Page 5 of Unbetrothed

“No need to apologize.” Sympathy danced in Mamá’s deep brown eyes. “I’m sorry for your loss. You should be with your son in this moment. I am sure he needs your support.”

The lady’s head bent low. “I begged him not to make an oath. And when his marks changed, he paid them no mind.” Tiny sobs followed her words. “I’m so sorry. I thought I could … I must depart.” The lady pressed a handkerchief to her chest and stepped away with a tiny curtsy.

I gulped.

Mamá whispered in my ear, “What a foolish man. Look at the pain he caused his family. Only a fool would play with words of power.”

I drank deeply from my delicate coffee cup.Should I even tell Mamá about the oath?The skin under my sleeves burned like if I rubbed against Maiden Plum.

The afternoon went on with one praise after another as gray clouds eclipsed the sun. Some women brought gifts for me. My favorite was a pocket watch that played a song I’d never heard before. While Mamá stepped away for a moment, a demure young lady handed me the gift and disappeared into the crowd. A sensation of unease wriggled within me, but the gift made up for any oddity in the giver.

A chilling breeze blew through the garden, and I rubbed my lacy sleeves. Several other women complained about the dropping temperature. Princess Alexa raised her marked hands to the sky, moving them in circles while maintaining an elegant curve to her glowing fingers. The clouds dispersed, bringing forth yellow rays of light. I was certain she’d brought the clouds to cast a gloom over our gathering in the first place.

Alexa’s sea-foam eyes met mine, and she flashed a haughty grin. “Congratulations on your special day. Best wishes on finding your perfect match. I hope you don’t mind my small gesture.” She combed back stray curls from her face, lifted a hand, and flicked it, bringing in warm sea air over the garden.

A perfume of flowers wafted among us. Ladies close enough to witness Alexa’s exhibition clapped and cheered, “Bravo!”

Alexa grinned with delight, and anger burned in my stomach. Why did she get everything I wanted while I got nothing? I steeled myself against the storm within.

Mamá excused herself from a conversation near the terrace and strolled to the empty space beside me. She lowered her head to mine. “Be glad that you are forced into humility. Arrogance is unbecoming.” She continued to sip her coffee and nibbled on a pastry puff.

“Your Majesty.” A short, round woman in a fine silken dress curtsied and stole Mamá’s attention, talking about her very available gifted son.

I pinched my lips tightly, retreating into my mind. Mamá couldn’t understand the hollow place within my ribs. Alexa had a betrothal to Prince Lux, and should the kingdoms go to war, she could fight. I wrestled with the urge to march straight to the valley to get my gift but settled on playing my role by pretending to listen to pointless gossip about this and that suitor.

Magic would become my reality, or I’d die. Promises made in the dark counted, made evident by Lord Pau’s father.

I inspected the faint markings on my hands, and a metallic sheen caught my attention. My nail beds had a gold line stretching to my first knuckle where my vines had previously been. The skin under my sleeves itched just as much as my fingers. I should have asked Lord Pau’s mother more questions about how long it took for her husband’s markings to transform before he met his untimely end. But I didn’t want to make myself into the fool who made an oath.

What have I done?

“Princess?” Laude said.

I startled and balled my fingers into fists, hiding my nails.

Laude stepped in front of me with a small, folded parchment on a silver platter.

Mamá cut a look in my direction but proceeded to attend to the round mother who now produced a small portrait of her son—the male version of herself. I plucked the parchment from the platter and flipped the note open. In angular strokes, black letters said:You look bored. How about a swim?

I darted a glance over my shoulder at the garden entrance doors. A tall figure with strong shoulders stood on the other side of the window. Sunlight shone on the back of his head, reflecting golden hair. My heart leaped, and I knew what I must do. I twisted the corners of my mouth downward. If anyone were to understand me, it was him. Judging by the concern wrinkled on Laude’s forehead, I did an excellent job exuding distress.

“Let Mamá know,” I said to Laude in a hushed tone. “I am feeling indisposed. I will retire to my room to … to rest. For tonight’s ball.”

Laude bobbed her head, quirking an empathetic smile. I slid the note into my sleeve pocket along my forearm, strode at a moderate pace across the grass, and to my favorite escape.

CHAPTER 3

ASERVANT RACED TOthe garden entrance ahead of me and held the door open. I looked over my shoulder at all the esteemed guests at my garden party. The women meandered through the grassy paths, chatting, laughing, and oblivious to my whereabouts. Mamá stood in the same place I left her, listening to the same plump lady brag on her son. I spun my attention around toward the marble palace floors within the corridor. The servant shut the door behind me, leaving me alone with the person who sent me the note.

But then I realized that Prince Lux of Pedroz had company. Cosme stood several paces off, a hardened set to his jaw.

“Brother.” My voice sounded like a chime.

Cosme furrowed his brow with suspicion. “Aren’t you supposed to be attending to your guests?”

“I—I have a headache.” My fingernails dug into my palms. I snuck a glance at Lux, whose turquoise eyes widened with meaning. We wouldn’t get to sneak off to the royal beach if my brother insisted on keeping either of us company.

Cosme closed the space between him and me, blocking Lux out of the conversation. “I’ll accompany you to your room.”

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