Page 99 of A Dance of Shadows

My hands itch to yank them upright and pull them into a hug. But that wouldn’t be becoming for an empress in front of her court.

As they straighten up, both Mother’s and Soreena’s eyes widen slightly as they pass over my belly. Most news crosses the Accasian border slowly. They mustn’t have known I’d be with child when I arrived.

Father is gesturing to the palace staff who’ve clustered around them, many of whom rush to unload luggage from the carriages. He aims a warm smile at both me and my husband. “It’s an honor to have you in residence. We’ll escort you to your rooms personally.”

Good. Maybe I’ll get a chance to speak to them alone then.

Linus shoulders between me and my family to stride along next to Father. “We’ll take a couple of hours to recover from the road, and then we’ll have an assembly in the city for the pledging ceremony. Better to get that formality out of the way immediately and dive right into the celebrating.”

He’s leaving out the part where he torments the locals, having them dance to his whim.

“I looked at a map of the city before we arrived,” he adds. “Conducting the pledging ceremony in the large square at the north end of the city would suit my purposes best.”

Certainty about his intentions solidifies in my gut, but my parents have no reason to suspect anything like what my husband must have in mind.

Father dips his head. “That wouldn’t be any trouble, although I will mention that the royal square that’s more central and closer to the palace is significantly larger.”

“Size is only one consideration,” Linus says breezily.

My sister glances back at me with a flash of a smile. I can tell she wants to draw me into a conversation right away, but she’s holding herself to formal protocol.

I’m never going to bejusther sister again. I’m her empress as well.

Mother picks up the conversation with mentions of the dinner that’s already being prepared and the ball they plan to hold for both the Accasian and Darium courts tomorrow evening. We weave through halls that feel strangely familiar and yet not, the same tan plaster and beamed ceilings as I’m used to but a route I’ve never taken before, passing rooms I’ve never entered. Even the woody-sweet cedar scent doesn’t taste quite right.

Mother pushes open one door with a sweep of her arm. “These are the empress’s chambers.”

As I glance inside, my gaze flies straight to the windows. Sunlight filters through the swaying boughs of the pine trees beyond the back gardens.

A pang fills my chest. At least the view is almost the same as from my old bedroom.

A small bowl sits on the floor just inside the doorway, laid out with a few tidbits of fruit and bread. Linus spots it and wrinkles his nose. “Feeding the daimon? I’d have thought at least Accasy’s royalty would be above that ridiculous superstition.”

The imperial family has encouraged everyone in Dariu to ignore the spirit creatures that flit through our world ratherthan enticing them. They’re so sure they can build their fates without any intervention except that of the gods themselves. From what I’ve seen, their attitude has spread through the conquered courts, but they haven’t spent enough time in Accasy to influence us much.

“Simply a long-standing tradition,” Father says quickly, letting the criticism roll off him. “In times past, surviving in this realm took all the favors we could get. I’ll see that the offering bowl is removed from your room. I can show you to it now.”

While leaving Mother and Soreena with me.

Linus’s mouth tightens for a second as if he’s going to protest, but even he must realize there’s no reasonable excuse for denying me a little of my family’s company in private. He lets my father escort him away.

Andru, Soreena’s husband, hangs back near my guards while she and Mother walk with me into the room. The moment the door has closed, Mother steps closer—and hesitates.

She isn’t sure if she’s allowed to embrace me.

My throat closes up. I throw my arms around her, making it clear just how much I welcome the warmer greeting.

Mother hugs me back tightly and lets me go so Soreena can wrap me up in the most emphatic of big-sister embraces. “My gods, I can’t believe how long it’s been. I missed you so much. Has he been at least tolerable?” She pulls back to peer at my belly. “How far along are you?”

I open my mouth and find I have no idea how to answer her first question. No, Marclinus hasn’t beentolerable, although I suppose I could say I’ve tolerated him all the same.

How in the realms could I explain just how repulsive he’s been? How could I detail the trials he and his father put me through, the additional torments and humiliations afterward, the horrible secrets I’ve uncovered?

Would they even believe me without having seen all if it themselves? It sounds so outlandish.Ican hardly believe it after living through all that wretchedness.

And whatever they do believe, there’s nothing they can do to fix my husband or what he’s put me through. They sent me off to meet my fate, and I’ve endured it as well as I can.

Do I want to lay all the guilt I know they’ll feel on their shoulders?

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