Page 117 of Heart of the Summer Queen

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The guards hurry off as Elaric passes our horse to a servant. Then we start across the sunny courtyard to the steps leading into the rest of the palace.

But before we reach them, two voices cry out, “Milady! Milady!”

Kassia and Elona rush down the steps, throwing their arms around me.

“We knew you’d be back soon!” Kassia exclaims. “When the ice vanished, we knew you’d broken the king’s curse and it’d be a matter of time before you returned.”

“How are you feeling, milady?” Elona asks, examining me with great care. “You must be exhausted from traveling for so long. Were you at all hurt along the way?”

Grateful though I am for their warm welcome, I can’t stop myself from rasping: “Dalia?”

“Your sister was one of the first to awaken,” Kassia says.

I inhale sharply. My sister—awake!

“Where is she now?” My voice is the slightest of whispers, hesitant to breathe lest this dream dissolve.

“We placed her in your chamber for now,” Elona explains, “as all the other rooms were full.”

I turn to Elaric.

He gives me a nod and squeezes my hand. “Go to your sister. I will ensure Orlan and his men are freed.”

Needing no further encouragement, I race up the steps, taking two at a time. My maids follow close behind.

When I reach the double doors leading to the inner palace, I shove them open with such force they tremble, earning me several startled gasps from the servants inside.

Though I’ve traipsed the palace’s halls countless times, they’re such a stark contrast to what I remember that I temporarily lose my bearings.

Numerous portraits of both people and landscapes offer far more color than I’ve ever seen here. Mosaic floor tiles form geometric patterns down the corridor, and the pillars lying along the walls sweep up into arched ceilings. Everything is gilded with lavish filigree detailing.

The palace’s transformation is even greater than I imagined and glimpsing it steals my breath. Later, I plan to inspect everyroom and discover how everywhere has changed, but right now my curiosity is overshadowed by my burning need to see Dalia.

I hurry to my chamber, taking one or two wrong turns along the way in my confusion, but my maids are quick to correct my path.

Servants swarm the passageways, and the palace is busier than I’ve ever witnessed. Though it’s little wonder with three hundred unexpected guests to accommodate. Every servant must have been running around non-stop since the Summer Brides awakened.

Even in the heart of the palace, where it is the busiest, I don’t slow. The servants must all see the urgency upon my face, in my every stride, since they all wordlessly step out of my path.

By the time I reach my room, my palms are clammy and my breaths are so ragged they burn my chest. Hands shaking, I reach for the doors, but then pause.

Despite all my haste until now, I just end up standing there, staring at the doors. My mind reels with a thousand thoughts all at once.

For so long I’ve dreamed of this day, and now it’s finally here, I fear I’ll push open the doors and be greeted by an empty room. Or perhaps by a Dalia who is as frozen as the last time I saw her.

Three years is such a long time, and she may not recognize me. Maybe she will be furious I entered the Crystal Palace to avenge her. Maybe—

My chaotic thoughts are interrupted by Kassia squeezing my shoulder, warmth blossoming through me. Elona raps on the door, the sound so deafeningly loud it almost eclipses my relentless heartbeat.

If there’s a response to Elona’s knocking, I don’t hear it.

In the next instant, she’s shoving aside the door and Kassia is ushering me in.

I stumble inside, half in hope and half in fear of what I will find.

My gaze sweeps across the room, slowly processing the spectrum of color which transforms everything.

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