Page 1 of Ties of Starlight

Chapter 1

Perfection was finally within Idonea's grasp. She wasso close, and once she had it, she could finally behappy. It would wash away every agony she’d endured until they’d all faded into the distance. It would all be worth it…ifshe managed to achieve perfection.

Being close still left a lot of room for error. It was still too early to let her guard down.

She couldn't let herself be happy until she’d secured her ending. With it being the last night before her wedding, there was so much that could still go wrong.

She could still mess everything up.

So she sat perfectly still, a warm smile on her face as she held her back straight and didn't give in to the human urge in her to slouch. She was only half-human, but she needed to be as perfect as the full elves.

But hardly anyone was even looking her way to notice any imperfections, given that dinner was over and the dancing had started. It had taken the servants the better part of the week to set everything up in the castle's courtyard. Tables were spread out for the whole court as well asspace cleared for dancing beneath the stars. The white stone was bathed in starlight and star magic. Throughout the courtyard, posts that held little white and lilac balls of light glowed. Little stars illuminated the graceful elves as they danced even more elegantly than they did everything else.

Idonea had finished eating, but she was alone at her table, sitting at the head, on a platform that at least allowed her a nice view of the festivities she could not participate in. It was tradition that the bride of the Cometa Couple did not dance the night before the wedding, and under no circumstances was she to dance with or even speak to her groom.

But she got to watch.

She was so close to being happy. She was so close to having everything she ever wanted. In less than twenty-four hours, she would be back in this courtyard, walking toward the love of her life, marrying him, performing the chain of sacred rituals until they reached the Constellation Pool, strengthening their people’s magic. Once they had, the Star Elves would finally accept her, and then she and her husband would have children, live a wonderfully happy life, and she would go down in history as the Cometa Bride who finally got it right.

At least she got to see her groom even if she didn't get to speak to him.

He was out on the dance floor, twirling an elf maiden around and laughing with her. Olaug. Idonea's heart swelled and her breath caught just looking at him. The soft white and purple light washed over his ornate clothes and made the fabric shine like he was clothed in the stars himself.

He was the most handsome elf Idonea had ever seen,and he was the best of them. That's why he had been selected as the Cometa Groom.

Idonea... she was half-human. That was why she'd been selected.

The bride needed to have some human blood so the couple resembled the original Cometa Couple, Agnarr and Gytha, a Star Elf and a human witch.

As the song came to an end, Idonea straightened back up. She'd started slouching without even noticing—cursed human blood. She couldn't even sit still—

No. She was going to be perfect. No one saw. Even though she had the feeling someone was watching her, it had to be just her nerves. No one ever looked at Idonea. Other than Olaug, and even then, it wasn’t often. She couldn't blame him for not looking at her when he was busy enjoying their party; not to mention he wasn't supposed to dance with her or talk to her.

The elf maiden he'd been dancing with looped her arm with her friend who had been released by her partner and started to make their way back to the table Idonea sat at. They took their seats, the ones closest to Idonea. Both were high ranking noblemen's daughters. Lady Asa and Lady Katla. They'd be part of the entourage for the Cometa Couple’s trip to the Constellation Pool.

Lady Asa was laughing, her voice ringing like bells as she sat down primly and reached for her glass. “Sir Olaug is quite the dancer, Lady Idonea. You will be in good hands, I assure you, for the Heava Dance.”

“It's not ‘Lady’ yet. Not until tomorrow,” Lady Katla said. “Tonight she is still Assistant Librarian Idonea.”

Idonea gave them both polite smiles and said, “Yes. Both are true. Sir Olaug is the best dancer I have ever seen, and I know the Heava Dance will go perfectly because ofhim. I also do not gain a title until the ceremony tomorrow.”

“While Olaug is an excellent dancer, I wouldn't call him the best,” Lady Asa said, setting the glass back down and waving her hand in a small motion. Idonea was better off keeping her hands in her lap. Her movements were never as small or as graceful as the others.

“Who would you call the best?” Idonea couldn't help the hot rush that went through her, but she did her best to keep it from exploding. However, she couldn’t just let an insult about her beloved pass by.

“Ah. I see. You've never seen him dance, otherwise you wouldn't even be asking.” Lady Katla laughed, her sharp tone grating Idonea’s ears.

Idonea kept her hands clasped together but dug her nails in tightly.

Lady Asa clicked her tongue and said, “King Nyrunn is the best dancer.”

Idonea had to force herself to let go of her hands else she would pierce her skin, start bleeding, and ruin her dress. She forced herself to give them a placid smile. “I have not seen him dance, so I cannot agree.”

“Well, maybe you could say differently if he would get out of his seat and dance with someone. Really, Asa, why has he not asked you to dance yet?”

Idonea had been having such a wonderful night. She'd somehow managed to not even look in the direction of the young king until now. But it was human instinct to look at the subject someone brought up when they were in the area. Idonea was looking at him before she could rein herself in.

He was on the other side of the courtyard, to her right. He was the only male elf who wasn't dancing, or strollingwith a maiden on his arm, or standing with a glass in his hand, conversing. No. He was staring right at them.

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