Page 104 of All the Chaos of Constellations
The irritation bubbling between them spiked, threatening to boil over. But Novalise held the intensity of her mother’s stare, refusing to back down. “I said, I burned it.”
There was a flicker in Trysta’s eyes, but before Novalise could decipher it, her mother blinked, and it was gone. “What, with fire?”
“Yes.” Novalise dipped her chin. This was her moment of truth. “With starfire.”
Sarelle sucked in a breath, catching Novalise’s hand. “Are you serious?”
But Novalise was too focused on her mother to respond.
“Starfire,” Trysta repeated mildly. There was a heavy moment of hesitation and she laughed, loud and grating. “Darling, don’t be ridiculous.”
“I’m not.” Novalise clamped her jaw so soundly it ached.
“But Nova.” Creslyn glided forward, her eyes round like sapphire orbs. “Starfire has been dormant in the Starstorm line for years. Longer, even.”
“Not anymore,” Novalise countered.
Trysta’s admonishing gaze slid to Astralina. “Excuse us for a moment.”
“Of course, my lady.” Astralina bobbed a swift curtsy, then exited through a set of gossamer curtains toward the front of the store.
Trysta set down her teacup, then stood, her chin lifted to an angle of authority. She clasped her hands together, prim and poignant. “Very well, Novalise. Let’s see it.”
“I…” She glanced around the space. Her sisters watched her with rapt attention, expecting her to reveal the long-lost powerful magic that died out from their bloodline before their births. Trysta knew she possessed the ability, she was the one who told her to conceal it, yet now she was acting as though she had no idea at all. Novalise’s brow furrowed, she never imagined her mother would demand an exhibition. “I haven’t yet mastered it. What I mean to say is, I’m unsure of how to summon it on command.”
“Mm.” Trysta looked her up and down, diminishing her with one callous glance. Then she turned on her heel and exited the dressing room, disappearing beyond the other side of the curtains. Dismissing Novalise, as always.
Caelian was in front of Novalise a second later, gazing up at her in wonder. “Are you really blessed with starfire?”
She nodded slowly, resigned. Disappointment and disheartenment weighed upon her shoulders, crushing her. “Yes. Ask Nyxian.”
Creslyn smothered her gasp. “He’s seen it?”
“How do you think he got that scar?”
Her lashes fluttered as she backed and nearly stumbled into Caelian. “You attacked him?”
“Of course not!” Novalise stepped down from the pedestal, and Sarelle helped her undress, carefully hanging the wedding gown on one of the velvet racks. “It was an accident. There was a storm, and this terrifying sensation overcame me. I felt myself slipping, losing control. Nyxian was there. He tried to help me counter it, but the streaks of starlight that burst from me turned to flames, engulfing me in this maelstrom of starfire. I couldn’t control it, and one of the bolts hit Nyxian.”
She shuddered, remembering the fear that gripped her when she thought she’d killed her younger brother.
“You created the starstorm.” Sarelle tied the laces down the back of Novalise’s day dress. There was no accusation in her tone, but no question either. It was a simple statement of fact.
“I did.” Novalise adjusted the front of her dress, smoothing the pieces of lace. “It’s why I flee to the lower levels of the house whenever the weather turns violent. Down there, in the darkened halls of the mountain, is safe for me.”
And everyone is safe from her.
“I know it seems impossible,” she continued, “but Lord Firebane has witnessed it once before.” He stepped into her starstorm and took it all. The lashing of it, the intense power of it. “As has Prince Drake.”
Creslyn tilted her head, a line of concern knitting across her brow. “So, it only happens during storms?”
“Or when I’m angry.” Like with that first hideous wedding dress.
Creslyn jabbed Caelian in the side with her elbow. “Itoldyou she wasn’t afraid of storms. She was afraid of what happenedduringthe storms.”
Sarelle snared Novalise’s hand again, giving it a firm squeeze. “I believe you.”
The twins nodded furiously, speaking as one. “So do we.”
