No, no, no, no!

This couldn’t be. They had decided against it.

Edric had agreed with her and then gone back on their agreement. Again!

Her ears rang through the applause as her frustration ate away at her. Her magic sparked in her blood, and she had to close her eyes to control the raging tempest. Her anger felt vile. Like a living thing. A deadly creature willing to do anything to sate its hunger.

But she couldn’t feel this.

Not right now.

Still, she couldn’t stop.

Thunder cracked in the distance. She could practically feel the lightning bolt shattering into the open field beyond. Though she could not see it as the ballroom was entirely enclosed, save a door leading to the gardens. She knew it had happened. She could feel the pulse of its energy, and for a moment, she believed that she could capture its power in her body.

No one else was paying attention to her inner turmoil. Though she could feel Kael’s eyes on her. He couldn’t suspect that she had wanted a different outcome.

Cyrene opened her eyes long enough to see Edric place the coveted Affiliate pin in Elea’s hand as he announced, “In your palm, I place the queen’s symbol, a circular pin of Byern climbing vines. So long as you have this with you, you will have a piece of your land, our land, and you will be known throughout the world as one of our own.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Elea gasped.

Edric addressed the crowd with his arms opened wide, “Thank you all for attending the Presenting for our newest Affiliate Elea. As always, there will be a ball in her honor here tonight.”

With that dismissal, everyone in attendance began to mingle around the room. Kaliana stood on shaky legs and shot her a look full of pity.

“What?” Cyrene asked.

“You will learn, with Edric, if you’re lucky, you’ll only ever get half of what you want.”

“Duly noted.” Her voice was sharper than intended.

Edric had just ruined all of her plans. But she had to remain calm…to even be excited for Elea. When it was the last thing she wanted to do.

She forced herself past Edric without a word, down the dais, and before Reeve and Elea.

“Congratulations!” Cyrene gushed.

Elea turned the first real smile on Cyrene. “Oh Creator, I can’t believe it!” She threw her arms around Cyrene.

“Well deserved. All four of us in First Class,” Cyrene said.

A death sentence.

“Well-bred horses,” Elea joked.

It was what Cyrene had said a year ago.

Horses sent to slaughter.

“Indeed.”

“And a full ball in your honor,” Reeve said. “What do you think about that, kiddo?”

“Reeve!” Elea groaned. “You can’t call me kiddo anymore. I’m seventeen. I’m a woman now.”

Reeve laughed. “Of course you are.”

“I wish Mother and Father could have been here,” Elea whispered.

“Me, too,” she said. “They would have wanted to be here. To see how lovely you look.”

“They would have been proud,” Reeve said, pulling his sisters in for a hug.

Despite being the consort, Cyrene was granted a few hours’ leave to be with her family on this occasion. She was glad of it even though Elea still hadn’t completely forgiven her. That much was clear at every turn. Reeve even seemed confused by the way that Elea was treating her, but Cyrene couldn’t exactly explain why Elea was mad at her. Reeve had always been a protector. She didn’t doubt that he would go after Kael for it.

“Elea, are you going to talk to me?” Cyrene asked in the short break that she had while Reeve had gone to change.

“About what, Cyrene?” Elea asked, her voice tight.

“You know what.”

“What?” Elea came out of the dressing room in her Presenting ball gown. It was a tight fit to her upper thighs and then fanned out like a mermaid’s tail at the bottom in the most stunning shade of emerald green.

“You look unbelievable.”

Elea turned to face the mirror and smiled. “It’s the most incredible dress I’ve ever worn.”

“Yes, it is.”

“So, stop trying to mess it all up by talking to me about last night.”

“Your crush on Prince Kael,” Cyrene started.

Elea laughed at her. “Crush? Crush?”

“I’m sorry. What else should I call it?”

“We’re in love, Cyrene! And you ruined it.”

Cyrene took a step back. “Excuse me?”

“He confessed his love to me before he went to collect you, and now that you’re here, it’s as if I don’t exist.”

“Has something…happened between you two?”

“What did I just say?”

“Physically,” she amended.

Elea colored. “No, of course not! What kind of woman do you think I am? I don’t go throwing myself at anyone who will look at me.”

Cyrene took the jab for what it was. Jealousy. She doubted that whatever had transpired was exactly what Elea believed it to be. Kael was a scoundrel, and maybe Cyrene was blind, but she didn’t think he would set himself on a minor.

