All of the females had beautiful black wings—wings I would never have.
“And their affinities?” the king asked.
“Lady Meegana Ockson, daughter of Harrivee Territory, has been blessed with three,” Sir Featherton replied.
The female in the yellow gown held her chin high as Sir Featherton gushed, “She has an elemental affinity—water—a shapeshifting affinity, and she also possesses a sensory affinity—sound.”
“What does she shift into?” the king asked shrewdly.
“A colantha, Your Majesty,” Sir Featherton replied, bowing deeply.
A murmur erupted among the crowd at hearing she could transform into a large jungle cat, and the king nodded approvingly.
“Very nice.” The king glanced at the next. “And what about her?”
The female’s father and mother ushered the second female forward. A purple gown covered her head to toe, but she moved her lithe figure with purpose and swagger. Her silver hair was pinned back with clips, which amplified her delicate features and rosebud mouth. The female looked innocent and fragile, but a sharp gleam coated her eyes as she sized up the two females beside her. I recognized that look all too well. It was a look Vorl would have before he did something hideous to me.
Sir Featherton waved toward her dramatically. “Lady Georgyanna Endalaver, daughter of Kroravee Territory, has been blessed with four affinities, Your Majesty.”
A huge eruption of whispers followed that statement. The king sat up straighter in his seat as the queen made a sound in her throat. A sharp look from the king had her quietening before he addressed Sir Featherton. “Four? Are you sure?”
“Indeed,” Sir Featherton replied. “Lady Georgyanna’s elemental affinity is fire, and she also possesses an electric affinity, a constructo affinity, and an emotional affinity—manipulation.”
“This has been tested?” the king asked.
Sir Featherton bowed again. “Yes, Your Majesty. All three have been thoroughly tested before I brought them here.”
The king tapped his chin. “A colantha shapeshifter is quite rare, which could make up for only having three affinities. But to have four . . .” He tapped his chin again and assessed the last female. “And her?”
The female’s parents shuffled nervously as Sir Featherton replied, “Lady Beatrice Leafton, daughter of Prinavee Territory. Blessed with three affinities. An elemental affinity—earth, a sensory affinity of sight, and her strongest affinity, which is telekinesis.”
An eruption of whispers broke out over that. Psychic affinities were also rare, especially telekinesis.
“Only three, but very powerful.” The king leaned back in his chair, frowning. “I had hoped to find a female with more affinities, but I suppose we must make do with what we have.”
A scattering of laughter rose from the crowd, but the females’ parents all wore affronted expressions while the queen continued to sit rigidly. I squeezed Nuwin’s arm. He placed his hand over mine, his expression resigned.
As if sensing the parents’ displeasure, the king smiled widely. “Welcome to the Court of Winter, daughters of the Solis continent. All of you are worthy mates for my son.”
The females released collective sighs of relief as their parents’ discontented demeanors turned prideful.
Sir Featherton bowed smugly. “Indeed, Your Majesty.”
The king cast a side-eye my way, but then his attention drifted to my wingless back, and his interest withered as he returned to the three before him.
As though knowing the Trial had begun to become the prince’s betrothed, the three females all eyed Norivun. They wore masks of curiosity, interest, and even possession. The one in the purple—Lady Georgyanna Endalaver—practically looked like a colantha herself, even though that wasn’t her affinity, but she kept casting feral glances at the other two females, as though sizing up her competition.
“How many affinities does the crown prince have?” I tried to ask Nuwin lightly, but that throbbing sensation had grown in my stomach again. I felt hot. Itchy. And seeing these females look at the crown prince as though they wanted to mate with him right here and now . . . It felt like fire flooded my veins.
“Six,” Nuwin replied.
My head snapped back. Six? I sputtered, then coughed lightly to hide my surprise. Six affinities. I’d never heard of anyone that powerful in all of my life.
“And your mother?”
“Five,” Nuwin replied.
I glanced at the queen, who seemed so harmless and docile. To think that the female possessed that kind of power.
“And the king?”
“Only two, hence, why he sought out my mother.”
As if sensing that we’d been talking about him, Prince Norivun cast a side-eye my way. His eyes were bright. Raw.
My heart beat harder and harder until blood thundered through my ears. Why was he looking at me like that? And why was I suddenly wishing that these three females would vanish?
“I need some air,” I said to Nuwin, discreetly removing myself from his side.
“Ilara,” Nuwin called, reaching for me. “Wait!”
But I’d already slipped past him and headed toward the doors that led to the ice topiary maze.
Nobody paid attention to me as I wove through the crowd. It seemed that the court’s fickle interest in me had already passed, given the arrival of the three new females.
I slid by everyone as that throbbing sensation grew in me more and more. Air. I needed air.
I burst through the doors, barely having the wherewithal to ensure they closed behind me, and then I was running across the cobblestones toward the maze as the first firework appeared above me. The celebration was beginning. The prince was to marry. And all I could picture were those three beautiful females with unrivaled power all vying for the prince’s hand.
He was to marry one of them.
And I was to be his slave. His slave to prevent a war.
Air. I need air. I can’t breathe.
I sucked in breath after breath, but no matter what I did, the fire inside me grew until it felt like I was burning alive.
Another firework burst above me and then another. Voices carried to me, and I realized the throne room doors had spilled open, and the attendants were coming out to enjoy the show as they commenced the beginning of the Trial that would determine the prince’s fiancée and eventually the next queen to the Court of Winter.
I quickly moved behind an ice sculpture so nobody would see me, then pushed away from the sculpture and took off around the maze. Nuwin called for me again, but I didn’t stop.
The laughter and conversation carried on behind me as more and more fireworks exploded above while the crowd jeered and roared their approval.
Run. Just run.
I careened around a corner and was about to start searching for the prince’s private wing when a dark figure emerged in my path.
I skidded to a stop, my feet sliding across the slick cobblestones, and I nearly collided with the stranger when strong hands enclosed me. Familiar hands. And then a scent hit me. A scent that I would know anywhere.