Page 1 of All the Chaos of Constellations
CHAPTERONE
The stars never lied.
At least that’s what Novalise Starstorm told herself as she gazed up at the blanketed night sky. A veil of clouds shrouded the glow of the moon, and snow fell around her like scraps of lace, making it nearly impossible to see the constellations.
The breath of winter had settled across the kingdom, coating the mountains in a thin layer of frost and encasing the limbs of every tree in glimmering ice. Wind billowed down from the north, carrying with it the scent of ripened berries, snow-topped evergreens, and something that reminded her of the warm toffee cider found throughout Aeramere during the coldest season. Another gust of wintry air swept across the balcony, bitter against her cheeks and skin as it cut through the heavy layers of her velvet gown.
Novalise shook off the chill crawling up her spine.
She’d stopped shivering long ago.
Because tonight was the Winter Solstice, an evening built upon promises whispered by the stars and making wishes. It was a season of blessings and magic, when anything seemed possible. A dream could become truth if the fates were so inclined. According to legend, if one gazed up at the sky during the midnight hours of the solstice, the stars would reveal a secret—anything from a darkest desire, to the most cunning of ambitions, to even the name of their soulmate.
Of course, that was only a myth.
For as long as Novalise could remember, the skies were never clear on the Winter Solstice.
She was a Starstorm fae, born in House Celestine under the sign of Estrela, the goddess of the moon and stars. She was expected to be compassionate, obliging, and unable to stand for anything less than perfection. While she was usually sensible, every so often she found herself entranced by the wonders of the world. She shouldn’t be dazzled by the idea of fairy tale love stories or swooning at the prospect of meeting her soulmate on a night full of wintertide celebrations.
Yet there she was, on the highest balcony of her family’s house, waiting for the clouds to clear. Just to see if she could catch a glimpse of…something.
Novalise reached out, imagining she could catch a falling star in her hand. Her pale skin glowed in the faint swath of hazy moonlight, but the stars revealed nothing.
She sighed, her breath misting in front of her like ribbons of silver smoke.
“Novalise.” A masculine voice sounded from behind her, one she would recognize anywhere, one that always came across slightly disappointed.
She turned to face her brother, Ariesian Starstorm, Lord of House Celestine. Clad in their house’s colors of sapphire and silver, he looked every inch the noble title his birthright afforded him. Their house crest, a star with eight points flanked by two crescent moons, was stitched in pale thread along the lapel of his trim coat. Silver hair was swept to the side, and smoothed back, highlighting the strong planes of his face. With his head cocked to the side, his dark brows pinched together.
Ariesian crossed his arms over his broad chest, towering over her. “You’ll catch your death without your cloak.”
“There’s no need to be ridiculous,” Novalise murmured. She turned away from him, knowing if she continued to stargaze, he would chide her for abandoning her duties. It was time to return to the ballroom, where she was expected to play the role of gracious hostess. She would smile and nod and placate the attention of would-be suitors. Smoothing her long, lavender tresses to make sure not a hair was out of place, Novalise headed toward the double glass doors. “You know as well as I do that fae don’t fall ill simply because it’s cold outside.”
Ariesian flicked away a snowflake from the collar of his coat. “What are you doing out here, anyway?”
Avoiding the speculative gazes and rumors surrounding the fact that, come Midsummer, if she didn’t already have a mate, the stars would choose one for her. Taking a moment to breathe and desperately wishing that fabled myths were more than just stories made up by dreamers.
All valid reasons she kept to herself. She didn’t need to trouble Ariesian with her own inconsequential worries.
“I needed some fresh air.” Novalise waved her hand dismissively as Ariesian held open the door for her. “You know how overcrowded and stuffy the Yuletide Ball can be with everyone…breathing.”
It was a pathetic excuse, at best.
To her surprise, Ariesian chuckled. “I’ve never known you to have such an aversion to the norms of social engagements.”
“On the contrary, I don’t mind the engagements at all.” She rounded the corner of the hallway toward the grand staircase that would deposit her into the decadent ballroom below. “I’ve just never enjoyed being the topic of conversation.”
Something she could hardly avoid.
She paused at the top of the staircase, taking in the scene before her. The ballroom of House Celestine was stunning, decorated to impress the nobles from all five houses of Aeramere by making everyone in attendance think they’d walked into a winter wonderland. Vases in every corner spilled with gold-tipped poinsettias, waterfalls of frosted blue winterblooms cascaded down from the encircling balcony, and sporadic sprigs of sparkling mistletoe tied with red ribbon hung from discreet entrances. The mistletoe was no doubt the work of Novalise’s younger sister, Caelian, who swore anyone who shared a kiss beneath the enchanted mistletoe was bound to fall in love.
Overhead, snowflakes swirled through the air, giving the effect of being caught in a delightful snow globe. Twinkling lights of faerie fire were strung across the dark wooden ceiling in a series of constellations, casting the entire space in a warm, welcoming glow. Banquet tables overflowed with platters of roasted meat and vegetables, bowls of pastries and freshly baked rolls, and tiers of varying desserts like cream-filled puffs and chocolate-glazed berries.
Music and laughter soared all around her and the air seemed charged with a kind of electric energy. It simmered along her skin, overwhelming her inner peace with a sense of disquiet. There was a shift taking place, an unnatural urgency that left her anxious, as though something life-changing was about to happen. It caused her stomach to flutter, her heart to pound.
“Sister.”
Novalise glanced up at her brother, then down at his proffered arm.
