Page 56 of Unraveled
“Not today, but in a week.”
“What would you do on your birthday if there were no curse?” I ask, my smile tentative as I follow her down the hall.
Finley stays behind, glaring after us disapprovingly.
“I would love to go to Hedrum for a night. It’s so beautiful in the winter. Have you ever been?”
I shake my head. I could never leave the confines of the veil, even though Irene did often, to gather supplies for the scientists. Now I know they were hunting for beasts to feed their machine. No wonder Ash calls me a monster. If I were the king and my people were being murdered that way, I would consider those behind it monsters too.
“They hold winter dances, and the food is delicious.” She continues, not noticing the way my mood has soured. “It was one of my favorite places to go, and even though Hedrum used to be somewhere all races were welcomed, I would disguise myself as a human to not call unwanted attention when I wanted to have a little fun. Human men are eager in bed, but the fae have bigger cocks.”
“Nera!” My cheeks burn, and I almost stumble to the ground.
Nera’s laughter travels down the hall, her eyes shimmering with mischief.
I clear my throat and drag my sweaty hands over the skirt of my dress. Again and again, until I’ve calmed my racing heart. Not because of her comment, but because I almost kissed the ground. I’m not even wondering how big Ash’s— Never mind.
It’s hard not to remember the way he spoke to me the night I stitched him up. When he teased me about being a maiden and drunkenly called me beautiful. “I’m not used to talking about these kinds of things...”
“But I heard you have a sister.”
“I do, but we aren’t that close anymore.” I look away, biting my bottom lip. “Actually, Irene and I have never been that close.”
Is she also part fae? Does she know what I am, and is that why she kept her distance?
My heart squeezes at the possibility of being lied to like that. In the end, it doesn’t matter; I don’t love her any less.
“I always wanted a sister, but after my mother had me, she swore off being pregnant and never stopped taking the fertility-controlling brew.” Nera pouts, then turns slightly at the sound of Finley’s steps as he rushes to catch up to us. She leans closer to me, her expression turning conspiratorial. “Perhaps if this escapade goes well, and you master your trapped magic enough to help me with a glamour, we can leave for Hedrum next.”
“That sounds like a terrible idea,” I say with a laugh. “Which is my favorite kind of plan. So, sign me up.”
“Really, Hedrum?” Finley asks, keeping his strides long and fast to remain by Nera’s side. “Of all the places, that’s where you want to go?”
“You know what happened the night I found out I couldn’t call off my wedding after my father died?” Nera asks, staring at her long, clawlike nails with disinterest.
Finley pales, but I’m shaking my head, enthralled by the conversation.
“I went on a tirade, carried on all the way to Hedrum full of hate for my late father and with revenge in my heart. I wanted to reclaim what’s mine. The old king promised my body to Sylas, and Ash couldn’t break the deal as it was sealed with a blood vow. So, I did what any rebellious princess would do when faced with such a crossroad. I fucked strangers. All night long. It was wonderful, but I’m sure you understand, Finley, since you used to party there.”
Finley’s cheeks turn a deep shade of burgundy, and he looks away from us, muttering under his breath. “I told Ash having his little sister hovering around us all the time would come back to bite us, eventually.”
It’s almost cute how embarrassed he is, and I’m happy I’m not the only one acting like a bashful, innocent girl when speaking with Nera.
We make our way to the stables, crossing the courtyard toward the big black buildings that remain covered by fog. The lunargyres don’t look our way.
“It has less to do with how you two behaved around me and more to do with how little time I have left to care about decorum.”
“Nera . . .”
“Save it, Finley, I don’t need your pity. What I need is to experience things, even if they are sad. I want to live while I still can.”
His eyes soften before he nods. “Well, I guess if we’re going to risk our lives, we might as well go in style and take the carriage.”
Chapter 20
“Stay between Nera and me.It will mask your scent in case there are lunargyres around,” Finley says as we follow the serpentine path toward the stables. Here, I no longer can smell the scent of roses and magic I’ve grown so accustomed to.
The gardens are breathtaking though, even in this cold season, with beautiful pathways made of broken stones and covered in moss.
