Page 153 of Moonmarked

Finally, we walked ahead toward the edge of theplatform, eager to get off this thing, to get out there where the air alone wasn’t threatening to suffocate me.

Then the woman with the golden bowl was in front of us.

Her smile could have stolen the brightness from the sun. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a high ponytail, and every line of her face was perfect, from her bright golden eyes, to the sharp Cupid’s bow of her lips.

“If it isn’t the bastard himself,” she said, her voice not half as high as it had been before when she greeted the other guests. “You clean up nicely, Rune. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you wearing velvet.”

They most definitely knew each other.

“It’s a special occasion,” Rune said with a slight shrug, and his voice was pretty neutral. “How have you been, Hessa? Long time no see.”

“Oh, you know me, here and there,” the woman said, and her golden eyes fell on me. “I see you’ve brought company.”

“I did. This is Nilah Dune, my date,” Rune said, and I’d lie if I said I didn’t absolutely adore the way he said it.My date.Ugh—I wanted to kiss his face off right now.

If this woman hadn’t been here, smiling at me, of course.

“Oh, the prince’s Lifebound.”

“ExLifebound,” I said.

That made her smile bigger. “Then you and I have something in common already. I’m an ex of the prince myself.”

My brows shot up. “Oh.”

“Hessa has been a good friend of ours since we were children,” Rune said, and again, he was smiling a little. He was at ease in the presence of this woman.

“Thebestfriend any of these fools ever had, I tell you,” the woman said. “Welcome, Nilah Dune, Ex Lifebound of the Crown Prince. Please put your fingers into this bowl before you go to take your seat. I don’t have time for chitchat, I’m afraid, but I’dloveto have a drink together later, if you’d be so wise as to invite me.”

The way she smiled. The way those wide eyes took me in before she winked.

“Have we met before?” I wondered because I could have sworn for a second there that I’d seen her somewhere.

“You haven’t had the pleasure, no,” she said with a giggle. “Oh, I’m only joking! Quick—there’s a line behind you.”

“The Veil of Obedience? Really?” Rune said, raising his brows at the bowl she pushed near his chest. It was full of what looked like plain water, except Ifeltwhat was inside it. I felt the magic humming so clearly, I almost didn’t trust my own self.

“His Highness wanted to do everything by the scroll,” Hessa said with a slight roll of her eyes.

“What’s the Veil of Obedience?” I asked, eyeing the water suspiciously.

“It’s—” Rune started, but the woman cut him off.

“It’s a ceremonial rite they used during royal court proceedings to ensure guests would be on their best behavior. You know fae—they will steal and lie and manipulate to their heart’s desire, and this water is supposed to make them act in accordance with court law. Bunch of bollocks if you ask me—but like I said, His Royal Highness insisted.” She batted her lashes with a fake smile. “Do it. Stick those fingers in. I don’t have all night, bastard.” Then she looked at me. “And Lady Dune.”

I bit back a smile—she was funny, I thought.

And Ireallyfelt like I’d seen her somewhere before.

“Fine,” Rune said and slipped his fingertips into the water. I wanted to argue, didn’t want to go near that thing at all because it was chock-full of magic, but I also didn’t want to cause a scene. And I wanted to get the hell off this platform more, so I did it, too.

Without giving myself the chance to think, I slipped my fingertips into the water and expected to catch fire.

I didn’t.

No burning and no cold and no anything—just water.

“Let’s talk later,” Hessa whispered when we moved around her, and her wide eyes locked on mine for just a split second.

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