Page 56 of A Blightress of Wrath
Weslipped away, my hand still held in my mother’s asIgawked at the enormity of whereI’dbeen led to.Thetop of theSpirewas only the beginning of the massive structure’s beauty.Lannaled us across the circular room, gatheringThevinand his parents along the way, talking endlessly in front of us about the sights she’d show me whileIvisited her city.
Icouldn’t look at everything fast enough as we descended the white stone stairs that wrapped around theSpire.Mygaze flew across every surface, including the back ofLannaherself.Itall happened so quickly,Ihadn’t noticed that she wore a loose white shirt and form-fitting black pants.Thefabric gripped tightly to every one of her curves and strong legs, tucking into tall black boots that laced up the front to her knees.
I’dnever seen such a display of one’s body in public, andIunderstood then whatThevinhad been waiting for me to see.Itook my eyes from the hanging purple wisteria blooming in what must be late spring to frown back atThevinbehind me.
Histwinkling eyes were already on me as he followed down the steps next to his parents, his hands tucked into his pockets.Heraised a brow as if to say,See,Itold you.
Igestured to my own corseted shirt and long black skirts with a grimace and he laughed, causingLannato pause her talk about the canals and look at us.
Hereyes darted between the two of us, and my mother squeezed my fingers once.
TheLadyof theSpiregrinned wickedly, her mouth open and her tongue brushing her teeth. “Uh-huh,” she muttered and jerked her head to the side. “Throughhere.”Sheaddressed my mother. “Yourrooms have been prepared for your planned coming weeks from now,BaronKarus.”
“Ido apologize,” she responded. “Thankyou for having them ready for our early arrival.Yourcity and tower are breathtaking.Iwished through all those timesIprojected myself fromFelgrenthatIcould see it in person.”
Lannasmiled wide and gestured to the doorway that led back into the great tower.Talon,Ilyenna, andThevinstepped into the long hallway, heading to their rooms.
“I’dlike to speak toLadyLannaprivately, if you don’t mind finding our room yourself,Saelyn.”
Thevinturned instantly, calling, “I’llhelp her find it.”
Hisface held a delighted grin, and he cocked his head for me to follow him.
Ilet go of my mother’s hand and turned, catching some of their conversation asIcontinued down the dim hall.
“Howis your mother?” she asked.
Lannasighed. “Sameas always.Nothing’schanged.”
Thevinled me to a tall, copper door, turning the knob and pushing it open.
Therewas hesitation in my mother’s voice with her next question. “Howare things here, really,Lanna?”
Iheard them walk away asIstepped into the roomI’dshare with my mother while we were in theSpire.Morewhite stone, more high, domed ceilings—it was an incredible construction and an enormous suite with columns dotting the room, climbing to the ceiling in patterns of whorls.
We’dentered a sitting room with chairs and short tables set in conversational arrangements.Istepped onto the balcony which, instead of leading to another city view, led to what must have been the open center of the spire.Morebalconies just like it littered the stone alcoves, circled around the core of theSpire, all the way down to the bottom floor whereIcould barely make out people walking below.
“Iwasn’t expecting all this detail,”Isaid, leaving the balcony to take in the room.
“Icould have warned you, butIwould have missed your face in seeing all of this,”—he gestured around, letting his hands flop down to his sides—“for the first time.”
“Hush, you,”Iteased.
Hetilted his head back and laughed.
Isighed, tracing my hand across a porcelain tea set in the shape of seashells. “Whydidn’t you ever mentionLadyLanna?”Iasked quietly with an attempted casualness.
“Iwanted to.”Hefolded his arms at his chest and leaned against a pillar. “Iwas under direct orders from your mother to say nothing about any of this, remember?”
“Ithought you weren’t good at following orders.”
Hesighed, tilting his head back to lean against the carvings. “Thisorder,Iunderstood.Ifyou knew what was happening outside ofFelgren—whowas outside ofFelgren—maybe you’d want to leave and that was just too dangerous,Sae.”
“Isee.”
Hestepped toward me. “There’sstill so much you don’t know.”
“BecauseIneeded to be protected or becauseIwasn’t strong enough to handle it?”