“I’m sorry, Elea. I don’t know what else to tell you.”

“Don’t bother, Cyrene. You have always gotten exactly what you wanted. It only makes sense that the king would be in love with you, and you would desire his brother instead, stealing both of their royal hearts.”

Cyrene winced. She wished she could explain how complicated everything was, but she didn’t even know where to begin.

Is it better for Elea to believe me a harlot or a witch?

A whore or a prophesized Heir of the Light?

A thief or a Doma?

“I won’t apologize for my heart, but I do wish that I hadn’t hurt yours.”

Elea waved her off. “Leave me be, Cyrene.”

And, though that was the last thing Cyrene wanted with the evening they were walking into, she kissed her sister’s cheek and left the room.

Rhea was waiting in Cyrene’s chambers when she went to change for the ball. “Are you out of your mind?”

Cyrene arched an eyebrow and drew her best friend into her arms. “It is so good to see you.”

“I don't know what you did to get me out of those rooms, but I'm grateful.” Rhea squeezed and released her. “That does not excuse your insanity.”

“It never has.”

“This is not a joke.” She threw the scrap of paper at Cyrene.

“No. I wasn’t joking.”

“I can’t just leave my work.”

“They will use you to get me back. They know that I love you. They know that I would do anything to see you safe. I cannot risk your safety, Rhea,” Cyrene said.

“They. They. They. Tell me who they is.”

“Edric,” Cyrene whispered. She glanced at the door. “I won’t risk your life. I want you safe.”

“You don’t know what I’m capable of.”

“What are you doing in those massive dungeon-like rooms that is so important?”

Rhea shrugged. “You wouldn’t understand.”

“Help me to.” Cyrene took her hands. “It was not so long ago that you and I were like sisters. Much has changed in a year, but surely, Master Barca can continue his work without your aid.”

“I am…working alone,” Rhea finally admitted.

“Alone?”

“He doesn’t exactly approve of the work I’m doing.”

Cyrene’s eyes widened. “What exactly are you doing?”

“You’ve seen the explosions…the bombs,” Rhea said softly. “It started for the wrong reasons. Eren—do you remember Eren?”

“Yes,” Cyrene said, recalling the High Order who was currently deeply involved in Edric’s military. He had been the one who had stopped she and Daufina.

“I did it for him. We were placed together for your investigation, and the time we were together, I fell for him.”

“Oh, Rhea! That’s incredible.”

“But…he was in love with Maelia.”

“Oh.” Cyrene’s face fell. She had forgotten that Eren had been sweet on Maelia all those months ago when they were on the same boat for procession.

“And, when the news came back that she had been killed, he took it hard. He stopped seeing me entirely. I thought, by making these bombs work, he could use them in the upcoming war. That it would give us an edge in battle. I’ve been stockpiling an arsenal.”

Cyrene’s jaw dropped. “Against Eleysia?”

Rhea nodded. “Yes, if war comes.”

“And you believe this will win him back? That is why you wish to remain?”

Rhea’s cheeks heated. Her bright red hair fell into her face, and she hastily pushed it aside. “I do not presume to think that a High Order could want to marry a Second.”

“Don’t talk like that,” Cyrene said, cursing the Class system.

“It’s true! But…I have to hope. And, as long as I have hope, then I’ll stay.”

“I don’t want you to stay here.”

“You cannot protect everyone,” Rhea told her. “And you are not my only ally. I am a survivor, Cyrene. Count on it.”

“I will.” Cyrene nodded as tears pricked her eyes.

She felt like she was always walking away from Rhea. One step out the door.

They embraced like sisters once more, and then Rhea laughed softly. “Let me help you into this dress.”

As Rhea was buttoning the hundreds of tiny buttons on the back of Cyrene’s dress, she took a deep breath and made a confession of her own. “You are right about the prophecies.”

Rhea’s fingers stilled and then continued. “It has the sense of truth.”

“I just wish…it weren’t about me.”

“Perhaps it’s not.”

“You don’t believe that.”

“No, I don’t,” Rhea said.

“I went to see the letter writer for our Presentings.”

“Did he tell you what you were looking for?”

Cyrene shook her head. “He was just a man. He had no clue. Another dead end.”

“Cyrene,” Rhea said, finishing the last button and coming around to face her.

