He lugged the man up from the ground, jerking him up to his tiptoes. The thief wailed at the movement, but one good shake shut him up. “She might be forgiving,” he growled, “but the enforcers won’t be. They don’t take kindly to thieves preying on their clientele.”
He dragged the man toward the tunnel, but stopped first to meet Roar’s gaze. “I’ll be right back.” She smiled innocently in response, and he knew. “You’re not going to wait for me, are you?” Her smile grew. “Fine. Clearly, you can take care of yourself. Meet us at dawn on the eastern road just outside the city gates. Don’t be late or I’ll leave you.”
“I’ll be there,” she promised. “Tell Duke I said thank you.”
The thief started groaning again, and Locke shoved him into the passageway. “I don’t get a thank-you?”
“Maybe you’ll get it when I’m no longer angry that you called me a liability.”
Do not fear the thunder, nor the fire in the skies.
Rest little darling, and close your tired eyes,
For up above us now in that great, golden dome
A Stormling stands against it all to protect our sacred home.
—Pavanian lullaby
9
Novaya was wide-awake in her bed when a low tap sounded on her door. She was lying on top of the covers, still in her day clothes. She eased the door open enough to peek outside, and when she saw a familiar cloak, she took hold of Aurora’s wrist and tugged her inside.
“You went out again?” Nova shook her head, glancing at the pitch-black window behind her bed. “You’re getting married in a few hours!”
Rora looked around the room, eyes falling on the still made bed. “Why weren’t you sleeping?”
“Couldn’t.” It had been a long day, and even though Nova was exhausted, her mind would not quiet. Mistress Carrovain had driven Nova and her two other assistants at a punishing pace, on top of the few duties she still had as a maid. Nova had been irritable all day after her previous night without sleep, and when one of the other assistants snidely insulted her work, she’d only narrowly avoided setting the dress in her hands on fire.
“Nova…” Rora began, her tone uncertain. “I came to ask something of you, a good deal more than what one might consider a favor from one friend to another. If you must say no, I will understand. But I promise, it will be the last thing I ask of you.”
Nova sighed. “What do you need? I have the clothes you wanted.”
“That is … wonderful. Thank you,” Rora said. “But this is considerably bigger than that.”
Nova gestured for Rora to take a seat on her roommate’s narrow bed. “Should I worry that the owner of this bed will be returning soon?” Rora asked as she sat.
“Lenia is seeing one of the stable hands. She’s already been here to grab clothes for tomorrow and snuck off to his room.” Nova knelt by her bed and reached beneath it for the bag she’d hidden earlier in the day. “Speaking of stable hands, here.” Out of the bag she lifted a pile of plain clothing. Trousers from Lenia’s stable hand. Two linen tunics. An old skirt from Nova’s mother with the hem let out. Even a worn pair of boots that appeared only slightly too large. She slid the articles of clothing back in the bag and handed it to Rora.
The princess reached into her pocket, fiddling with something inside it. She said, “I have something for you also.” She lifted her hand and opened her palm to reveal a smooth, pearlescent stone. Nova’s breath caught in her throat. A Stormheart. With a sharp shake of her head, she said, “No. I cannot accept this.”
“You can. It’s not one of the royal ones. And you’ve been a tremendous help to me. I’m told they fetch quite a price at the Eye.”
“That’s not why I helped you … for money.”
“I know. And I want you to have it for far more reasons than just your help of late. Keep it. Sell it. I don’t care, but please take it.”
“I cannot. It’s too much. What if you need it?”
Aurora gave a watery laugh. “I won’t.”
Now that Nova looked, the princess was indeed blinking away tears. With the Stormheart clutched tightly in her hand, Rora took a deep breath and whispered, “I don’t have any magic.”
Nova paused. A few nights of little to no sleep had made her delirious. “What do you mean?”
Rora’s voice was firmer this time, though still quiet. “Storm magic. I have none. When I touch the Stormhearts”—she lifted the skyfire stone she held—“I feel nothing at all.”
“But—but I heard—”
“Rumors. Lies. I pulled away from you, from everyone, when we found out. Mother was afraid that I would lose the crown. Everything we’ve done the last few years has been to protect that secret.”
Nova slumped back on her bed, her thoughts racing, plucking out old memories and seeing them in a new light. Then it dawned on her. “The wedding. That’s why you’re marrying another Stormling.”
Rora nodded. “We held off as long as we could, but now the Rage season…” She trailed off because she did not need to explain the rest.
“And now with the wedding tomorrow—” Nova winced as soon as the words were out of her mouth.
“I’m not marrying him. I leave at dawn.”
With awe and horror, Nova listened as the Princess of Pavan told her about Cassius’s betrayal and cruel manipulation of her feelings and laid out her plans to run away with a group of storm hunters.
Heat simmered beneath Nova’s skin. Rora couldn’t be serious. She would not leave and risk her life this way. Nova understood Rora’s desperation for control. Nova lived it every day. But there had to be another way besides fleeing. Nova had done that too, but not by choice.
“What happens when the Lockes find out you’ve broken a royal contract?” Nova asked. “The treaty your mother has been fighting so hard for—it will end.”
Rora braced her hands on her knees, took a slow breath, and lifted her eyes to Nova’s. “Which is why I have to make it look like I did not willingly break the marriage contract.”
“Rora,” Nova warned. “Whatever you’re thinking—”
“Is possibly brilliant. Or terrible. But hopefully mostly brilliant.”
Rora gave a shaky smile, and Nova couldn’t help but return it. She remembered all the grand, outrageous ideas they’d had as children. Nova had always said yes then, and though it led to a fair amount of trouble, she could not remember another time when she had been so happy. When her gift or curse or whatever it was had been so easy to control.
Rora laid out her plan and the part that Nova would have to play. It was bold, as the princess always tended to be.