Page 14 of A Cage of Crystal

Verdian pinned her with a hard look. “Those are my terms.”

Mareleau’s eyes darted from Verdian to Helena, then to Teryn, as if hoping one of the latter two might intervene. Teryn knew better than to argue now. Finally, her gaze locked on Larylis. He still stood frozen, hands behind his back like an obedient soldier. Her expression flickered with hurt.

Verdian followed her gaze. “What do you think about my terms, King Larylis?”

Teryn bristled at his mocking tone, but Larylis was unflustered. “I will agree to whatever terms you deem necessary.”

Mareleau pursed her lips as she burned Larylis with a glare he refused to meet. Turning back to her father, she said, “How long do you intend for me to stay there?”

Verdian rubbed his jaw, eyes unfocused, before he answered. “Until the end of July. On the final day of the month, we will convene at Ridine Castle to sign the official peace pact, solidifying these terms we’ve discussed. That will give us a chance to ensure once and for all that Aveline and Dimetreus can be trusted. Until then, keep close to Aveline. Report on her actions. Once the peace pact is signed, you may return home with your husband. Do you agree?”

She resumed weaving her lock of hair until her mother laid a hand on her fingers to still them. Mareleau dropped the tangled braid and folded her palms at her waist. “Yes.”

“Then I suppose it’s time to draw up a marriage contract.”

Teryn released a sigh. He’d done it. He’d managed to fix something before it was too late.

But there was still more to do. More amends to make. And a very important question to ask.

* * *

The doorsto Cora’s room sprang open. Cora halted her pacing before her window and turned toward the door, grateful to have some distraction from her thoughts. She was desperate to rid herself of the memory of Teryn’s stricken face when they had spoken in the hall, of the courtiers who’d watched them with amused grins, of the betrothal she’d agreed to.

Lurel skipped into her room, a large box in her hands. The girl’s smile grew with every step she took toward Cora. “I have so much news to share with you, Your Highness!”

“What news is that?”

“First of all,” she said as she set the box on Cora’s bed, “everything is settled for your journey to my father’s estate.”

Cora furrowed her brow. “Your…father?”

“Lord Kevan,” she said.

Cora recalled the girl mentioning she was Mareleau’s cousin, but Cora hadn’t realized Lurel was the daughter of the man who’d be accompanying her to Ridine.

Lurel spoke again. “My next piece of news is even better! I’m coming to Ridine with you. I get to remain as your lady’s maid even after you leave here! I wasn’t sure Father would let me come, but since he’ll be going to Ridine too, he gave me permission. Isn’t that great?” The girl bounced on the balls of her feet. Her excitement was somewhere between endearing and annoying.

Cora gave her a weak smile. “How wonderful.”

Lurel beamed and lifted the cover off the box she’d brought. “This is my next piece of news.” From inside the box, she extracted a cloak of teal wool with brown leather running along the front seams and bottom hem. “It's your new riding cloak, made from the finest Aromir wool. Do you love it?”

Cora stepped closer to examine it. She ran her fingers over the wool, finding it impossibly soft yet dense. Aromir wool wasn’t something she’d had access to when she’d lived with the Forest People, for it was more of a luxury than a necessity. When it came to practical use, regular wool sufficed.

But when it came to a garment fit for a royal...

“It’s perfect.”

“Try it on,” Lurel said, already draping it around Cora’s shoulders. “The seamstresses will have a riding habit hemmed for you within the hour. If you’re still set on leaving tonight, we can depart by early evening. My father’s estate is only an hour away, so we’ll make it there by nightfall.”

“My brother is prepared to leave tonight as well?” A pinch of guilt squeezed her chest. After her confrontation with Teryn, she hadn’t had the courage to leave her room, which meant she hadn’t seen her brother since she’d abandoned him at the meeting.

“He has left it up to you, Your Highness.” Lurel straightened the length of the cloak while Cora secured the clasp. She noted its shape—a purple oval with a black mountain. Khero’s sigil. She hadn’t worn something bearing her kingdom’s sigil since she was a child. It made her throat feel tight. Lurel’s voice called out from behind the dressing screen. Cora hadn’t noticed when she’d flitted over there. “Can we throw this one out then?”

Cora frowned at the stained garment Lurel held by the tips of her fingers. She took the battered cloak from Lurel, her eyes falling on the torn hem where she’d cut a bandage for Teryn’s wound after the battle at Centerpointe Rock. She remembered how he’d looked at her then, how he’d placed his hand on hers after she’d finished wrapping the wool around him. The thought was quickly replaced with the pain she’d felt at discovering he’d bargained off her hand to his brother.

“Might as well burn it.” Gritting her teeth, she folded up the cloak with far more force than necessary and strolled over to the hearth and the warm blaze within. Now that she’d officially reclaimed her title as princess, she didn’t have to beg for her hearth to be lit; it was simply done. She folded the cloak tighter and prepared to toss the bundle on the flames when she felt something hard beneath her palm. Frowning, she paused and searched for the source. From within one of the inner pockets, she extracted a large amber crystal.

Her heart leaped into her throat. Murky energy thrummed against her palm—

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