Cyrene’s heart was jackhammering in her chest. Her magic felt brittle and unpredictable, as if she were able to use it to attack the nearest person to her. She folded her hands behind her.

“A prophecy is never certain. What you know about it is a riddle. Unless you have more information than what I read a year ago, you should know that…you can make your own destiny. Your life is not predetermined.”

Cyrene pulled Rhea in for another hug. She hoped against all hope that what Rhea had said was true.

If only every person and creature in all of Emporia didn’t believe her to be this destined Heir.

Belief was powerful.

It had the ability to make things come true.

Cyrene heard a knock at her door as she finished the last touch of rouge on her cheeks. She tightened her leash on her spitting magic.

“Who is it?” she called even though she could feel the matching pulse of her magic behind the door.

“Who do you think, love?”

Cyrene wrenched the door open and came face-to-face with Kael Dremylon. “What are you doing here?”

He grinned that wicked grin that she had grown so accustomed to and bowed slightly at the waist. “To escort you to the ball, of course.”

“And how will that look?”

His eyes said it all. He didn’t care. “Forget appearances tonight. Just be with me.”

Cyrene chewed on her bottom lip. “Edric might kill you.”

“I’d like to see him try.” Kael tugged her forward with the force of his magic and dropped a kiss on her lips.

“Kael,” she admonished halfheartedly.

He tipped the door to her room closed behind him. “Say it again.”

“What?”

“My name. I adore the sound of it on your tongue.”

“Kael,” she repeated.

“Perfection.”

His hands slipped into hers, lacing their fingers together. He drew her hand up to his mouth and kissed each knuckle. She braced herself for the magic that sputtered out of her at their nearness.

“Don’t you see?”

“See what?” she asked.

“You and I. We’re a matched set.”

“Are we?” she breathed as his tongue darted out to caress her thumb.

“Together, no one can stand in our way.”

Cyrene took a breath and then pulled away. As much as her body…her magic ached to give in to what Kael was saying, she had not forgotten her promise in that cell back in Eleysia. She could give in to lust and no more than that, and she was sure that Kael would take that, but he would not be satisfied. It was easier to keep things simple. And, tomorrow, it might not even matter.

“Don’t we have a ball to get to?” Cyrene asked instead.

“Indeed.” He didn’t seem fazed by her nonanswer.

He extended his arm and whisked her back out the door. Perhaps he was used to her ignoring his advances. Maybe not answering him felt more like a victory to him than a straight refusal.

The ball was in full swing when they arrived. And they did make an appearance. Cyrene would have been happy to walk in from a side entrance and disappear into the crowd. But the consort didn’t disappear and certainly not on the arm of the crown prince.

The crowd quieted, and hundreds of pairs of eyes turned to gape at them together. Kael was dressed in the all black regalia he’d taken to wearing, and Cyrene was in a full blood-red dress. And, in that moment, Kael was right; they were a matched set. Blood magic infused her very bones, creaking and clawing at her insides to expel some of her energy, and the essence of their mingled magic radiated around them.

It was Edric’s eyes she found first. They were narrowed and irritated across the ballroom. He stood with Kaliana—a weakened, injured pair. A sharp contrast to she and Kael, and the shift in the room seemed to recognize the tides turning, as if this were their court.

Cyrene ventured deeper into the room with Kael. The sea parted for them as they drew toward the dance floor. Her mouth went dry when she saw the stunning woman in green standing before her.

Elea’s lips pursed, but she held her head high. She couldn’t rightly be offended that the consort outshone her at her own Presenting ball…but she was. Even if she could never voice that opinion. Or that she wanted Kael for herself.

“Dance with me?” Kael asked Cyrene, taking her hand.

“I believe the new Affiliate should receive her first dance,” Cyrene said instead.

Elea’s eyebrows rose as Cyrene stepped back.

Kael had the decency not to say a word about the tense interaction. He held out his hand to Elea. “May I?”

Elea’s entire face burned bright as crimson. “Of…of course.”

The music began, and Kael had moved Elea through her first pass of the intricate steps when a rumble went through the crowd. Cyrene looked up at the commotion and found a man at the front of the room.

A man with light hair, an easy smile, and cunning eyes.

A man in the finest dress attire available, which only accentuated his muscular frame from hours upon hours of training and military drills.

A man who had shattered her heart into a million pieces and thrown it into the ocean on a whim.

Dean.