"You can't wear that," Jasmine chided. "Try this."The maid had taken her rescue at Violet's hands very seriously and asked to be assigned to her to help Violet adjust to court life. If Violet had known she'd be turned into a frosted pastry in the process, she'd would've said no.Violet took the lavender silk with all its lace and pearls and tried not to grimace. "Jasmine, this is very kind, but I can't be a bodyguard in these dresses. I need trousers and a tunic. Like the men."Jasmine couldn't hide her disappointment. "Very well. I finished the black trousers last night. There's a matching black shirt. It might be tight fit—I couldn't get your measurements after you fell asleep."Violet dug the pieces out. "You made all this last night? Jasmine, you're amazing."The younger girl grinned. "They didn't have a uniform for a woman so I figured it was the least I could do." She took a step toward Violet. "You're still going to teach me how to shoot, right?""A promise is a promise," Viole
Fields of lavender stretched out on either side of the road. The soothing scent wrapped around the wheels and filtered through the open windows. Violet took a deep breath. She sat in the royal carriage, across from Eden who was consumed by a book on the origins of Basharr's drumming songs. More than one bookworm in the family, clearly.Petros had returned to the city, leaving Violet and Eden on their fifth and final visit to the villages. "Have you travelled much outside of Eloy?" Eden asked.Violet smirked. "Is it that obvious?"He closed his book. "I thought you were going to stick your head out of the window like a wild dog when we passed that field of roses."She laughed. "Anything to get rid of the stench that broccoli field left on the carriage."Both their noses wriggled at the recollection."I enjoy seeing the kingdom through fresh eyes," Eden said. "What has been your favorite part so far?""That's easy," Violet replied. "Every time the villagers put an instrument in your han
Violet and Eden stayed the rest of the day at Catalina, cleaning and talking with the villagers. There were fallen trees, waves of dried mud against the homes, and hail damage on every roof. Violet needed to rescue her arrow from the side of the tavern, too. Eden had left his crown in the carriage after the storm had blown it through the mud. Even without it he looked regal, too handsome to be chopping fallen trees."Now I understand why Catalina was never on the royal tour for rain rituals," Eden remarked to the village leader, Tamsen, taking a break on one of the split logs.He chuckled, clearly a bit nervous. "We did think it odd, my king, but who am I to question your edicts?""I appreciate the respect, but I'd always rather know the truth, Tamsen," Eden said, looking straight at Violet.She sighed and scraped another shovel full of mud from the side of a home. She couldn't believe Eden had the nerve to be mad at her when he was the one refusing to talk. All afternoon, he'd avoided
Violet lay in bed, waiting for Jasmine's knock. She'd been awake for hours, replaying her carriage ride home with the king.With Eden. The Monarch's name was sacred, not a thing to pass the lips of a commoner without a title to protect it, yet he'd made an exception for her. She knew she'd been right to mark him dangerous when they met. With exceptions like this, who knew what lines he could get her to cross? She knew who she was, despite her magic: a girl from Eloy. Reaching for more than that was an invitation to trouble.Her father's words still rang in her ears. "There is no place for an ungrateful upstart in my home. Take your power and go." Her mother didn't say anything, just clung to her father's arm as if afraid of Violet. As if she hadn't been their daughter for the past twenty-two years. She would serve King Eden, but she would not allow the closeness of last night to happen again.Jasmine's gentle knock came from the hall."Come in," Violet called.***With the rain ritua
The edict for the borderlands consumed Eden's attention all day. His advisors were in and out of his chambers. Petros kept close, a quill constantly in hand. Raegan stopped by with meals but wasn't permitted to stay long.Violet watched over the debates and rewrites. The musical instruments hanging from every spare space in the walls kept her fascinated. She longed to see him play each one.The day dragged on until the sun finally dipped into night. Petros headed out to deliver the edict to riders that would spread the message to the corners of Basharr. Lord Lennox and Lord Gregor left first. The rest of the lords drifted away, one by one. The glass palace coasted between waking and sleeping."The princess is waiting for you in the kitchens, my king. Will you join her?" Violet asked."We have the place to ourselves, Violet. Call me Eden." He leaned back, weariness drooping his shoulders. "I feel like I didn't see the sky all day.""It was there," Violet replied, smirking. "Not a cloud
The throne room of Basharr Palace took Violet's breath away. The cracks from the fight between Eden and his assassin hadn't reached the throne room, leaving it intact with molten light. Waves of darkness began at the corners of the floor, reaching for the obsidian throne in threads of silken night. Golden rays and blackness melted together turning the chamber into a cauldron.Violet stood behind Eden's obsidian throne paired with the cream throne Raegan graced. The two royals held court once a week to speak with their nobles and show their power. Eden had explained to Violet that he started the tradition after Petros' father was imprisoned. He'd been fourteen, on the precipice of losing his kingdom and his neck. This was how he'd reeled things back in: entombing the palace in cloud and fog every week for a permanent state of storm."Open the windows," Eden commanded.Two guards dragged the glass open. Chill mountain air rushed in.Eden reached for the open space, dragging clouds across
Four days went by. Invitations went out and the masquerade was nearly upon Basharr. Princess Raegan bustled through the corridors, the king's seal always in hand. The courtiers had quickly learned to scatter when she drew near after she conscripted half the guards into her service. They were all to attend the ball in disguise, dressed in the most opulent costumes.Violet had not escaped the princess's recruitment."Is this necessary? I look like a tear drop," Violet complained, displayed on a tailor's pedestal in a pale blue dress.Mirrors ringed the princess's room and the tailor, a shrunken elf wearing spectacles that might've been thicker than the palace walls, carefully pinned the dress's hem.Raegan's eyes sparkled. "You look beautiful! Besides I can't have you attend with me in your uniform. Stand still."Violet sighed. "I'm honored to be your escort, Princess, but this really isn't me.""Stop being so grumpy," Violet urged. "You've been like this for days. Eden said to put you i
Violet held up a brocade dress, a deep enough green she could've melted emeralds in it. Embroidered wolf heads glinted on each sleeve."It's stunning," Violet said. "Why do you have this?"Vesper handed her a silver skull mask like his own, failing to meet her eyes. "Someone else was supposed to attend with me. She couldn't make it.""What happened to her?""Taken from me by the war.""I'm so sorry." Violet tried to hand the dress back. "I can't wear this.""Please. I wouldn't have offered it if I didn't want to see it worn."Violet hesitated, running her hands over the textured fabric. "It's exquisite. A dress I would actually wear."Another smile bled through Vesper's masked tone. "I thought it would be to your taste. It was made for a warrior."He showed her hidden pockets sewn in for small knives."I'm an archer," she laughed. "Not quite the same.""Such small faith you have, Violet Bellerose." Vesper took out a collapsible bow and a special thigh strap with a slim quiver that she