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She felt tiny as she looked out of the window to see the guests filing into the castle. They came in groups, all men and women of respectable wealth and power. To see her. To see Landon.

The coronation would happen on the first day and the wedding on the next, she was informed as Alika brushed the tangles out of her brown hair and braided it.

"You look gorgeous," Alika gushed. "And you will look great with the dress. Close your eyes!"

"Why?" Audrey was not in the mood for games.

"Just do it," Alika pressed.

Audrey sighed and shut her eyes. She heard some shuffling before Alika began to dress her, pulling on the dress over her stays. The fabric was heavy but comfortable, a smooth silk that comfortably settled on her skin. Alika sewed up the back with deft fingers before taking Audrey's hand in her own, examining the cut to check how it was healing. Audrey flinched at the contact, but her eyes remained shut as Alika let her go.

"Are you going to wear gloves?" Alika asked.

"Let them see. The pain will stop but the scars will always be there, so there's no use in hiding."

I can't kill you. The words from the previous night with Landon had been going around in her head repeatedly. His timing had been on purpose. He had wanted to unnerve her before the wedding. Of course he had told her, and of course he had succeeded in getting into her head. But he was still a person who killed without blinking and lied effortlessly for his own gain. A person who she could never trust.

She had tried to kill him, and she had come close to succeeding. She had known what she was trying to do and why. Yet she sometimes wondered what would have happened if the sword had truly impaled him. Perhaps some part of her had always known that she would fail, which is why it had been as easy as it was. You were never going to kill me.

"Well said." She felt something being clasped to her neck before there was the sound of Alika moving back. "Open your eyes!"

Audrey looked at the mirror in front of her and felt her eyes widening as she looked at herself, seeing her hair curled and wound up into a braid pinned to the back of her head. Her skin was pale from being in her room for so long, her blue eyes intent and bright. And the dress... the dress was breath-taking. It was black and silver, giving her a dangerous edge while privately mourning for those lost. The sleeves were flared, and the voluminous skirt flared from a fitted, jewelled bodice. The silver embroidery was beautiful, a collection of simple flowers clustered at the top and moving down to the bottom while getting smaller and smaller, gradually fading. She was the darkness and the stars, the light and the dark.

"Alika... I can't thank you enough," Audrey said finally.

Alika clapped her hands together. "I didn't make it, so I don't deserve the credit, but you look great."

Audrey could not help but smile a little, despite the circumstances.

"Now go," Alika nodded as Audrey pulled on some flat shoes with leather soles.

"Thank you anyway, Alika," Audrey said.

"Anything for you," Alika said politely before lightly shoving her towards the door. "But make sure to not be late."

Audrey hurried out, her skirts dragging behind her as she walked down the spiral staircase with Chege behind her. They walked through the corridor side by side, marbled busts standing proudly around them and old tapestries hanging from the walls. Maids bustled around, trying to get everything done, as the invited guests walked down the corridor in groups. Their eyes all turned to Audrey and Chege as they walked past.

"Where are we going?" Audrey muttered.

"The Great Hall. There is going to be a big feast, the ceremony in the throne room, which includes a funeral for the late King Kael, then a ball," Chege said.

"Kael? What about Aldric?"

"Landon already held a funeral for him."

Audrey blinked, surprised. She hadn't been told. "The feast... who will be there?"

"People of importance. Including King Adebiyi, who left his wife to care for his castle back in the East."

Audrey tensed slightly at the mention of Adebiyi. Chege noticed and stiffened as he walked onward, the people around them parting to make way. It didn't take long to reach the doors of the Great Hall, two servants holding it open for the people walking through.

Audrey wasn't in for two seconds before Lavinia hurried forwards.

"You're here!" Lavinia said, throwing herself at Audrey's waist and wrapping her arms around her.

Audrey smiled and squeezed her shoulders. "You okay?"

Lavinia frowned, pulling away. "I've been so bored. No one wants to talk or play with me, and they often keep papa away from me. Official business, or something."

"What have you been doing to occupy yourself, then?" Audrey walked toward the high table, Lavinia on her heels.

"Finding snails." Lavinia sighed. "It was much more fun with you and Tom." Her nickname for Thomas Everwood made Audrey tense. "Please, promise to spend more time with me." Her voice was begging as she looked up at Audrey.

