“How did you get past the guards?”
“Paige.” She stopped grinning and her face turned serious. “I think she felt bad you couldn’t have visitors. She turned us away last night, but she probably figured now that Darren was already at the ceremony the Crown’s orders could be bent. Most of the king’s orders were in regards to the prince anyway.”
“Us?”
My parents stepped out from the corridor. “Oh, Ryiah,” my father said softly. He was staring at the bandage that was still visible through the neckline of my mage’s robe.
“I’m fine, Dad.” The pity pressed at my lungs. I was suffocating in his expression.
“We have some herbs that might help. We will send someone to drop a sachet to your healers tonight.” At least my mother was trying to maintain an air of normalcy. I prayed she would keep my father’s sympathy at bay.
“Where’s Derrick? Alex?”
“We thought it best if we came alone.” My mother’s eyes flashed a warning. It took me a moment to understand.
The king. They were too afraid the guards would recognize Alex—and Derrick, well, he’d been so upset. And he was so stubborn. He had probably refused to come.
A part of me deflated. My new life with Darren was supposed to be a dream, but so far it had only brought a whole string of complications. My own brothers couldn’t—or wouldn’t—see me. And right now I needed them more than anyone else.
We had all grown up to the same expectation. We had made the same choices. Alex, my other half; Derrick, the younger, headstrong version of me.
And now… now I didn’t know what to do.
“Will they be coming tonight?”
My father shook his head, his eyes flitting to my mother.
“Darling,” my mother said, “the ceremony is only for nobility. We could state our relation but we’d rather not…” Draw the king’s attention to our family is what she didn’t say.
A wave of fatigue washed over and I sat down quickly to avoid drawing their notice. My father’s brows furrowed, and my mother sucked in a sharp breath. I wasn’t fooling anyone.
“I’m going.” Ella’s fingers interlocked with mine as she sat down beside me. “Someone should be there to support my best friend.”
Paige appeared in the room. Her expression was half-concerned, half-aloof. “The king expects your presence soon. The ceremony is about to start.”
“Thank you, Paige.” My father’s eyes softened. “We won’t keep our daughter much longer.”
My parents came forward to each give me one long embrace, careful not to hug too tight. I found myself wishing I could prolong the moment. I saw them so little, and without tonight I doubted I would get a chance to stop by before we left.
As soon as they were gone, along with my ladies-in-waiting, Paige returned.
“Ready?”
I nodded as Ella helped me stand. I was still wobbly on my feet, and it had cost too much of my energy just in dressing.
The three of us left the infirmary and started the short walk to Baron Tybalt’s mansion where the evening’s festivities were to be held.
Paige walked at the front, one hand on the hilt at her hip. Ella pressed closer to me, drawing my elbow in as she spoke.
“I didn’t want to say this around the others, but I want you to know that tonight means nothing.”
I faltered, and she met my eyes—a persistent light reflecting across twin pools of amber.
“Darren might be the Black Mage, but I watched you from the stands, and I have never been so proud to call you my best friend.”
My eyes started to blur, and I dug my nails into my palms to keep the tears from showing.
“Our titles don’t mean a thing.” Her grip tightened on my arm. “I know what you are feeling because I feel it too. Of course we want to be the best. It’s what we trained for. But we don’t need a title to validate our hard work, Ry.” She raised her voice. “When we walk into that room tonight, it’s going to be with our heads held high.”
I froze and Ella jerked to a stop.
“Ry?” she asked hesitantly. “Is something—”
I cut her off, wrapping my arms around her and squeezing. Paige paused ahead of us. She didn’t say a word—even though we were going to be late—she just stood to the side and surveyed the street.
I kept my arms locked around my best friend. My whole body was shaking and silent sobs were rocking my chest.
I kept my eyes clenched shut and clung to Ella until the tremors were gone. I hadn’t let myself cry over the duel in the hours since it happened—I’d been too afraid Darren would blame himself, too guilty my parents would sympathize. Too angry at myself.
But here. Now. With my best friend. I let myself be.
“I love you, Ella.”
She brushed the back of my head. “I love you too, Ry. Don’t ever think you are not good enough.”
****