Now I wonder if he was keeping secrets.
I swallow hard as I enter the bathroom.
“Queen Zella.” I give her a weird, uncoordinated bow. I’ve never curtsied in my life, and I probably look like a camel trying to hold in a fart. “It’s nice of you to offer your assistance. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. And you can just call me Zella.” She smiles, her hands resting on the back of the ivory chair that’s waiting for me.
It’s in front of a mirrored vanity with brushes, combs, and barrettes lined up. There’s a floor-length gown hanging from a hook on the marble-tiled wall. The silky lavender material is the same color as Kirian’s eyes. It has cap sleeves and an empire waist.
“That’s the most beautiful dress I’ve ever seen,” I say honestly.
“It was Gia’s. She’s hoping you’ll accept it as a partial payment for the honeysuckle.”
“She doesn’t have to give me anything.” Shaking my head, I admit, “I only said what I said earlier because she hurt my feelings.”
“It’s our way to settle a debt. And don’t let Gia’s comments get to you. She’s always been a bit abrasive.”
As I take a seat, I look at Zella’s reflection. “With all due respect, if you’ve come to tell me what a bad idea this is, I don’t need to hear it. I already know.”
She makes a sound, and I’m not sure if she’s agreeing with me. From the subtle rise of her eyebrows and the incline of her head, I’d say yes. “We’ll do your hair first, then we’ll put on the dress.”
“Sounds like a plan.” I pull the hair tie out, hoping she can fix the mess on my head.
Parting my hair down the middle with a glass comb, she gently works through a few tangles I acquired during my flight with Kirian. “You have a very nice mane. It’s thick and shiny. I’ll definitely have enough to work with.”
I warm at her compliment. “Thanks.”
She lifts a chunk away from my face and peeks at my ear. “I can do braids on each side of your head to cover these. News of Kirian’s betrothal will be a shock to many. It might be better to let them get used to the idea before they know you’re a human.”
“Won’t it be obvious?”
“Not if you’re dressed like a royal. The only reason I knew you’re not from here is because of your interesting outfit.”
I nod, suddenly grateful she’s here. I’m not sure what to say about the whole engagement thing. Kirian’s already announced it to several people, and I have no doubt rumors are spreading this very second. It wouldn’t look good for him if it seems like I’m opposed to the marriage.
So I decide it’s best to just go along with it for now.
“Did Kirian tell you about how I fell in love with his father?” Zella asks, and her friendly tone puts me at ease.
“Kinda.” I don’t know all the details, but Zella was originally a princess of the Day Realm, while Keryth was king here. Naturally, I can conclude it was messy.
“Our relationship was a bit of a Romeo and Juliet situation, minus the dying.”
“You’re familiar with Shakespeare?” My eyebrows go up.
“Oh, yes, I know your literature. We have all kinds of books in our library. Kirian seems to know a lot of stories, too. I’ve often wondered if he convinced the librarians to read to him, but now I suspect that’s your doing?”
“Yeah. I read to him a lot. I offered to learn Braille and teach him, but he said he’d rather hear my voice instead.”
Zella’s eyes get misty. “You’ve been good to my son. I keep thinking back on all the times he came home happy after using his portal. Sometimes over the course of the year, he’d grow darker. Colder. Grumpier. But most of the time on his birthday, the shadows around him seemed to lift. Now I know that was because of you.”
“He’s not the only one who’s benefited from our friendship. I need him just as much as he needs me. Without him, my life would’ve been really lonely.”
“I’m glad you two have each other,” she says sincerely.
I’m not sure if it’s a stamp of approval, but it’s something positive, so I’ll take it.
Zella’s fingers work at a rapid pace, and the intricate braids are done in less than five minutes. She clips them at the nape of my neck with a pearl barrette, then gets to work on the rest with what looks like a curling iron. Only, it isn’t plugged in. Once my locks are wrapped tightly around the metal wand, she covers it with her hand. I feel heat on my neck, and when she releases it, there’s a bouncy curl.
“That’s amazing,” I say, impressed.
“My special ability is fire.”
Excited that I’m not completely unknowledgeable about Kirian’s family, I nod. “And Gia can manipulate nature and Keryth can control the weather.”
“That’s right. What else did Kirian tell you?”
“Nothing huge. He didn’t like to talk about violence much, so a lot of information was off-limits. I know you have a thing for sweets. Kirian says we have that in common.”
“We do.” Smiling, she moves on to the next curl. She does two more before she says, “I understand what it means to feel out of place here. Ending up mated to my father’s enemy was unexpected, and I wasn’t exactly welcomed with open arms.”
“That must’ve been tough,” I say, hoping she’ll keep spilling new details.
“I’m afraid Night and Day have never gotten along. Trade deals are necessary, but it’s difficult to manage when there’s no trust. In order to ensure a smooth transaction, a member of each royal family was required to go along to Dawn and Dusk. Since I was the youngest of three, I was always chosen.” She laughs,