Audrey nodded absently, then paused in her tracks upon seeing an unfamiliar face at the table. An imposing, bearded man was sitting at a seat of honour, dressed in rich velvet with a handful of gleaming rings. He was talking to a noble, but stopped when he saw Audrey and beckoned her over with the hand that wasn't holding a wine glass. Something about the small action made Audrey's heart race. He was obviously a man who was not used to being disobeyed.

He did not need a crown to look like a king.

The fashion he wore also differed from the others in the hall: he wore a blood red kaftan embroidered with gold. He had the dark skin common of the East and sat by Calhoun, who was watching her curiously. On the man's other side, three girls sat side by side, most likely his daughters, dressed in a sarafan over a rubakha. Audrey remembered hearing that he had a son too, but he wasn't there, and neither was his wife.

"I'll see you at the table soon," Audrey told Lavinia before squeezing her hand gently. Her face filled with hurt, but she hurried away, leaving Audrey to walk to the man alone. Every step took great effort when all she wanted to do was turn and run in the opposite direction. She stopped in front of him and curtseyed, dipping her head politely even as her heart pounded. Audrey had never met him before but had heard all the rumours; he had a reputation for being observant and holding a long grudge. Once, his jester had mocked him in a play, and Adebiyi had smiled at the humiliation. Everyone had thought the jester had been forgiven.

Two months later, the jester was fed to the lions for allegedly flirting with a duchess. It was said that Adebiyi hired another jester to sing to drown out the screams of the previous one being eaten alive.

"So, you're Audrey Everwood," the man noted. He spoke with an accent, putting emphasis on his vowels.

"Yes." Gods, she was shaking, even as the man watched her with a polite smile. "And you are King Adebiyi?"

The man stroked his beard. "Indeed, I am. And this is Faiza, my heir, Tamasha, my youngest, and Chinue."

Audrey met eyes with Faiza as he gestured at her, a beautiful black-skinned girl with curly hair braided with temple rings. For some reason, Audrey felt an inexplicable understanding flash between the two of them. So surreptitiously that she almost missed it, the princess dipped her chin in a small nod meant only for her eyes. Chinue, an overweight girl with frizzy dreadlocks, watched her with an unreadable face, and Tamasha, only about Lavinia's age, was more interested in her plate of honey cake.

"Your Highnesses." Audrey curtseyed again.

Faiza smiled weakly back, Tamasha gave a disinterested wave with fingers covered in honey, and Chinue nodded.

"I would like to congratulate you on your engagement," Adebiyi continued.

"Thank you."

"You are glad to be married to Landon?" Adebiyi asked.

"Forgive me for being so blunt, but that is of little matter to you, Your Grace," Audrey said.

"Oh, it very much is." He took a sip of his wine and grinned. "I like your little fiancee. He is pretty and charming; I suppose he won't be horrible to bed."

Faiza started choking on her wine, and Chinue patted her back while Tamasha burst into small giggles. Audrey fought to hide her mortification; Adebiyi was not a man she could mess with, and she struggled to find a response.

She was saved from answering when Ethelind sashayed over, looking like a goddess with her red hair done into an intricate bun designed to look like a rose and her graceful steps. Her dress brushed against the floor, made with rich velvets an exquisite mix of white and gold, and her sheathed sword swung against her hip. There was something fox-like about her features, Audrey realised as she looked closer, all sharp edges and sly smiles.

"Good day, Your Majesty." Ethelind bowed, and glanced curiously at Faiza, who gave one more feeble cough and went quiet.

"Hello, Lady Eternel," Adebiyi responded. "You look well today."

Ethelind smiled sweetly. "Thank you. I could say the same for you."

"How flattering."

"And Princess Faiza." Ethelind winked. "You are more beautiful than they claim. You have such lovely features."

Faiza went red. "I thank you for the compliment, my lady." Her voice was soft and carefully enunciated, but not meek.

Audrey looked over Ethelind's shoulder to see Landon seated on a cushioned mahogany chair. He held a chalice of wine in his hand and was smiling at something a lord was saying, Hunter curled by his feet. She suddenly wished for Autumn—she had asked the Hound Master for permission to have the fox during the coronation, but was declined in case she used the fox against someone.

