Page 2 of Ties of Starlight

Right at Idonea.

“I'm not sure. He hasn't asked me to dance in a long time.” Asa subtly glanced toward him. “He hasn't danced with anyone in a long time.”

Now that she knew he was looking at her, she couldn’t shake him off. The back of her neck began to sweat and her heart stuttered.

“Maybe because he's not as good at it as you believe.”

There went her half-human mouth, running away with her again. Even just being reminded of his existence had her tongue loosening.

Katla narrowed her eyes while Asa raised an eyebrow. Asa said, “While it's possible he's rusty, I doubt it. He was too good before.”

“But that doesn't explain why he's not dancing and hasn't danced since his mourning period ended.” Katla turned to Idonea. “It’s been a year, hasn’t it?”

Her wedding would take place an exact year after she'd been selected to be part of the Cometa Couple. Her selection had also been the day King Nyrunn’s required mourning period ended. While he’d been king for a year since King Hrorr’s death, he’d been limited in the functions he could attend and oversee.

When she’d heard King Hrorr had died, Idonea had no idea if she should feel relieved he was finally gone or horrified it meant Nyrunn would be king when the comet arrived.

Idonea looked down at her hands. “Yes, it’s been about a year.”

“Maybe he has no desire to dance anymore. Just because he doesn't have to dress in mourning colors andabstain from certain festivities doesn't mean he's actually stopped mourning,” Asa said.

Now that Idonea had looked at him, she couldn't stop peeking at him from the corner of her eye. He certainly didn't care about decorum as he had one elbow leaned on the table, his sharp jaw resting on it as he was turned in his seat to directly face Idonea's table.

Could he hear them? Idonea knew the full-blooded elves heard much better than she did. King Nyrunn knew it too.

“Not to be indiscreet, but it was no secret King Nyrunn never got along well with his father, especially the last ten years,” Katla said, as if she wasn’t always indiscreet. “He hasn't been himself, but I don't believe for a second it's all grief for a father he never regarded highly in the first place. Everyone knows King Hrorr’s reputation; is it really that hard to believe it was true?”

Not just Hrorr. The whole family was rotten to the core. Hrorr’s brother and son were just like him, or in some cases, worse.

“He has been acting peculiarly for a while now,” Asa said, glancing over at him. “If he wasn't our king, I'd say he was sulking.”

By the way he straightened up and looked back out at the dancers, he was definitely listening to them. He could at least be more subtle.

“Yes. That's one word for it. He's been much quieter than normal. Even during the mourning period, he had some life to him.”

All of that was true. But Idonea wouldn't have it any other way. The old Nyrunn had made her life miserable. The new one finally left her alone.

“He's probably stressed, that's all,” Idonea said. “It’s important for this to go perfectly.”

“That would make sense, with it starting around the engagement of the Cometa Couple. We can't afford for anything to go wrong this time.” Katla gave Idonea a sharp glare, each word a jab right into her heart. “No one wants another Inga.”

Idonea looked down at the table, fighting the bile rising in her throat. She had to be perfect. She couldn't afford to mess this up. Not after last time.

If she and Olaug didn't complete the ceremonies perfectly—or worse, if they failed to even make it to the Constellation Pool—the Star Elves’ magic would keep weakening, and with two hundred and fifty years between the comet's return, they couldn't afford to lose any more power. They were already weaker than they should be thanks to the failure of the last ritual.

And with the Moon Elves only growing in strength and...

Idonea couldn't fail.

“Has His Majesty said anything to you? Miss Librarian Assistant?” Katla asked. “He still goes there all the time, doesn't he?”

“Not as frequently as before, but at least once a week, and no. He's been less…” She almost called him a pest, but considering he was likely still listening, she had to watch her tongue. She couldn’t trust her position as Gytha’s chosen would protect her from him. “He’s been quieter. Even if he wasn’t, he certainly wouldn’t confide anything in me.” She glanced back over, and he was watching Olaug dancing with one of the serving girls, eyes narrowed. “He is the king. Maybe he is maturing.”

“Can't a king be mature and charming?” Asa asked, sighing as she glanced back over at the king, the starlight shining on the dark blue strands, elegantly pulled up and out of her face.

Idonea started to snort but managed to cut it off the second Katla looked at her with a disgusted expression. Idonea cleared her throat. “I'm afraid that would require him being charming in the first place. He can't be what he never was.”

Katla's eyes widened as Asa tilted her head and said, “You don't find him charming? I know you only have eyes for your husband-to-be, but you can't be serious.”

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