Page 35 of A Vow of Wrath and Ruin

I let out a breath.Get it together, Aelia. He’d want her pristine to use as a bargaining chip.

I couldn’t shake the feeling something was off. I summoned the nearest server to fetch a cloak and headed into the snow after my sister.

Baylis’s delicate footsteps headed straight for the botanical garden but suddenly disappeared.

I bit the inside of my cheek. Where could she have gone?

A wisp of blue fabric caught in the corner of my eye. I turned to see Baylis heading into the forest. Creeping behind a snow-covered bush, I watched as she stared at something high in the trees. I focused my vision, but the winter sun impaired my line of sight.

“What are you after?” I whispered to myself.

She continued to tramp through the forest until she came to a large oak with a hole in it.

My heart stopped and then relaxed as she pulled a tiny bird out of the tree.

Get it together, Aelia. Your sister isn’t a spy. She’s just taking care of an injured bird.

The bluebird tweeted happily as Baylis fed it pieces of her roll.

If I were going on this journey with my sister, I would have to trust her more. Feeling foolish, I headed back to the palace to prepare for dinner. Tharan wanted to make our last night together special. My heart raced at the thought of seeing him. Even now, my fingers itched to run through his silken locks.

9AELIA

A gownof olive-green satin with golden laurels woven into it lay on my dressing table. Next to it, a crown of matching golden laurels sat on a velvet pillow. I had worn many fine gowns in my time as queen, but there was something special about being given such a gorgeous gown by your suitor.

I picked up the note withKing Killerinscribed in golden letters.

To My King Killer,

May this dress be worthy of your beauty. Meet me downstairs and bring a cloak.

All My Love,

Tharan

I held the note to my chest and closed my eyes, fighting back the tears threatening to stain my cheeks. Tharan was good to me in ways I couldn’t imagine. Wiping the moisture from my face, I applied a stain to my lips before outlining my eyes in a brownkohl. An attendant braided my hair in a crown around my head while letting the back fall in long waves.

“And now for the finishing touch,” the attendant said, placing the tiara atop my head.

“I thought it would be heavier,” I said, adjusting the headpiece.

“It is made of the finest gold mined from far in the north across the Atruskan River. The king had it made for you.”

“But I’ve only been here for a few weeks.”

“He can be very persuasive, as I’m sure you know.” A coy smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.

I chuckled.

“There’s one more thing.” She hurried out of the room.

“Oh?”

Before I could follow her, she popped back in, holding a beautiful cloak, the same color as my dress, lined with wolf fur.

I ran my hands over the soft pelt.

“Is this what I think it is?”

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