“It’s a replica of my mother’s,” I explain, a melancholy smile on my lips.
“A replica?” She echoes.
I purse my lips and then settle myself. “Her body was never recovered, but I had your ring modeled exactly after hers.”
Her brows wrinkle sympathetically. “I’m sorry, I forgot.”
I shake my head, waving away her apology. I gaze up at her pale blue eyes and soft, brown hair. She’s beautiful. I only miss when those eyes were filled fire instead of sorrow. I reach for a decanter of wine and pour us both a drink. Verity accepts and takes a small sip. I smile, remembering the first ball she attended and how she guzzled the wine so nervously.
“We will have a ball, celebrating our engagement,” I say, lifting my cup with a grin.
Verity’s lips twist. “Altair,” she says stubbornly. “You remember the last one. Do you have to have one?”
I drape myself into the armchair next to her and laugh. “I must. Trust me, Verity, it will be fun.”
“How long until the ball?” She asks.
“A week’s time,” I say, enjoying the way she gapes. I’ve been planning this ball for days already, all the preparations are made. “Just in time for Summer’s Eve, and your wound should be healed as well.”
Verity slumps back in her chair. “I should start practicing. You’re too busy to be my dancing partner. I suppose a guard will have to do.”
Anger flares within me as I imagine her wrapped in another man’s arms, twirling through the room. “Absolutely not,” I snarl. “Navi will be your tutor.”
“Navi?” Verity snorts. “I doubt she’ll agree to it.”
“She’ll agree because I’ll tell her to,” I growl.
Verity raises a brow, and it’s as if I get a glimpse of the woman I grew to love weeks ago. But it disappears just as quickly. “I’m tired,” she murmurs.
I run my tongue over my lips, disappointment flaring. But I don’t want to press her, I don’t want to force her to tolerate my presence. I rise slowly to my feet and set my goblet aside. I leave her by the fire, staring into its depths. At the door, I turn back to her and catch her staring forlornly at the ring on her finger. Sorrow and trepidation coil in my chest and my gut twists at the sight.
Wordlessly, I close the door and pause in the dim light of the hall. I lean my head against her door, brows furrowed. For a moment, I pictured her happy. But I was wrong.
Chapter 5
Verity
The early morning sun sparkles on the morning dew that glistens on the grass and leaves throughout the garden. I wander across the lawn to the small grove of trees where I had my first true conversation with Acubens – Altair – weeks ago. My boots are almost soaked through already with dew as I trod across the lawn.
My fingers trail over the foliage of the trees as I pass. I catch a glimpse of the ring on my finger. The pearl is a perfect setting, ringed by small clear crystals on a thin silver band. My heart clenches as I stare at the engagement ring. It’s a significant ring, not simply because it signifies my impending marriage to Altair, but because it’s modeled after the ring his mother wore. He had this made especially for me.
I bite my lip, my stomach twisting with nerves. Altair and I have become different people now. It’s almost strange how much we’ve changed in only a few weeks. But we have changed. He’s grown more lively, a little kinder. And I’ve become lost. He knows. He knows and he’ll try to fix me. But I don’t know if I can be fixed. And I doubt the wedding will bring me the kind of answers and comfort I need. My questions are of the sort that only another Bloodbane could answer.
Only a little while ago, I was at my own wedding. And now I’ll have another – who knows how soon. I’m grateful that Altair dragged me away from my wedding that morning. It made me realize how much I truly didn’t want to be with Henry and how I wasn’t prepared to be married. I tell myself it will be different with Altair, but truthfully, I don’t know. It’s the not knowing that scares me.
A loud slamming sound drags me from my thoughts. I glance up, staring through the trees towards the palace doors. Servants are carrying a set of wooden beams through, no doubt some kind of decoration for the ball tonight. The week I’ve had to prepare for the ball hasn’t left me anymore confident than I was last time. Navi was impatient in her tutelage and seemed eager to be done with the lessons. But so was I.
Dancing and being a pleasant princess to the Fae who will be in attendance just doesn’t seem important right now. I’m more concerned with my own identity. Ever since I committed myself to Altair, I’ve felt like my blood is filled with lead.
I turn away from the preparations and move deeper into the grove of trees. The sound of birds has disappeared, and the wind is quiet. Slowly, I catch the sound of snapping scissors. Curious, I follow it towards the shadows by the wall that borders the palace. I narrow my eyes, trying to pierce the gloom. Despite Altair’s victory over the Bloodbane, he’s warned me to be careful even on palace grounds. Apprehension grips me as I follow the light snipping sound.
I push aside a large tree branch, just I catch a flash of silver streaking towards me. I yelp and lurch backwards as the enormous shears slice through the branch where my hand was. A Fae man pokes his head through the leaves, his brows wrinkled with concern. My heart leaps as I recognize him from earlier in the week. It’s the gardener I saw before Altair and I went into Desmarais.
His dark hair is combed back away
