I stand in the garden room, where one of the walls is made of crystal-clear glass, the other white walls covered in vines and various colored flowers. I wandered through the castle and found this room down the stairs, where Alora said it would be. Outside one of the windows is a waterfall pouring into the ocean. The water is still surprisingly blue at night, the moon bold and bright, nearly burning like the sun. She was right. It is relaxing here.
“Your energy is serene.” Alora’s voice slices through my thoughts and I gasp, turning to find her. She’s changed into a sleek, copper night gown. All her jewelry is off, she’s not even wearing lipstick, and she’s still so freaking pretty. It seems so natural for her to be that way, whereas for me, I have to put in the work to make sure I’m somewhat appealing.
“You scared the hell out of me,” I breathe, pressing a hand to my chest. A glass goblet is in my other hand, half-full of wine. The wine here is much stronger and more delicious. Sweet, not too bitter. The perfect combination. And I admit, it’s making me tipsy. “I’m sorry for wandering,” I tell her as she stands next to me. “I couldn’t sleep.”
“Is your bedding not comfortable? If not, I can have that fixed straight away.”
“No, no. It’s not that. The room you gave me is perfect.” And it truly is—overlooking the city, the glittering lights and infinite number of stars in the indigo sky. The bed is comfortable, the feathery duvet plush and cool. I showered in the bathroom before coming down here, which was an experience. Everything I could think of was there, from robes to towels, wash cloths, loofahs. There was even a selection of soaps, perfumes, and lotions to choose from. All of them smelled divine.
“After the shower, I tried lying down, but couldn’t close my eyes,” I go on. “It was weird being in that room, surrounded by so much luxury. Then I remembered I’m not home—that I’m in some other world where everything is new and unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. None of this feels real, and I can’t help thinking I’ve lost my damn mind. That wouldn’t be too far of a stretch to consider, honestly. My mother lost her mind and became suicidal when I was three.” At my last sentence, I cup my mouth and stare at Alora. “Oh my God. Why did I just tell you that?”
“Could be the wine. It has that effect on people. You’re new to it, so perhaps you shouldn’t drink too much more of it tonight.”
“Yeah.” I set the glass down on the nearest surface.
“Do you know why?” she asks.
“Know why what?”
“Your mother lost her mind.”
“Oh.” I rub the tip of my nose, getting rid of an itch. “She kept saying someone was following her—that she had a stalker who wanted to take her children. Her psychiatrists would say it was because she had a hard time conceiving me and my brother. So, when she did get pregnant with us and gave birth, they think she may have suffered a psychotic break.” I shake my head. I hate getting into that topic. It’s one I still can’t fully wrap my head around. I can’t believe I’m even telling Alora about it. It’s not something I discuss much with others.
“And what about your father? Was he around when this happened to her?”
“Yeah. He’s actually still alive, but he’s hard to catch on the phone and he hardly ever visits me, so…”
“So, other than having incapable parents, what’s the matter?” Alora asks, looking into my eyes.
“I just…” I pause. “I guess I realize that I don’t belong in this place.”
“Oh.” Alora presses her lips, mulling it over. “Well, I’d say that’s far from the truth. If anyone doesn’t belong here, it’s Caz and Killian. They’re a couple of brutes, aren’t they? Rowan is decent. I like him very much.”
I laugh at her comments, then sip my wine. “I never thought there would be so much out there. I mean, sure, the world isn’t small, but me being here, in this other universe…it just makes me feel miniscule.”
“Darling, you are far from miniscule. You have the Cold Tether. That’s grand.”
“I don’t even know what a Cold Tether is. What’s so grand about it?” The question comes out laced in sarcasm. “’Cause I can tell you, being forced to hear that psycho man’s thoughts is not a pleasure.”
Alora laughs, then draws in a breath. When she exhales, she tilts her head and wraps a hand around my wrist. She leads me to a rusting gold bench that faces the waterfall and brings me down to sit with her.
“When I was a little girl, I came across a couple who were Cold Tethered. There are many couples who can be Tethered in Vakeeli. Tethers are a common thing, but most are simple, really. It’s no greater than someone claiming that the person is their soulmate. But a Cold Tether…well, it’s similar, but a bit more complicated. It derives from the original Tethered people—the first kind Regals ever made. From what I was told, Cold Tethers are rare and, unlike a regular Tether, your mind and body is instantly drawn to your mate. Doesn’t matter if you’ve never met them or seen them, you’re bound to them, and regardless of where you are, you will find a way to one another.” She pushes a loose tendril of hair behind her ear. “You also feel things simple Tethers don’t feel with each other. I always hear the senses are heightened in every way, and when you’re away from your mate for too long, it comes with great pain and misery. Apparently, it was designed this way to prevent loneliness and for the Cold Tethers to be with each other forever, but I’d say that didn’t age well. Anyway, a simple tethered person can be with whomever they want and live a full life. But not a Cold Tether. They have to be with their mate or else they die.”
