Page 4 of A Song of Shadow and Starlight

"I couldn't be happier." My mother wraps her arms around me and squeezes. "Your father is going to be speechless when he sees you tomorrow."

"She's right about that."

Everyone in the room stills as my father, King Garren Kitarni, enters the room and stalks toward me and mother. As he comes closer, I can see the pride in his teary gaze, and it tugs at my heart. He flanks my other side, joining my mother who is admiring me in the mirror. He smiles, and I smile back.

"This dress suits you, my dove." He kisses my right temple.

"Promise not to cry tomorrow," I tease.

He holds his hands up and barks a laugh. "I only make promises I intend to keep, Ilaria."

"Have you had your tea?" My mother's random question catches me off guard, but when I glance in the direction she's staring and see the sun has set, I shake my head.

For as long as I can remember, I've had to drink a cup of tea before going to bed. I'm not sure what is in the amber liquid, but it's critical I drink it every single night, without fail. If I don't, I've been told I'll become very sick. I have a rare condition that my parents said could have grave ramifications should I fail to adhere to my routine. I asked them for more specific details a couple years ago, but it seemed to depress them, so I dropped the matter. Even if I miss one day, there's a possibility I could die, and I know that worries them.

"I normally drink it right before bed."

That seems to irk my mother, but she quickly masks the flare of irritation, and flashes her best, most regal smile my way. "Well, now that we've found your gown, let's get you ready for bed."

I grab my mother's hand, drawing her concerned gaze, and smile up at her. "I won't forget. Selene will bring it to me like she does every night."

My mother nods, but her smile isn't full. She kisses my forehead and motions for my father to follow her out. Before he trails after her, he pecks a quick kiss to my cheek.

"See you in the morning, my dove. Get some sleep."

"Goodnight, Father."

Such a strange thing. How my mother can be filled with joy one minute and overcome with dread the next. I have never failed to follow their rules and have never once forgotten to take my nightly tea. But for some reason, tonight of all nights, she seems to be on edge about it. Perhaps, it's pre-wedding day jitters. She's overseen every minute detail to ensure my day is spectacular. I'm eternally grateful for her, because if it had been up to me, I would have convinced Bastian to have a small wedding before we boarded one of our ships and sailed around the Six Kingdoms, so I could finally see the world I'd learned so much about, but never had the opportunity to see.

As everyone trickles out of my chambers, and I change out of my gown and don my favorite cream, silk nightgown, Selene enters with a golden tray. She curtsies before setting the platter on my nightstand. I can see the steam rising from the porcelain tea kettle spout and breathe in the sweet scent. I hop into my luxurious bed and watch as my lady-in-waiting goes through the process of steeping my tea before pouring it into a cup and squeezing half a lemon into it.

She's not been in my services long, but I felt an immediate connection with her the moment we met, and before I knew it, we'd become, dare I say, friends. And I don't have any of those. Selene is who I spend most of my time with, so it's refreshing to have someone I can talk to and share my secrets with. Honestly, at this point, she knows more about me than anyone else – well, other than Bastian.

I was ecstatic when my former lady-in-waiting announced her retirement. I never cared for the old goat and her judgmental glances. Selene is a breath of fresh air and when I marry Bastian, and one day bear the title of queen, I will see to it she is by my side through it all. Plus, no one has ever done my hair and make-up so perfectly and as vain as I tend to be when it comes to my appearance, she's stuck with me for life.

"I'm almost finished, your grace." Selene takes the golden spoon on the tray and stirs the contents of my teacup.

"Timely as always, Selene."

"Drink up, Princess."

I grab the cup she's extending and take a sip to test the temperature. It's warm, smooth like honey, and the splash of lemon gives it the acidity it needs to help me gulp it down. After years of drinking it, you'd think I would have grown used to the taste, but it still takes me a second to adjust to the bitter flavor before I swallow the rest of it. I hand the cup back to her and she takes it, gathering up the materials used to create my life-saving concoction and stands up to leave.

"Make sure you're here tomorrow morning by sunrise," I remind her before she reaches the door. "I don't trust anyone else to do my hair and make-up for the most important day of my life."

She smiles sweetly and nods, but there's a sadness in her eyes that makes me wonder what she's thinking about. "Sweet dreams, Your Highness."

Once she slips out, I fluff my pillow before draping my braided hair across it. I lay on my back and like I do every night to fall asleep, I close my eyes, take deep, calming breaths and count backwards from one hundred. I never make it to zero before I drift off to sleep. Although Selene wished me sweet dreams, I don't have such luck.

Themoonishighin the starry night sky, and I should be fast asleep, but I've spent the last couple of hours tossing and turning, reluctant to close my eyes because I don't want to return to the nightmares that plague me. I'm jittery and my mind is racing. Most Midorians believe it is bad luck to have nightmares the night before your wedding. I don't normally buy into such superstitions, but a slight tremor of trepidation clouds my mind.

What if Bastian is only marrying me because he has to?

Does he even want to marry me?

Would he be happier with someone else?

Suddenly, I can't breathe, drowning in my self-deprecating thoughts. My chest tightens and my head begins to throb. I need fresh air.

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