Audrey waited until Ethelind and Adebiyi were engaged in a conversation about war strategy before taking a seat near Landon. She kept her head down, refusing to look at him. If she did, she knew she would see Tyrek. She would see her parents and feel the ghosts that lived inside of her, stealing the breath in her lungs, whispering words of vengeance into her ear.

Liar, liar, liar, she thought. Manipulator, schemer, killer.

Boy.

She clenched her fists. Get out of my head. Leave me alone.

Audrey watched in her peripheral vision as Ethelind curtseyed to Adebiyi before taking a seat to Landon's left, engaging in conversation with Jax. Chege had slipped away to stand to the side, watching Audrey and the tables of lowborns below. There were knights and soldiers, chandlers, and bakers, but all were landowners who had distinguished themselves by devout loyalty to Landon. They seemed in constant awe of the place, as if unable to believe their luck; Audrey supposed Landon had included them on purpose so that they would speak of his generosity later, inflating his public image.

"I am glad you could make it."

The voice came from beside her. She turned to look at Lady Hill.

"I didn't have much choice," Audrey replied.

"Don't tell the king that," Lady Hill said, her prominent eyes turning to Landon.

She felt someone's eyes burning into her and swivelled her body to confirm who it was. Landon. She turned away as quickly as she could, trying to stop her cheeks from burning.

"We..." Lady Hill began, but was interrupted as Lyndsey appeared behind Audrey, tapping her on the shoulders.

"Guess who?" Lyndsey asked.

Audrey rolled her eyes slightly. "You might want to try and be more discreet next time, Lyndsey."

Lyndsey sighed. "I'll work on it."

She took her seat beside her mother, her ruffled dress billowing around her in a puff of frills and lace.

"Did you find your other daughter in the end?" Audrey asked Lady Hill. Alika had told her about her missing bastard.

Lady Hill gritted her teeth, and she took a second to compose herself enough to answer. "No. She disappeared with an archer. A scout found one of our search parties dead on the Main Road with arrows or stab wounds in most of them. Stupid highwaymen likely got involved."

"Oh. Did you know the archer?"

"No. He was new, and I knew not to trust him with his white hair and devilish blue eyes," Lady Hill said through gritted teeth. "He had this mischievous feel around him which I did not like. Damned Ethelind sent him in to get at me, I'll wager."

Audrey froze. Three things registered more slowly than her other words: white hair, blue eyes, archer. No, it can't be... "What was his name?"

"It was Billy or William or something," Lady Hill retorted.

Will? Audrey thought, trying to keep her face blank to hide her surprise.

"How unfortunate," Audrey replied simply.

She turned away, taking some grapes from a servant to nibble on. She had little appetite but didn't want to have to talk to either of the Hills for much longer.

Landon stood and tapped his glass with a silver knife. The hall instantly quietened.

"Welcome all," Landon said, his voice carrying across the hall. "To the North."

The room stared up at Landon as he spoke. He spoke with a stentorian voice, clear and enticing to listen to—beautiful, just like his face, carved so perfectly that it seemed unfair. He stood with a straight back, his face carefully wiped of emotion but still so young. A teenager, yet capable of killing so easily.

"My grandfather, Einar, was a Shadowhart. The rightful ruler of the South, before an Everwood named Magnar came and ruined everything. The system was clear: Everwoods kept the North and Shadowharts kept the South. Yet Magnar took the South by force, sparking a war that would later kill my uncle and gave me this scar." Landon gestured at the mark on his face. "What I am saying now is not a speech. It is a promise. To avenge my brother, who King Ulysses so brutally murdered. To avenge all those killed in battle, to make sure their efforts for peace were not in vain." His features softened, turning into the face of an innocent boy. The loathing overran it after some time, he had said. "I never wanted a war. I never wanted this position. But most of my family are dead, and I am prepared to fight to make sure their deaths were not for nothing. Not just for a war between the Shadowharts and Everwoods that should have stopped long ago, but for a new era. So, to prove my good will, I will wed Lucian's daughter, making the first marriage between a Shadowhart and an Everwood."

Eyes turned to Audrey.

Liar, liar, liar, Audrey thought, but no one could hear. Even if she screamed it out loud, she doubted anyone would listen.

"My father once told me it is easier to be responsible for one person's life than the lives of hundreds of innocents," Landon continued. He spoke the next sentence hesitantly, as if he didn't want to say it. Manipulator, schemer, killer. "Anyone who can bring me an Everwood or Silverling that isn't under my protection and is a threat, dead or alive, will receive a reward of ten thousand Milates."