“Oh my gosh.”
“Very unfortunate, yes. Anyway, when I was young, I was such a diehard romantic,” she says, smiling. “However, I was a queen in training, so my father didn’t approve of my romantic antics. He wanted me to be strong and resilient, to not waste time on boys unless I was ready to find a king…which I still haven’t done, by the way.” She waves a hand. “Despite his disapproval, I would write letters to random boys in the city. None of them were personalized, they were just letters, and I’d walk to the city on weekends and hand them to the boys I found most handsome.”
“Really?” I laugh.
“Yes. Oh, the boys got a kick out of that one. Here they all were, thinking the princess of Vanora wanted to marry them one day.” She titters, rocking a bit, her pearly teeth sparkling. “But one day when I was in the city, I gave my letter to a boy who was unlike the others. He had the most beautiful brown eyes, and his skin was so pretty—like it was made of ground coffee. He was a stunning human, and he took my letter and ran to his mum. His mum smiled at me, and then a man stepped up beside her. And…I didn’t know it back then, but this couple had a Cold Tether. I could feel their energy from so far away. And the way they looked at each other, the way they held hands, the way they did everything together—it fascinated me. Their love was colossal, and I remember thinking I wanted a love like that. I wanted a man to love me with all his heart. I wanted someone I could have beautiful brown babies with, with bright brown eyes. When I put a read on that couple, I was overwhelmed with joy. It’s hard to explain the joy I felt that day, but if I had to describe it, I would say it was the sun, moon, and stars all wrapped up in a cool bed of flowers, somehow blossoming inside me.”
“Wow,” I murmur. “That’s beautiful, Alora.”
“It is. And everyone in the city loved that couple. They were gifted. The man built swords and shields for the people, and the woman was very good at designing custom dresses for women. I recall her dress making skills being very popular for Armistice Night.”
“What’s Armistice Night?”
“It’s the one night in Vakeeli when all territories agree to get along. There’s a big ball in Luxor, everyone from all walks of life attend, and for one night there are no feuds or fighting or wars. There is only dancing, laughter, peace, drinking…and sex. Love of Vakeeli, is there a lot of sex.” Alora laughs a bit, shaking her head, then her face changes beneath the moonlight, saddening, her lips twisting. “But one day…that couple was found just outside of Vanora’s gates. Their faces were hollow, eyes black, mouths ajar. The beauty and joy were gone. Someone had killed them.” She works hard to swallow. “Or something, rather.” Her eyes flicker up to mine. “The downfall of a Cold Tether is that you’re hunted for that beautiful joy you share. I’m not sure what it is that hunts you, but what I do know is that you and Caspian have a Tether that is just as strong as that couple who once lived in my city, whether you like each other or not. And I have a feeling once you give in to this Tether, it will be stronger than theirs, which will make it all the more beautiful to witness for me, but much easier for the malevolent to find you.”
I clutch my glass tight in hand, lowering my gaze. “Well, we shouldn’t have to worry about that. There’s no giving in to a man like him.”
Alora smirks. “Do you think so? Because I see him burning bridges for you.”
I scoff. “Trust me, he hates me. He wants me gone and, frankly, I’m ready to go back home.”
“Are you, though?” She tilts her head, locking eyes with me. She searches my face, and it makes me uncomfortable, especially remembering she can read my energy. She knows I’m lying.
“I mean…it would be nice to get to know the person I’m somehow connected to, but he makes it hard to do that.”
“Sure, he’s a hard man to figure out, but don’t let that fool you. He’s your Tether, and whether he cares to admit it or not, he feels something for you. He can’t quite explain it yet, as these feelings are new to him, but he does. A Tether of any kind is inevitable. I’ve been conducting business with Caspian for years and never have I seen him look at a woman the way he looks at you.”
“He hardly looks at me, your majesty.”
She smiles. “It’s when you aren’t looking that he does. And when you think he isn’t listening, he most certainly is. I bet you he’s listening right now.”
I let her words marinate in the crevices of my mind. I even try listening for Caz’s voice, but I hear nothing. I’m knocking and he won’t let me in.
She gracefully stands. “I’m going to finish off the rest of my duties for the night. We have an early start in the morning, so I’d like to get to bed as soon as possible. I hope you enjoy the rest of your night. And if you can’t sleep, ask Luzian for a cup of mulled wine with gold clover. It’ll put you right to sleep.”
