where are we?” I asked, noting the wariness in the soldiers’ expressions. They were truly worried for us. Callan’s warning about unrest must’ve been warranted. It made me wish I’d strapped a sword to my body, though I wasn’t sure it would’ve been possible given all the layers of this gown. I’d forgotten how exposed it felt to travel without a weapon.

“We’re in a shopping district in the heart of the city,” Callan said. “Is something wrong?”

“Actually, I wondered if we could go meet the oracle you told me about.”

His eyes flashed once then sparkled again. There and gone so quickly, but I was learning how to read Callan like a book.He was angry. “Of course. We’ll go there next. There’s a jewelry shop nearby I thought you might like.”

A jewelry shop? “I thought we were going to meet the people of your kingdom.”

He lifted a brow. “Isn’t the jeweler part of my kingdom?”

“Fine,” I agreed grudgingly then pulled up short, the reality only just now dawning on me. “I don’t have any coin.”

He laughed. “Relax, darling. You have a walking treasure chest at your side.”

I didn’t have time to protest before he pulled me onto the sidewalk and down the street.

The city of Grey Oak reminded me, at first, of Rosewood. The streets beyond the guards’ perimeter were lively enough with fae coming and going in all directions, but the vibrancy I remembered from my own city—the light, the magic—was missing. There was an air of forced cheerfulness, and the few fae I spotted beyond the blockade bowed their heads too quickly, their smiles too brief. It all felt… muted.

Callan kept a measured pace beside me, darting glances into alleyways as we passed them. Up ahead, our escorts carefully cleared the way, and more soldiers flanked us at a distance, but I could sense the tension in their movements too.

“Here we are,” Callan said, gesturing to a small boutique with a window display of jewels that shone in the sunlight.

He gripped my elbow as he guided me into the shop.

Inside, the shopkeeper—a hunched old man with graying hair—greeted us from behind the glass counter with a bow so deep it seemed painful.

“Your Highnesses,” he said, his voice rasping as he rose. “It’s an honor. Truly.”

Callan smiled that perfect, courtly smile and gestured to the displays. “We’ve come to see the pieces you’ve prepared for Princess Aurelia.”

The shopkeeper nodded eagerly, moving quickly to bringout a tray of intricate necklaces and bracelets. I stepped closer, admiring the craftsmanship, but it was the shopkeeper’s pale, trembling hands that held my attention.

“These are beautiful,” I said, touching one of the necklaces lightly. “How long have you been crafting jewelry?”

“Oh, nearly sixty years now, Your Highness,” the shopkeeper replied, his tone polite but strained. “Though… it’s not as easy as it once was.”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

The shopkeeper hesitated, his eyes darting to Callan before he looked back at me. “I used to weave enchantments into the stones, into the metal, but ever since the donations?—”

“Enough,” Callan said sharply, stepping forward, his hand closing around my arm with more pressure than necessary. “Why don’t you wander a bit while I have him wrap something up for you? It’ll be a surprise engagement gift.”

I pulled my arm free, glaring.

The shopkeeper hung his head, refusing to look at either of us, and something inside me snapped.

“No, thanks,” I said flatly.

The shopkeeper’s head lifted just enough for me to spot the fear and regret. “I-I’m sorry, Your Highness. I meant no disrespect.”

“Silence,” Callan roared at him.

The male flinched back, cowering.

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