Ten thousand gold coins. Audrey could see the greed in the eyes of the commoners and lords.

She helped herself to more grapes, her heart thudding faster. Landon had everyone hanging onto his every word—if she had not known better, she would have soaked up his words.

You would be surprised at the number of people who cannot tell the difference between my lies and truths, Landon had taunted, and her lip curled at the thought.

No matter what he said, Audrey couldn't help being afraid of him. For his corrupt mind, for his lies, and for his truths, most of all.

Boy.

"We must go to war with the South, and we will be victorious, for the gods will bless us. We will take the South, and we will go to war with anyone else who seeks to knock us down. We will save the North and build a new world for generations to cherish. To the North!" He raised his glass.

"To the North!" Hundreds of voices echoed and soon the chatter and music resumed. She looked down at her plate.

"I want to show you something." His voice spoke next to her, coming unexpectedly and making her jump.

Get out of my head. Leave me alone. She straightened and turned to face him. He had already started walking, expecting her to follow, while Hunter stayed by his seat, gnawing a scrap of meat. They would be alone.

She glanced uncertainly at Chege, who didn't spare her a look in return, before reluctantly following him. He led her outside, past naked trees and piles of autumn leaves, and she struggled to keep up with his long strides until he stopped in front of a large clearing.

She gasped audibly to see the men in front of her. Most were dark-skinned, and all had identical bucklers and spears, silver daggers gleaming at their hilts. She stared down at them, all standing with their legs planted the same distance apart and their gazes ahead.

"See this?" he asked. "These are Adebiyi's elite guard, trained to kill."

She couldn't reply.

"Guard!" he called down at them.

They all slammed their bucklers against their chests at the same time.

"Ready!" he called down.

They stepped forward, their spears pointed ahead. Not a single move was miscalculated, and Audrey felt like she was watching a dance. The way they moved was beautiful.

"These men," Landon said softly, so only she could hear. "Will kill any Southerner who gets within ten metres."

"Landon," she said simply, not trusting any other words to come out. "Please, my cousin..."

"When has Ulysses ever cared for you? What do you owe him?"

"He is my blood."

"And Aldric was mine until Ulysses murdered him. Can't you see? Ulysses is confused, he is blinded by vengeance and bloodshed."

"So are you."

"No. I am going to end this war." His hand brushed away a strand of hair from her eyes, but he let a hand linger on her cheek as he turned her to face him, tilting his head as he examined her, like an artist admiring his own painting. Her breath hitched in her throat, the heat of her body rising at his closeness. She flinched, closing her eyes and waiting for the metal blade of his sword to punch into her gut. Instead, light fingers brushed her cheek, followed by the soft brush of his lips against hers and the smell of faint lavender of his tunic.

And she didn't push him away.

Her eyes fluttered open as he moved back and she gaped at him, finding herself frozen in shock. She didn't know what was going through her mind. Everything had gone fuzzy except for the flecks of gold in his eyes, somehow darker than any shade of black that she had seen before. A silly, girlish part of her wanted him to kiss her again, but she shoved it down.

"These men will invade the West. I am looking forward to visiting Valkitia; I hear their capital has the most beautiful art and music. Even you must be able to appreciate that, dear Audrey."

Get out of my head. Get out of my head. Get out of my head. The words had risen to a scream in her mind.

"So many will die." Her voice choked. "Thomas... there will be thousands like me, who will lose a brother, who will wander like ghosts across this earth, broken into an immaterial state by grief. You are sending them to die."

"I am sending them to die so the future can live."

"But Adebiyi..."

"Shush," he muttered. "It's all going according to plan."

"Why did you call me?" Audrey asked.

"Succumb to your temptations," he advised her. "We could rule the world."

Then he turned and walked into the trees. She realised after a moment that he had left her alone.

Can I escape? she wondered.

She had to. If she did not, she would be tied to his side by marriage and used as a pawn for him to gain more power. Her own thoughts on the matter were irrelevant; she couldn't let herself become blinded.

Her gaze moved to the guard in front of her, wondering what they had seen, but their eyes continued to stare straight ahead, ignoring her existence.

She turned and hurried back to the castle.

:)

Love you all,
Shelly M x