When she leaves the garden room, I stand back up and walk to the window. I drop my gaze to the waterfall tunneling into the ocean, studying it a moment, before making my way back to my room for the night.
Before I can get to the room, I spot Juniper, whose room is two doors from mine, only she’s not in the clothes she had on earlier (a tweed suit and brown cap). She’s in high-waisted black trousers, a blood red blouse tucked into them, and a thick black belt wrapped around her waist, accentuating her hips. The belt doesn’t look like Vanora material, and when I see the red rubies in the buckle of it, I figure it’s a Blackwater belt she had with her.
“There you are!” she chimes when she hears my steps.
“You’re looking for me?”
“Indeed I am. I want you to come to the city with me.”
“To the city?”
“Vanora is a beautiful city at night. You’ll love it! Let’s get you changed. Alora gave me access to her closet, and she hardly wears pants as it is. She may as well give all her clothes to me.” She links elbows with me and wanders down the hallway, taking the stairs up to the wardrobe Alora presented to us earlier.
“Is it safe going out there at night?” I ask.
Juniper chokes on a laugh as she opens the closet. “Much safer than Blackwater, I assure you.” She reaches for clothes, taking down black pants that match hers, and a silky blue shirt with gold moon and star designs. “This should work.” She brings it to me. “Get dressed. And hurry. I don’t want Caz to see us leaving.”
“Why not?” I ask, changing out of my clothes. I’m not opposed to this. From what I’ve seen, Vanora is beautiful, and I’m curious about the city, what it’s like, and if it’s anything like Blackwater. Hopefully it’s better.
“Because he’ll send Killian with us, and Killian ruins all the fun.”
I slide into the trousers as Juniper taps her chin while looking at the accessories. She plucks a gold belt from a rack, and then a set of gold, dangly earrings. After she places them on a velvet stool, she moves to the necklaces, taking down way too many.
“There are two sides to Vanora,” she goes on, studying the jewelry she’s selected. “There’s Gold Class, which is where all the richer Vanorians live. They’re the classy type, very boring, really, with their fancy parties and silk gloves.” She picks up two necklaces and carries them to me as I slide into the shirt. “Then there’s Iron Class. They still have riches, but they don’t really live by the rules. They know how to have fun, make a good drink, and party.”
“And let me guess…Iron Class is where we’re going?” I watch as she walks around me to clasp the necklace on.
“Damn right.”
“Is it not dangerous?”
“Sure, it is…well, it can be. But I have a gun.”
“I thought you had to give your guns to Alora’s guards?”
“Yeah, but I have one in the SUV they don’t know about.” She walks around me, takes a thorough look at my clothes, and, satisfied with what she’s put together, she smiles and looks me in the eyes. “You’re so beautiful. No wonder Caz can’t stop looking at you.” Her words fly right through me. I’m not sure how to digest them, and I’m glad when she leads the way out of the room, shuts the lights off, and says, “Let’s go get your boots,” over my shoulder.
When I slip into my boots, we walk down the stairs and through the spacious corridors of the palace to get to the front door. I almost think we’re in the clear as the door opens and we step into the coolness of the night, but as Juniper opens the back door of the SUV and reaches under the seat, someone clears their throat.
I turn and look back, and Caz moves out of the shadows by the pillars, a bloom pinched between his lips, the tip lit in fiery embers. He pulls it away with a gloved hand, releases a cloud of smoke, and says, “Where the hell are you two going?”
Juniper slams the car door and groans, tucking something into the back of her belt. Her gun, I think. “We’re going out.”
“Where?”
“To the city.”
“Take Killian with you,” he says, pulling from the bloom again. Smoke trickles out of his nostrils, and his icy eyes cut to me.
Juniper frowns. “No. We’ll be fine.”
“You’re trying to go to Iron Class, and you’re not going without protection,” he counters.
“I can protect myself. Besides, I have a friend in town. Remember Hannie? She’ll show us the good places.”
“Willow is not from here. They’ll sense it a mile away, Juniper. You must be forgetting the Rippies spend a lot of their time in Iron Class too.”
She sighs. “Oh, buzz off and let her have a little fun, Caz! Love of Vakeeli! It’s bad enough she has to suffer listening to your thoughts all day.”
That annoys him, clearly, because he drops his bloom on the ground and steps on the lit end, squashing it. “Killian goes with you, or you don’t go at all.” They’re the last words he says before switching his eyes to me again, looking me up and down, and then turning away.
He makes his way around the palace, and I have no idea where he’s going, but even with his disappearance, he can’t escape what I saw his eyes do, or the thoughts of his that whispered through my mind. His eyes lingered, not on my face, but the split of my shirt at my breasts, and as they did, he said, No way in hell she’s going out dressed like that without one of us.
