Page 32 of A Palace of Smoke & Mirrors
“Nothing,” he answered at last. “In fact, if you’re so ready for them to meet you, let’s get it over and done with. I am not here to stand in your way, Your Future Highness.”
“I don’t understand—”
With a wave of his hand, Lucais cut me off, and the top of the carriage opened up like a sunroof. He was on his feet in seconds, his arms reaching for me and hauling me to mine. Eagerly, I scrambled to find footing to hoist myself up high enough to see below the tree line. Lucais scooped me up with one arm around my waist, the other laid flat upon the carriage rooftop, and held me with my back flush against his chest and his chin resting against my ear.
The city was absolutelybeautifuland filled with—
That’s a lot of people.
Everyone crowding together on the street stopped, turned, and looked at us.
Every. Single. Person.
There were so many faeries out in the gloomy light of day, meandering about their mornings, and I drew in a sharp gasp of air as they simultaneously stopped what they were doing and every last one of them bowed.
Theybowed.
Faeries dropped to their knees or hung their heads low in a startling display of deference.
As far as my mortal eyes could see, there were faeries offering respect to us in a way they had not even attempted to replicate when it had been Lucais in the carriage alone. I wanted to turn to the High King and ask him why it was happening, but I was acutely aware that they were listening. I knew they could hear us since the glamour had been lifted for possibly the last time, and they would be curious.
I spoke to him in my mind instead.What is this for?
His answer was simple. Fast.For you.
The idea was absurd, but my eyes were not playing tricks on me. The pathway through Caeludor became marked by faeries of different races, colours, shapes, and sizes, all bowing their heads or entire bodies. Lucais did not elaborate on his thought, but he remained a steady presence holding me upright as the carriage continued its journey to the city’s heart.
They had seen the Oracle’s prediction. They recognised me—or at least remembered enough about me to make the connection. Lucais said the Oracle didn’t show faces, but he caught a glimpse of flame-red hair in the vision.
My curls were freed by the wind, the strands pulled loose and teased in the air as the carriage picked up speed down a long, straight stretch of road. The High King’s heart beat into my chest in an unsteady rhythm, his lungs expanding with even breaths, caressing me with each inhale. I felt like I was on a float in a parade, but there was no music, and nobody was making eye contact with anyone else. They were simply watching, processing, and…
Wiping away tears?
Finally, Lucais loosened his grip.
I practically collapsed back into my seat, breathless and exhilarated.
“Happy now?” he demanded, sounding anything but overjoyed himself. “You wanted them to see you and know that you’re here, and now everyone who’s ever set foot in this place before in their whole immortal life will get the message—including the Malum, probably. But what the hell, right?”
“Don’t be so dramatic,” I sniped. The experience was strange and thrilling at the same time, but I had low hopes where he was concerned because the High King had a track record of ruiningeverything for me. “That display was all you. I only wanted you to stophidingme.”
“Really?” he sneered. “Who’s hiding who again?”
I scrunched up my nose, shaking my head. “If you’re talking aboutWrenlockand the bond—”
The High King cut me off with a lethal look as the carriage lurched to a halt. “We’re here.”
“Lucais—”
He held up a hand. “Enough, Auralie. There are people out there watching us. For once, I am going to need you to fucking behave yourself, or I’ll not only glamour you again, but I’ll see you back in those chains on both your hands and your feet, and I’ll let the whole of fucking Faerie see it too.”
I recoiled from him like he was a venomous snake. Lucais didn’t react or give me time to think; he simply straightened his clothes as the door opened by itself, and then deftly stepped down from the carriage, avoiding my eyes when he held his hand out to help me down after him.
The people in the vicinity pretended not to stop what they were doing to watch, but everything moved in slow motion. The way that hands swung, feet stepped, heads turned, and mouths opened for words…
All of it was delayed as they kept one eye trained on us. I didn’t feel any malice or distrust, even though I was sure I’d seen some of them crying. The air was charged with raw inquisitiveness and a tinge of shocked relief.
Lucais snatched my hand and pulled me into a small, unmarked building. It was different from most of the grotesque structures in the city; a tiny, textured flat with a white picket fence and flower garden wedged between two towering multi-storey buildings on a street lined with weeping willows and crawling wisteria vines. A black signpost shaped like a wiltingrose stood out the front with a wooden sign, but the paint had been sanded away.
