Page 37 of Fated or Knot

If I wore them, would that be a sign I’d forgiven him?

But what was he apologizing for? I was too nervous to ask him when he returned to the room. I assumed it was over the insult, but it could’ve also been for picking me up and practically throwing me at Kauz when I needed a new suppressant tattoo. But I appreciated that he’d done that.

I breathed a tired sigh, remembering that’d only just happened earlier today. What a long day this had been.

An attendant in a tight skirt tapped on our door, saying that the launch would be eminent and dinner would be served shortly afterward if we wanted to head to the dining car once the train was leveled out. She insisted we remained seated and hold on to our things for the duration of the launch.

Somehow, I ended up next to Marius on the couch, across from Tormund, while my stepsister pouted on the edge of her seat. My bags were wedged between my legs for now so they wouldn’t go flying.

Tormund revealed a rectangular window looking out at the station after drawing back the blind. “This is my favorite part,” the giant told us, smiling broadly.

A vibration began below our feet, resonating through the whole train. The table, bolted to the floor as it was, rattled, along with the rest of the furniture over our heads. It increased in frequency as the train car lurched, lifting off the magirail with a groan of metal. I tensed, wings flattening to my back. The launch I’d watched looked as effortless as a bird taking flight, but it was completely different inside this car, feeling the essence vibrate faster and harder.

Just as it reached a pitch I could barely hear, pressure jolted through the back of the train, and it tugged backward, just a little.

“Here we go!” Tormund whooped.

A magical force shot the train like a stone out of a slingshot, and we hit the portion of the magirail that twisted and turned, jostling us along with it. The car jerked around and jolted fast enough to give me whiplash, and I hunkered down with a fearful whimper, shutting my eyes tight.

Tormund and Laurel both laughed. A strong arm banded around my back, drawing me closer to the clean scent of waterlilies and mint. I hid my face in Marius’s chest, calming from his smell.

“Don’t worry,” he whispered. “You’re safe. Nothing will happen to you.” I heard the impliedwhile you’re with me. His solid presence kept me from getting whipped around until the train leveled out, speeding us along on an ethereal rail of magic.

13

LARK

All the rattling in the furniture settled to a dull hum. Gravity tilted me back in my seat, and once I looked out the window, I saw it was no wonder. We were climbing up and away from Ilysnor’s outskirts at dizzying speed.

I suppressed a whine and told myself not to be a brat and hide my face against Marius’s chest again. This was probably a completely normal aspect of a magirail ride. It was many times faster than taking a carriage, that was certain.

“Finally! I’ve been waiting for too long,” Tormund said, his hands coming together for a definitive clap. He removed a long, mostly flat box from a pocket secreted in his cloak, offering it to me over the table.

Oh, right, the gift. One of the gifts. They’d already given me a staggering number of things…but Tormund looked so excited for me to open this one too. His freckled hands rested on his knees, and he leaned forward, alpha fangs on display with his eager expression.

I opened the box and couldn’t hold in my gasp. A silver chain necklace was nestled inside, with a small pendant shaped like abird with two outstretched wings. Its tiny eye was a little white gemstone. Whether or not they planned it, it would go perfectly with the earrings from Marius.

“Yes? You love?” Tormund asked.

“I do,” I promised him, picking it up with reverent fingers. It took me a couple tries to latch it around my neck. “Thank you, Tormund.”

“Let me guess,” Marius said in his low rumble. “A li’l bird for the li’l bird.”

“My big brother knows me so well,” Tormund said cheerfully. “You are welcome, Lark. Just wait until we get to Serian. I’m going to spoil you next.”

My gaze slipped from him for a moment, to my stepsister wearing a look I recognized instantly with a tickle of dread at the bottom of my stomach. She had an envious pout and eyes narrowed on my new necklace, her fingers clenched in the fabric of her skirts.

That was a dangerous expression. Any time she coveted something of mine, she would inevitably receive it. I’d given up on trying to keep anything of true value after acknowledging that my stepfamily wouldn’t change their ways. They took and took.

The princes, by giving, were only providing new things for Cymora and Laurel to take. I…couldn’t get attached to this gift or any of the other items packed away for me, whatever they might be.

Tormund seemed to miss my inner turmoil, distracted by his belly rumbling. He slapped its curve with a laugh. “Let’s go eat.”

“Great idea,” Laurel chirped.

“Stay right there, li’l bird. I’ll get us a table and come back for you,” he promised before heading out to do just that.

We waited past sundown for a table, as most of the train’s patrons had the same idea as us. The dining car was like a restaurant, with a short menu to order from, and we ended upat one of two curved booths with just enough room to fit all seven of us. I ended up wedged between Fal and Tormund in the middle of the booth. The dark elf was a buffer between Cymora and me.

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