Alora is a welcoming queen. I can see why she’s…well, a queen. She’s patient and calm, even with Caz and his temperament. Any question she asks him, he answers as if annoyed, but she doesn’t react. She simply takes the answers in stride while walking through her castle—ruler of all, beneath no one.
I’m too awe-struck to think much about how rude he’s being. The palace is something out of a movie. I’ve traveled to a lot of cities and have seen many places, but this tops every single one. She guides us through several corridors, passing a dining hall, the kitchen, and even the regal room, where a throne is on an altar.
“I don’t like the throne much,” she confesses. “In fact, I only use it when I want everyone to take me seriously, or if I have an important announcement.” She smiles at me, and Juniper laughs at her remark.
“When will we discuss why we’re here?” Caz asks from the other side of the room.
“In a moment. I’d like to show my guest around. She’s never been to Vanora before, and it’d be rude not to give her a tour. We won’t be long.” Caz grumbles something beneath his breath as Alora takes my hand, leading the way out of the regal room.
“I’m coming with you,” Juniper says, tailing us.
Alora shows us her tailoring room, her meditation center, the spa, an aquatic room (which I find the most interesting—glass walls with colorful fish and tiny black sharks swimming behind it), another kitchen that’s for larger events, a music room, and then a ballroom.
“Down there, you’ll find the garden room,” she says, pointing down a stairwell. “It’s quite relaxing in there at night. There’s also storage down there, where we stockpile barrels of our youth water.”
“Youth water? What’s that?” I ask.
“It’s basically essence from the Regals—water they created that keeps you youthful and healthy,” says Juniper.
Alora makes her way up a staircase and walks along a wide corridor with skylights in the ceiling. Her guard (Proll, as she introduced him to us) is trailing behind us while keeping a safe distance.
“I figured you’d like to see this part of the place.” Alora pushes a tall, white door open, leading us into a library that’s two stories high and bigger than a gymnasium. Every shelf is lined with books, a pearly staircase leading to the second floor. She takes us up the stairs to two wide glass doors leading to a balcony that overlooks the ocean. We step outside, all of us, as the sea breeze floats by and the cerulean waters whisper to us.
“Wow,” I murmur. It’s the only word I can muster. There aren’t many words that can perfectly describe this view. “Why doesn’t Blackwater look like this?” I cut my eyes to Juniper who releases a harmonious laugh, then shrugs.
“Every territory has its differences, I suppose,” says Juniper. “Vanora is known to be the most beautiful, but also very expensive to live in.”
“While Blackwater can be affordable, but very lethal. However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t beauty to it. You simply have to look for it,” Alora says.
“But even your clothes are…better,” I confess.
“Meh.” Juniper interjects. “Depends on the person. I prefer Blackwater clothes over Vanora’s. With all the corsets and the stifling bras and panties—ugh, I would die.”
“Didn’t you say you’d live here if you weren’t from Blackwater?” Alora asks, smirking.
“I did…but only if I could wear my own clothes most of the time.”
Alora chuckles, then meets my eyes and says, “Speaking of clothes, come with me.”
She guides us through the castle, beneath large chandeliers and intricately designed ceilings, pillars, and statues, until we’re approaching a large door bathed in gold. She pushes the door open, and reveals a room full of dresses. Most of them are white, some gold, but the colorful set near one of the ocean-front windows catches my eye most.
I step up to one of them, running my fingers along the silk fabric of a pink dress. I finger an emerald dress with red rubies lining the bosom, and then an orange gown with silver threads.
“You look like you’re wearing Juniper’s clothes,” Alora says to me.
“She is,” Juniper confirms.
“Well, we’ll have to fix that, won’t we?”
“What are you saying? That I don’t have good taste?” Juniper counters, a hand pressing to her hip.
“No, no, it’s not that,” Alora says, fighting a smile. “I just think I can find something to better suit Willow, is all. Don’t be so feisty.”
Juniper fights her own smile, and says, “As long as I get to pick out some clothes too.”
“Of course.” Alora turns to me. “You look like more of a pants woman.” She walks past and opens a closet, revealing pants, blouses, and shoes in many styles and colors. “Pick a few outfits and I will have them tailored to fit you. I know the reason you’re here is because of the Tether you share with Caspian, and the only person I can think of who knows anything about that is Beatrix, and for her, you must be presentable. She’s quite picky about how people look when they come to her, actually. Hopefully she’ll answer my requests, and if she reaches back out, I’d like us to be prepared to see her.”
“Oh…um…okay.” I step next to her, surveying each piece of clothing, then decide to go with twill khaki trousers and an ivory cotton blouse. Normally, I wouldn’t wear twill, but it seems to be what all the pants are made of here. I pick another outfit that’s simpler, black pants and a sheer pink blouse, and Alora gives me a satisfied smile as I collect it all.
“Wait a minute.” Juniper walks past me, opening one of the glass drawers and pulling out brown suspenders. “This will complete the look of the first outfit you picked.”
“Good eye,” Alora praises.
Juniper places the suspenders on top of the clothes, giving me a triumphant smile. “I’d fit right into this place if I had the chance.”
Alora walks out of the room, calling for someone to tailor the clothes I selected, and I don’t know why I’m surprised that they get my measurements and clothes fitted all within thirty minutes. She even sent someone to fetch a new pair of shoes from the city. They were brought back within twenty minutes.
Now, I stand in one of Alora’s bedchambers looking into a wide mirror, surprised by the new look. I’ve never dressed like this, but dare I say, it suits me. And Juniper was right about the suspenders. They add a nice touch.
“We should eat!” Alora declares when everyone has gathered in the regal room again. A woman walks up to Alora, whispering something in her ear. Alora doesn’t move her head as she listens, and when the woman scurries away, Alora releases a sigh.
I step around Alora and can’t help it when my eyes snap to Caz. It seems no matter what room we’re in together, I have to look for him. It’s like a stupid, compelling force—one I can’t stop from happening no matter how hard I try, and as if it’s the same for him, he looks at me too. Some of the irritation washes off his face as he looks me up and down in my new clothes. His eyes soften, and for a split second I think he’ll compliment me, but instead he swings his gaze to Alora and says, “Let’s get on with this already.”
“Oh, unleash your patience, Caspian.” Alora gestures to two women in a corner, giving a dainty wave of her hand. They nod and hurry around a wall, disappearing. “I already know why you’re here, and we would be going to see Beatrix, but she hasn’t gotten back to my transmitter requests, unfortunately. But, rest assured, we will figure out your Tether.” When she says that, Caz cuts his eyes to me. “The Tether you’re denying, might I add.”
“I’m not denying anything,” he counters.
“Oh, Caspian. Always so serious.” She walks around him, wrapping an arm around my shoulder. “She’s a beautiful woman. You’d be a fool to reject her.”
Red splotches appear on Caz’s neck, a tight grimace on his face now. “Please realize that just because I’m in your graces, doesn’t mean you get to embarrass me in front of my clan.”
“Am I embarrassing you?” She presses her lips, then glances at me. “Willow, here, doesn’t seem to be the least bit bothered.”
“I’m not as uptight as he is,” I tell her, and that sets Caz ablaze. His whole face is red now, his fist clenching, and I’m fighting a laugh.
“Fine. Dinner,” he says through gritted teeth. “Then you’ll give Beatrix another try, correct?”
Alora smiles. “Absolutely.”
