Page 16 of Stars May Fall

I shrugged. “We’re still getting to know each other. I made us a timetable up to the wedding of when we should see each other to fit into our busy schedules.”

James laughed out loud, a deep chuckle that broke the tension. “Of course you did. What about romantic spontaneity? Stones thrown at windows for moonlight garden walks? That sort of thing.”

I frowned. “Scheduling meetings shows they are important. It’s also nice to know you have something to look forward to. Chaotic meetings are likely to be inconvenient or put pressure on other areas. I want it to be clear that I will always prioritize her in a way that is sustainable and reliable.”

James raised his glass. “And quite right too.” He leaned in. “And while you’ve been asking inappropriate questions, I have one of my own. What favor did you do for the king in order for him to betroth you to Annabelle?”

I sat back with a grimace. Even Duke James thought the match was strange enough that I must have played some backhanded trick for the honor. I spread my hands. “Maybe he simply recognized the dedication I put into my work. Besides, Lyrason is too old for her. He’s over twice her age. It would have never worked.”

I probably put a little too much distaste and dismissiveness in my voice because James smiled as if my jealousy was plain on my face. “Oh, come on, Venerick, think. He must have said something of his reasons.”

I stared into space, the question only looming bigger every time I thought about it. “He said he thought we were a good match and that I could make her happy.”

James snorted. “Everyone always says that of every match to the couple themselves. That’s not a reason.”

I didn’t disagree, but the king hadn’t seemed flippant when he’d said that. More…vulnerable and hopeful? I couldn’t understand it. If Annabelle had been getting up to mischief sneaking out at night, maybe I was meant to rein her in and calm her down. But that didn’t sound like much of a happy relationship to me

James set down his empty glass. “Come, enough talk. Let's play black knocks.”

I drained my own glass and nodded, grateful for the distraction. Our friendship had formed over this board game originally from Cerith, and it was rare to have an opponent as interesting as James. Not many nobles in Fenland could play it. I fished the board out from under the table, and we set up our pieces in battlelines on opposite sides of the intricately detailed board.

James always played aggressively. I preferred the defensive. The familiar pattern of the pieces soon calmed my mind once again.

KASTEN

Sophie’s hair spilled over her pillow like flowing moonlight, carrying the faint scents of rose water and damp earth. Her face was relaxed in sleep, the scab on her lip now gone, and only a pink tightening of the skin remained. Her cheeks were becoming full again, and she breathed more easily than before.

I’d intended to leave as soon as she had fallen asleep, but I couldn’t help lingering as I drank in every inch of her from where I sat in the chair, a book on my lap that I had been pretending to read. She should be dead. I would never take for granted that she now lived. And not only that, but her memories and personality seemed to have all been restored. None had been lost in the transfer back of her vitality. It was a miracle.

I reminded myself that she would sleep better without me disturbing her and stood to retreat to my chair on the other side of our bedroom door.

We’d been back in Kasomere for four days, and I still hated every moment I wasn’t right next to her, touching her. But she needed extra sleep so her brain could recover from her ordeal. I had never needed much sleep.

I closed the door to our bedroom softly, not wanting to wake Sophie, and was startled to find Callum sitting in the corridor. He had dragged a second seat up from the third floor and was slumped in his normal threadbare armchair, taking up most of the space of the passageway.

It was rare for anyone to come to the fourth floor. Callum must have been feeling ignored by me. In the last four days, I’d spent every waking moment with Sophie.

I was half annoyed, half grateful that he had guessed I would want to stay near Sophie and not go down to our drinking room even while she slept. The last few nights I had lain beside her, watching her sleep until I was tired enough to sleep too. I knew my shifting movements disturbed her rest, but, even having the door closed between us raised my anxiety. I needed to manage this fear before it became too much of a weakness and I smothered her. Just because I couldn’t see her didn’t mean I was going to lose her again.

I sat down in the spare seat and didn’t say anything. Callum handed me a large glass of red wine. “How are you finding it?”

“What?” I growled, taking a sip of my wine.

“I don’t know, maybe the fact you have an infinite amount of power at your fingertips, humming through your body every second? You don’t feel like you’re about to cause the castle to explode?”

I scoffed. “No. I’ve gotten used to it. I’m…ignoring it.” As if in response, the power throbbed within me, reminding me of its strength. Its potential. It was tempting to draw on it a little, but I resisted, just as I resisted drawing constantly on my reserves to banish any shred of tiredness. Still, I…liked having the potential for power there. It was a comfort in a strange, terrifying way.

Callum raised his eyebrows. “Truly?”

I tilted my head toward him. “Callum, if there is one thing in this life I’ve had plenty of practice at, it’s holding back.”

He nodded slowly, the corners of his mouth pushing down appreciatively. “That’s impressive, Kasten.” He narrowed his eyes. “Because, even if you were just drawing on it a little bit every day you could…”

I waved his concern from the air. “I know, I know, it could be a slippery slope with no end. I’m not using it at all, so don’t worry.”

He sat back and his posture was more relaxed but I could tell there was a lot on his mind. No doubt I was about to hear it. At last, he tapped a neatly bound report on his lap. Its cover was blank, the title area unmarked. “It’s Sir Egbert’s report on the fall of Whitehill. Do you wish to read it?”

I looked away from him. “I asked you to take care of everything for a few weeks. I need a break to just concentrate on Sophie.”

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